Peg Solitaire

Peg Solitaire is a classic single-player puzzle game that’s been around since at least the late 17th century, with roots traced back to the court of Louis XIV. You’re working with a cross-shaped board—typically 33 holes in the English version—filled with pegs except for one empty spot, usually the center. The goal’s simple but brutal: jump one peg over another into an empty hole, removing the peg you jumped over, and keep going until only one peg’s left, ideally in the middle. Jumps are straight—horizontal or vertical, no diagonals—and you’ve got to land in an open space. It’s a game of strategy and foresight. Start by clearing the edges or corners to open up the board, but don’t just hop around randomly; you’ll end up with stranded pegs and no moves. Think a few jumps ahead—pattern recognition is your friend here. The standard English board (a 3x3 square with four 2x3 arms) can be solved in 18 moves if you’re slick about it, but there’s only five spots where that last peg can legally end up due to some deep math symmetry stuff. Fun fact: the shortest “dead end” game takes just six moves, leaving you stuck with no jumps left. The vibe’s old-school—imagine wooden pegs clacking on a tavern table—and it’s got a chill pace since there’s no timer. But don’t let that fool you; it’s a brain-burner that’ll have you retrying boards over and over. Perfect for solo downtime when you want a challenge without the chaos. How many pegs do you think you’d clear before getting hooked—or stumped