Peg Solitaire is an old board game for one player. It is also called Solo Noble, and in India it is often called Brainvita.
The rules
- Jump a peg over the peg next to it, into an empty hole just behind.
- The peg you jump over is taken away.
- You can jump up, down, left or right. You cannot jump on a slant.
- You cannot slide pegs or add new ones.
- You can only use the holes shown on the board.
- You win when just 1 peg is left, and it sits on the diamond.
The classic English board has 33 holes in a plus shape. All holes but the middle one start with a peg, and you try to finish in the middle. Quirk uses smaller boards with up to 25 holes and 2 to 12 pegs. The diamond shows where the last peg must end.
A worked example
The board has 3 rows and 3 columns of holes. There are 4 pegs. The diamond is in the bottom right hole, row 3, column 3.
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1 | Peg | Empty | Empty |
| Row 2 | Empty | Peg | Peg |
| Row 3 | Empty | Peg | Empty, diamond |
4 pegs means you need 3 jumps. Each jump takes away 1 peg.
- The peg in row 2, column 3 jumps left over row 2, column 2. It lands in row 2, column 1. The peg in row 2, column 2 is taken away.
- Now column 1 has pegs in rows 1 and 2. The peg in row 1, column 1 jumps down over row 2, column 1. It lands in row 3, column 1.
- Row 3 now has pegs in columns 1 and 2. The peg in row 3, column 1 jumps right over column 2. It lands on the diamond in row 3, column 3.
- Only 1 peg is left, and it is on the diamond. The puzzle is solved.
This board has a second way too. Start with the peg in row 3, column 2 and jump it up to row 1, column 2. Next, jump the peg in row 1, column 1 right to row 1, column 3. Then jump that peg down over row 2, column 3, onto the diamond. Any order that ends on the diamond wins.
Beginner techniques
Count the jumps
Each jump takes away exactly 1 peg. So a board with 5 pegs always needs 4 jumps. This helps you see how far you have to go.
Work back from the diamond
Look at the diamond and ask which jumps can land there. The last jump needs a peg next to the diamond and one more peg behind it. Plan the board so those 2 pegs are there at the end.
Keep jumping with the same peg
Often one peg can make several jumps in a row. Moving one peg across the board can clear a lot of pegs on the way.
Move a peg into place
Sometimes a jump needs a peg in the middle that is not there yet. Jump another peg into that spot first. Then make the jump you wanted.
Keep a peg for the finish
If only 1 jump can reach the diamond, protect the peg it jumps over. Do not take that peg away early, because you cannot put it back.
Common mistakes
- Leaving a peg alone where no other peg can reach it. Then it can never be taken away.
- Ending with 1 peg in the wrong hole. The last peg must be on the diamond.
- Using up the peg you need for the last jump.
- Making a jump just because it is possible, without a plan for the next ones.
- Forgetting that a peg can already sit on the diamond at the start. It may need to move away and come back.
Questions
Is Peg Solitaire the same as Solo Noble?
Yes. Solo Noble is an old name for the same game. Brainvita is another name for it in India.
Can I jump on a slant?
No. In Quirk, you jump up, down, left or right only.
Is there only one way to win?
No. Any order of jumps that ends with 1 peg on the diamond wins.
What if I get stuck?
When no jumps are left, use Undo to take back a jump, or Reset to start again. You can undo each jump one by one.
How do hints work?
A hint shows up to 3 jumps. You still make each jump yourself, one at a time.
Is it the same board every time?
No. Quirk has many small boards in different shapes. Each one shows its own holes and its own diamond.
Related puzzles
Playing it in Quirk
Tap a peg, then tap the empty hole just behind the peg next to it. Your peg jumps over, and the peg it jumps over is taken away. Dots show where you can jump.
Filled circles are pegs and rings are empty holes. Notes only mark holes and never change the board. Guide describes the board for you.
