Fox and Geese Online

A table classic in which a cunning fox faces thirteen geese that want to corner it. Choose whether you play the geese or the fox, face the computer on three levels or play with a friend. Free, no sign-up and nothing to install.

Rules and options

The board is cross-shaped with 33 points. Everything moves along the lines, one point at a time and without diagonals.
The 13 geese start at the bottom and move first. A goose moves forward (up) or sideways; it never goes back.
The fox starts in the center. It moves one point in any direction or jumps over an adjacent goose if the point behind is empty: that goose leaves the game. One jump per turn, and capturing is optional.
The geese win if the fox runs out of moves. The fox wins if fewer than 9 geese are left (it captures 5) or if the geese cannot move.
If 60 moves in a row go by without captures or goose advances, the game is declared a draw.

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Tap one of your pieces and then the marked destination point. The geese move first.

How to play fox and geese

Choose whether to play against the computer (with your side and the level) or two players on the same device.
The geese move first: tap a goose and then the marked point. They can move forward (up) or sideways, never backwards.
The fox moves one point in any direction or jumps an adjacent goose if the point behind it is empty, capturing it.
The geese win if they trap the fox so it cannot move or jump. The fox wins if it captures 5 geese or leaves them with no moves.

Rules of this version of fox and geese

There are many versions of this traditional game. This one uses the cross-shaped board of 33 points (the same as the English peg solitaire), 13 geese and a fox, with moves only along straight lines. The geese start on the bottom three rows, the fox on the central point, and the geese move first.

For the geese the key is to advance as a block, leaving no gaps: a lone goose or one with a free point behind it is easy prey. For the fox, it pays to stay close to the geese, wait for one to be left loose and look for jumps that leave the others without support.

Against the computer you can pick either side. The computer thinks a few moves ahead (little on easy, quite a bit more on hard) and everything runs on your device, with nothing sent to a server.

Things to keep in mind

This is just one of the many versions that exist (there are others with 15 or 17 geese, with diagonals or with mandatory capture). Here capture is optional and is done with one jump per turn.
With perfect play, the geese have the advantage: playing the fox is harder, especially against the computer on hard. Try the easy level to start.
Scoreboards and settings are saved only in this browser. Undo against the computer takes back your move and its move.

Frequently asked questions

How do the geese move?

One point per turn, forward (up) or sideways, always along the board's lines. They do not go back or diagonally.

How does the fox capture?

It jumps over a goose next to it, in a straight line, as long as the point right behind the goose is free. The jumped goose leaves the board. It is one jump per turn and it is not mandatory.

How do I win with the geese?

By trapping the fox: it has to be left with no possible step or jump. For that it pays to advance all together, covering the gaps so they cannot be jumped.

How many geese does the fox have to capture to win?

Five: when fewer than 9 geese are left, there are no longer enough to trap it and the fox wins. It also wins if the geese are left with no possible move.

Can I choose which side to play?

Yes. Against the computer, with the “Your side” buttons you choose geese or fox. With two players, the first player takes the geese and the second the fox.

Is it free? Do I need to install anything?

It is free, needs no sign-up and works right in the browser, on a phone, tablet or computer.