How to Play Fox and Geese

The earliest reference to Fox and Geese appeared about 1300 A.D. in the Icelandic Gerettis Saga. Fox and Geese comes from the board games classified as "hunt" games for two players. Playing time is short, making this thinking game ideal for young children.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fox and Geese Board
• Playing Pieces or Marbles

1. Purchase a fox and geese board. There are many suppliers online or it can be purchased at a toy store.

2. Arrange the marbles or pieces on the game board with the geese surrounding the fox. There should be 17 geese and 1 fox.

3. Move in any direction if you are the fox. The fox is attempting to jump over the geese, thereby capturing them.

4. Remove the piece from the board once it is jumped and the fox lands in a vacant hole.

5. Play the geese by moving forward or to the side. The geese are not permitted to move backward or diagonally. They must move only once in each turn.

6. Corner the fox and leave him with no moves. This is how you win if you're the geese.

7. If you're the fox, capture all the geese to win.

Tips & Warnings

• A playing board can be built out of clay and by drawing a grid of 6 by 6 squares to mark the 33 points of the cross-shaped game board.
• The Fox and Geese game board is versatile and is used to play other games, including "Moving Problem" and "Peg Solitaire."

Resources

• Traditional games from around the world.