One peg left, in any hole. Leaving that peg in the center is the classic finish, and it counts the same: best left is 1.

What does Best left mean?

The fewest pegs still on the board when a game stopped. A lower number is better. It updates only when no jump is left, and it stays if a later game finishes with more.

Can I undo after the board has stopped?

Yes. Undo restores the last jump, including the peg that was removed, and you can keep playing from there.

Are diagonal jumps allowed?

No. A jump is one step up, down, left, or right, over a single peg, into the empty hole just beyond it.

Where is my best kept?

In this browser, on this device. Clearing site data for Play Solo removes it. Nothing is sent to a server.

Does one peg anywhere count as a win?

Yes, one peg is a clear. Leaving it in the center is the traditional perfect finish.

Peg Solitaire — Free Online

Rules and help

How to play Peg Solitaire

The board is the English cross: 33 holes, with the corners of the square left solid. At the start, every hole holds a peg except the center.

A jump

Choose a peg, then choose an empty hole it can reach. A peg jumps in a straight line — up, down, left, or right — over one neighboring peg into the empty hole just beyond it. The peg you jump over is removed. Diagonal jumps are not allowed, and a peg cannot jump over more than one peg or into a hole farther away.

The aim

Keep jumping until one peg remains. That peg may sit in any hole. Leaving it in the center is the classic finish. The board also stops when no jump is left. Pegs is how many are still on the board. Best left is the fewest you have finished with on this device. A lower number is better. One is a clear.

Undo and a new board

Undo puts the last jump back, including the peg that was removed. You can undo after the board has stopped. New game fills the cross again and empties the center. Your best stays.

Using this game

Tap a peg, then tap a highlighted hole. Arrow keys move from hole to hole. Enter or Space chooses the hole in focus. Your place in the game, and your best, stay in this browser.

Tips

The first jump has to land in the center. Four pegs can make it: the ones two holes above, below, left, and right.
The arms of the cross are easy to strand. Clear an arm while a peg can still jump back toward the middle.
If a peg has nowhere to go, undo and take the other hole.
One peg anywhere clears the board. The center is the traditional place to leave it.

Playing on a phone or tablet

Tap a peg, then tap a highlighted hole. Undo and New game stay above the board.

Frequently asked questions

What is a clear?: One peg left, in any hole. Leaving that peg in the center is the classic finish, and it counts the same: best left is 1.
What does Best left mean?: The fewest pegs still on the board when a game stopped. A lower number is better. It updates only when no jump is left, and it stays if a later game finishes with more.
Can I undo after the board has stopped?: Yes. Undo restores the last jump, including the peg that was removed, and you can keep playing from there.
Are diagonal jumps allowed?: No. A jump is one step up, down, left, or right, over a single peg, into the empty hole just beyond it.
Where is my best kept?: In this browser, on this device. Clearing site data for Play Solo removes it. Nothing is sent to a server.
Does one peg anywhere count as a win?: Yes, one peg is a clear. Leaving it in the center is the traditional perfect finish.