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The Cracker Barrel Peg Puzzle

When advancing our nefarious plans for World Domination requires us to travel, we often take our meals at one of the many Cracker Barrel restaurants. We particularly like their biscuits, which are, in our opinion, the finest to be found in the known universe. In fact, we like them so much that Robert hacked into their mainframe and made sure they built a Cracker Barrel in Wilmington.

The Pernicious Puzzle

On each table in the Cracker Barrel is a peg puzzle, which consists of a triangular block of wood containing 15 holes, 14 of which have golf tees (aka pegs) in them. The game consists of jumping pegs over one another and removing the jumped-over peg, in a similar manner to checkers. The object is to end up with as few pegs as possible, hopefully one. It's more difficult than it looks, and so, after Robert failed to do better than 2 pegs (which, though it qualifies him as "Purty Darn Smart", is an insult to any self-respecting Mad Overlord!), he decided to write a simple computer program that would play every single possible game, and tell him the results. As it happened, Robert was on a trip to an Anime convention when he decided to do this, wrote the program during the convention, and had dinner at the same Cracker Barrel on the way back, wherein he proceeded to crush all comers. Revenge, 'tis sweet.

More Than You Ever Wanted To Know About The Puzzle

While there are 15 possible starting positions for the pegs, to be a perfect player, you really only need to know how to play from 4 of them (pegs 1,2,4 and 5), because all the rest are either a reflection, rotation, or a reflection or rotation of the "core 4".

For example, if the hole is at peg 11, you can rotate the puzzle to move peg 11 to peg 1, peg 3 is the mirror reflection of peg 2, and peg 14 can be made into peg 2 by a rotation and a reflection combined. By learning winning games from pegs 1,2,3,4 and 5 you can complete the puzzle without bothering with reflections at all.

There are a total of 1,945,839,290 possible games that can be played, of which only 438,984 of them are winning games with only 1 peg left.

The choice of the starting empty peg is very important. There are 29,760 possible winning games starting with pegs 1,11 or 15; 14,880 winners starting with pegs 2,3,7,10,12 or 14; and 85,258 when starting from pegs 4,6, or 13. But there are only 1550 solutions when starting from pegs 5,8, or 9!

Thus, when at dinner and challenged to play the game, always give the puzzle to your unsuspecting opponent with peg 5 empty, and watch him or her go down in flames. But when you take the puzzle, start with position 4 open, and even if you don't remember the moves, you're likely to do better (you're about 50 times more likely to luck out!)

Presented on this page are diagrams for sample winning games starting with any particular peg and, just for giggles, ending up whenever possible with the final peg on the starting hole. If you want to be a real ratfink, have someone try to do this with the empty peg starting at positions 5,8 or 9 -- it's impossible! I've also included an example of the worst possible game! It turns out that it is possible to play a game that ends up with 10 pegs out of the original 14 on the board, but no legal moves!

Other Peg-Puzzle Obsessed Patrons

I am not the only person who has written about the nefarious peg-puzzle or written software to sneakily solve it. A search on google for cracker barrel peg puzzle will bring up some interesting pages (though, bwahahaha!, this one usually comes up number one!). In particular you may like George Bell and Dan O'Brien's efforts. George in particular is to be commended for his deep analysis of the general peg-puzzle game as well as for documenting a set of simple playing rules that greatly increase your chances of winning.

Starting and Ending at Peg 1

Start with peg 1 empty.	Move from peg 4 over peg 2 to peg 1.	Move from peg 6 over peg 5 to peg 4.
Move from peg 1 over peg 3 to peg 6.	Move from peg 7 over peg 4 to peg 2.	Move from peg 10 over peg 6 to peg 3.
Move from peg 12 over peg 8 to peg 5.	Move from peg 14 over peg 13 to peg 12.	Move from peg 11 over peg 12 to peg 13.
Move from peg 13 over peg 9 to peg 6.	Move from peg 3 over peg 6 to peg 10.	Move from peg 15 over peg 10 to peg 6.
Move from peg 6 over peg 5 to peg 4.	Move from peg 4 over peg 2 to peg 1.	List of Moves: Start with empty peg in hole 1 Move from 4 over 2 to 1 Move from 6 over 5 to 4 Move from 1 over 3 to 6 Move from 7 over 4 to 2 Move from 10 over 6 to 3 Move from 12 over 8 to 5 Move from 14 over 13 to 12 Move from 11 over 12 to 13 Move from 13 over 9 to 6 Move from 3 over 6 to 10 Move from 15 over 10 to 6 Move from 6 over 5 to 4 Move from 4 over 2 to 1

Starting and Ending at Peg 2

Start with peg 2 empty.	Move from peg 7 over peg 4 to peg 2.	Move from peg 6 over peg 5 to peg 4.
Move from peg 1 over peg 3 to peg 6.	Move from peg 2 over peg 4 to peg 7.	Move from peg 10 over peg 6 to peg 3.
Move from peg 12 over peg 8 to peg 5.	Move from peg 14 over peg 13 to peg 12.	Move from peg 11 over peg 12 to peg 13.
Move from peg 13 over peg 9 to peg 6.	Move from peg 3 over peg 6 to peg 10.	Move from peg 15 over peg 10 to peg 6.
Move from peg 6 over peg 5 to peg 4.	Move from peg 7 over peg 4 to peg 2.	List of Moves: Start with empty peg in hole 2 Move from 7 over 4 to 2 Move from 6 over 5 to 4 Move from 1 over 3 to 6 Move from 2 over 4 to 7 Move from 10 over 6 to 3 Move from 12 over 8 to 5 Move from 14 over 13 to 12 Move from 11 over 12 to 13 Move from 13 over 9 to 6 Move from 3 over 6 to 10 Move from 15 over 10 to 6 Move from 6 over 5 to 4 Move from 7 over 4 to 2

Starting and Ending at Peg 3

Start with peg 3 empty.	Move from peg 10 over peg 6 to peg 3.	Move from peg 4 over peg 5 to peg 6.
Move from peg 1 over peg 2 to peg 4.	Move from peg 3 over peg 6 to peg 10.	Move from peg 7 over peg 4 to peg 2.
Move from peg 13 over peg 8 to peg 4.	Move from peg 2 over peg 4 to peg 7.	Move from peg 11 over peg 7 to peg 4.
Move from peg 15 over peg 14 to peg 13.	Move from peg 12 over peg 13 to peg 14.	Move from peg 14 over peg 9 to peg 5.
Move from peg 4 over peg 5 to peg 6.	Move from peg 10 over peg 6 to peg 3.	List of Moves: Start with empty peg in hole 3 Move from 10 over 6 to 3 Move from 4 over 5 to 6 Move from 1 over 2 to 4 Move from 3 over 6 to 10 Move from 7 over 4 to 2 Move from 13 over 8 to 4 Move from 2 over 4 to 7 Move from 11 over 7 to 4 Move from 15 over 14 to 13 Move from 12 over 13 to 14 Move from 14 over 9 to 5 Move from 4 over 5 to 6 Move from 10 over 6 to 3

Starting and Ending at Peg 4

Start with peg 4 empty.	Move from peg 1 over peg 2 to peg 4.	Move from peg 6 over peg 3 to peg 1.
Move from peg 4 over peg 5 to peg 6.	Move from peg 10 over peg 6 to peg 3.	Move from peg 1 over peg 3 to peg 6.
Move from peg 13 over peg 8 to peg 4.	Move from peg 7 over peg 4 to peg 2.	Move from peg 15 over peg 14 to peg 13.
Move from peg 12 over peg 13 to peg 14.	Move from peg 14 over peg 9 to peg 5.	Move from peg 6 over peg 5 to peg 4.
Move from peg 2 over peg 4 to peg 7.	Move from peg 11 over peg 7 to peg 4.	List of Moves: Start with empty peg in hole 4 Move from 1 over 2 to 4 Move from 6 over 3 to 1 Move from 4 over 5 to 6 Move from 10 over 6 to 3 Move from 1 over 3 to 6 Move from 13 over 8 to 4 Move from 7 over 4 to 2 Move from 15 over 14 to 13 Move from 12 over 13 to 14 Move from 14 over 9 to 5 Move from 6 over 5 to 4 Move from 2 over 4 to 7 Move from 11 over 7 to 4

Starting at Peg 5 (no solutions end there!)

Start with peg 5 empty.	Move from peg 12 over peg 8 to peg 5.	Move from peg 10 over peg 9 to peg 8.
Move from peg 2 over peg 5 to peg 9.	Move from peg 3 over peg 6 to peg 10.	Move from peg 7 over peg 4 to peg 2.
Move from peg 1 over peg 2 to peg 4.	Move from peg 14 over peg 13 to peg 12.	Move from peg 4 over peg 8 to peg 13.
Move from peg 12 over peg 13 to peg 14.	Move from peg 15 over peg 10 to peg 6.	Move from peg 6 over peg 9 to peg 13.
Move from peg 14 over peg 13 to peg 12.	Move from peg 11 over peg 12 to peg 13.	List of Moves: Start with empty peg in hole 5 Move from 12 over 8 to 5 Move from 10 over 9 to 8 Move from 2 over 5 to 9 Move from 3 over 6 to 10 Move from 7 over 4 to 2 Move from 1 over 2 to 4 Move from 14 over 13 to 12 Move from 4 over 8 to 13 Move from 12 over 13 to 14 Move from 15 over 10 to 6 Move from 6 over 9 to 13 Move from 14 over 13 to 12 Move from 11 over 12 to 13

Starting and Ending at Peg 6

Start with peg 6 empty.	Move from peg 1 over peg 3 to peg 6.	Move from peg 4 over peg 2 to peg 1.
Move from peg 6 over peg 5 to peg 4.	Move from peg 7 over peg 4 to peg 2.	Move from peg 1 over peg 2 to peg 4.
Move from peg 12 over peg 8 to peg 5.	Move from peg 4 over peg 5 to peg 6.	Move from peg 10 over peg 6 to peg 3.
Move from peg 14 over peg 13 to peg 12.	Move from peg 11 over peg 12 to peg 13.	Move from peg 13 over peg 9 to peg 6.
Move from peg 3 over peg 6 to peg 10.	Move from peg 15 over peg 10 to peg 6.	List of Moves: Start with empty peg in hole 6 Move from 1 over 3 to 6 Move from 4 over 2 to 1 Move from 6 over 5 to 4 Move from 7 over 4 to 2 Move from 1 over 2 to 4 Move from 12 over 8 to 5 Move from 4 over 5 to 6 Move from 10 over 6 to 3 Move from 14 over 13 to 12 Move from 11 over 12 to 13 Move from 13 over 9 to 6 Move from 3 over 6 to 10 Move from 15 over 10 to 6

Starting and Ending at Peg 7

Start with peg 7 empty.	Move from peg 2 over peg 4 to peg 7.	Move from peg 6 over peg 5 to peg 4.
Move from peg 1 over peg 3 to peg 6.	Move from peg 7 over peg 4 to peg 2.	Move from peg 10 over peg 6 to peg 3.
Move from peg 12 over peg 8 to peg 5.	Move from peg 14 over peg 13 to peg 12.	Move from peg 11 over peg 12 to peg 13.
Move from peg 13 over peg 9 to peg 6.	Move from peg 3 over peg 6 to peg 10.	Move from peg 15 over peg 10 to peg 6.
Move from peg 6 over peg 5 to peg 4.	Move from peg 2 over peg 4 to peg 7.	List of Moves: Start with empty peg in hole 7 Move from 2 over 4 to 7 Move from 6 over 5 to 4 Move from 1 over 3 to 6 Move from 7 over 4 to 2 Move from 10 over 6 to 3 Move from 12 over 8 to 5 Move from 14 over 13 to 12 Move from 11 over 12 to 13 Move from 13 over 9 to 6 Move from 3 over 6 to 10 Move from 15 over 10 to 6 Move from 6 over 5 to 4 Move from 2 over 4 to 7

Starting at Peg 8 (no solutions end there!)

Start with peg 8 empty.	Move from peg 3 over peg 5 to peg 8.	Move from peg 10 over peg 6 to peg 3.
Move from peg 13 over peg 9 to peg 6.	Move from peg 3 over peg 6 to peg 10.	Move from peg 7 over peg 8 to peg 9.
Move from peg 2 over peg 4 to peg 7.	Move from peg 11 over peg 7 to peg 4.	Move from peg 15 over peg 14 to peg 13.
Move from peg 12 over peg 13 to peg 14.	Move from peg 14 over peg 9 to peg 5.	Move from peg 4 over peg 5 to peg 6.
Move from peg 10 over peg 6 to peg 3.	Move from peg 1 over peg 3 to peg 6.	List of Moves: Start with empty peg in hole 8 Move from 3 over 5 to 8 Move from 10 over 6 to 3 Move from 13 over 9 to 6 Move from 3 over 6 to 10 Move from 7 over 8 to 9 Move from 2 over 4 to 7 Move from 11 over 7 to 4 Move from 15 over 14 to 13 Move from 12 over 13 to 14 Move from 14 over 9 to 5 Move from 4 over 5 to 6 Move from 10 over 6 to 3 Move from 1 over 3 to 6

Starting at Peg 9 (no solutions end there!)

Start with peg 9 empty.	Move from peg 2 over peg 5 to peg 9.	Move from peg 7 over peg 4 to peg 2.
Move from peg 12 over peg 8 to peg 5.	Move from peg 3 over peg 5 to peg 8.	Move from peg 10 over peg 6 to peg 3.
Move from peg 1 over peg 3 to peg 6.	Move from peg 14 over peg 13 to peg 12.	Move from peg 6 over peg 9 to peg 13.
Move from peg 12 over peg 13 to peg 14.	Move from peg 15 over peg 14 to peg 13.	Move from peg 13 over peg 8 to peg 4.
Move from peg 2 over peg 4 to peg 7.	Move from peg 11 over peg 7 to peg 4.	List of Moves: Start with empty peg in hole 9 Move from 2 over 5 to 9 Move from 7 over 4 to 2 Move from 12 over 8 to 5 Move from 3 over 5 to 8 Move from 10 over 6 to 3 Move from 1 over 3 to 6 Move from 14 over 13 to 12 Move from 6 over 9 to 13 Move from 12 over 13 to 14 Move from 15 over 14 to 13 Move from 13 over 8 to 4 Move from 2 over 4 to 7 Move from 11 over 7 to 4

Starting and Ending at Peg 10

Start with peg 10 empty.	Move from peg 3 over peg 6 to peg 10.	Move from peg 4 over peg 5 to peg 6.
Move from peg 1 over peg 2 to peg 4.	Move from peg 7 over peg 4 to peg 2.	Move from peg 10 over peg 6 to peg 3.
Move from peg 13 over peg 8 to peg 4.	Move from peg 2 over peg 4 to peg 7.	Move from peg 11 over peg 7 to peg 4.
Move from peg 15 over peg 14 to peg 13.	Move from peg 12 over peg 13 to peg 14.	Move from peg 14 over peg 9 to peg 5.
Move from peg 4 over peg 5 to peg 6.	Move from peg 3 over peg 6 to peg 10.	List of Moves: Start with empty peg in hole 10 Move from 3 over 6 to 10 Move from 4 over 5 to 6 Move from 1 over 2 to 4 Move from 7 over 4 to 2 Move from 10 over 6 to 3 Move from 13 over 8 to 4 Move from 2 over 4 to 7 Move from 11 over 7 to 4 Move from 15 over 14 to 13 Move from 12 over 13 to 14 Move from 14 over 9 to 5 Move from 4 over 5 to 6 Move from 3 over 6 to 10

Starting and Ending at Peg 11

Start with peg 11 empty.	Move from peg 4 over peg 7 to peg 11.	Move from peg 6 over peg 5 to peg 4.
Move from peg 1 over peg 3 to peg 6.	Move from peg 2 over peg 4 to peg 7.	Move from peg 10 over peg 6 to peg 3.
Move from peg 11 over peg 7 to peg 4.	Move from peg 12 over peg 8 to peg 5.	Move from peg 4 over peg 5 to peg 6.
Move from peg 3 over peg 6 to peg 10.	Move from peg 14 over peg 13 to peg 12.	Move from peg 15 over peg 10 to peg 6.
Move from peg 6 over peg 9 to peg 13.	Move from peg 13 over peg 12 to peg 11.	List of Moves: Start with empty peg in hole 11 Move from 4 over 7 to 11 Move from 6 over 5 to 4 Move from 1 over 3 to 6 Move from 2 over 4 to 7 Move from 10 over 6 to 3 Move from 11 over 7 to 4 Move from 12 over 8 to 5 Move from 4 over 5 to 6 Move from 3 over 6 to 10 Move from 14 over 13 to 12 Move from 15 over 10 to 6 Move from 6 over 9 to 13 Move from 13 over 12 to 11

Starting and Ending at Peg 12

Start with peg 12 empty.	Move from peg 14 over peg 13 to peg 12.	Move from peg 4 over peg 8 to peg 13.
Move from peg 1 over peg 2 to peg 4.	Move from peg 7 over peg 4 to peg 2.	Move from peg 6 over peg 5 to peg 4.
Move from peg 2 over peg 4 to peg 7.	Move from peg 11 over peg 7 to peg 4.	Move from peg 12 over peg 13 to peg 14.
Move from peg 15 over peg 10 to peg 6.	Move from peg 3 over peg 6 to peg 10.	Move from peg 10 over peg 9 to peg 8.
Move from peg 4 over peg 8 to peg 13.	Move from peg 14 over peg 13 to peg 12.	List of Moves: Start with empty peg in hole 12 Move from 14 over 13 to 12 Move from 4 over 8 to 13 Move from 1 over 2 to 4 Move from 7 over 4 to 2 Move from 6 over 5 to 4 Move from 2 over 4 to 7 Move from 11 over 7 to 4 Move from 12 over 13 to 14 Move from 15 over 10 to 6 Move from 3 over 6 to 10 Move from 10 over 9 to 8 Move from 4 over 8 to 13 Move from 14 over 13 to 12

Starting and Ending at Peg 13

Start with peg 13 empty.	Move from peg 4 over peg 8 to peg 13.	Move from peg 1 over peg 2 to peg 4.
Move from peg 3 over peg 5 to peg 8.	Move from peg 7 over peg 4 to peg 2.	Move from peg 10 over peg 6 to peg 3.
Move from peg 12 over peg 8 to peg 5.	Move from peg 13 over peg 9 to peg 6.	Move from peg 2 over peg 5 to peg 9.
Move from peg 3 over peg 6 to peg 10.	Move from peg 15 over peg 10 to peg 6.	Move from peg 6 over peg 9 to peg 13.
Move from peg 14 over peg 13 to peg 12.	Move from peg 11 over peg 12 to peg 13.	List of Moves: Start with empty peg in hole 13 Move from 4 over 8 to 13 Move from 1 over 2 to 4 Move from 3 over 5 to 8 Move from 7 over 4 to 2 Move from 10 over 6 to 3 Move from 12 over 8 to 5 Move from 13 over 9 to 6 Move from 2 over 5 to 9 Move from 3 over 6 to 10 Move from 15 over 10 to 6 Move from 6 over 9 to 13 Move from 14 over 13 to 12 Move from 11 over 12 to 13

Starting and Ending at Peg 14

Start with peg 14 empty.	Move from peg 12 over peg 13 to peg 14.	Move from peg 4 over peg 8 to peg 13.
Move from peg 1 over peg 2 to peg 4.	Move from peg 7 over peg 4 to peg 2.	Move from peg 6 over peg 5 to peg 4.
Move from peg 2 over peg 4 to peg 7.	Move from peg 11 over peg 7 to peg 4.	Move from peg 14 over peg 13 to peg 12.
Move from peg 15 over peg 10 to peg 6.	Move from peg 3 over peg 6 to peg 10.	Move from peg 10 over peg 9 to peg 8.
Move from peg 4 over peg 8 to peg 13.	Move from peg 12 over peg 13 to peg 14.	List of Moves: Start with empty peg in hole 14 Move from 12 over 13 to 14 Move from 4 over 8 to 13 Move from 1 over 2 to 4 Move from 7 over 4 to 2 Move from 6 over 5 to 4 Move from 2 over 4 to 7 Move from 11 over 7 to 4 Move from 14 over 13 to 12 Move from 15 over 10 to 6 Move from 3 over 6 to 10 Move from 10 over 9 to 8 Move from 4 over 8 to 13 Move from 12 over 13 to 14

Starting and Ending at Peg 15

Start with peg 15 empty.	Move from peg 6 over peg 10 to peg 15.	Move from peg 4 over peg 5 to peg 6.
Move from peg 1 over peg 2 to peg 4.	Move from peg 3 over peg 6 to peg 10.	Move from peg 7 over peg 4 to peg 2.
Move from peg 13 over peg 8 to peg 4.	Move from peg 2 over peg 4 to peg 7.	Move from peg 10 over peg 9 to peg 8.
Move from peg 11 over peg 7 to peg 4.	Move from peg 15 over peg 14 to peg 13.	Move from peg 12 over peg 13 to peg 14.
Move from peg 4 over peg 8 to peg 13.	Move from peg 13 over peg 14 to peg 15.	List of Moves: Start with empty peg in hole 15 Move from 6 over 10 to 15 Move from 4 over 5 to 6 Move from 1 over 2 to 4 Move from 3 over 6 to 10 Move from 7 over 4 to 2 Move from 13 over 8 to 4 Move from 2 over 4 to 7 Move from 10 over 9 to 8 Move from 11 over 7 to 4 Move from 15 over 14 to 13 Move from 12 over 13 to 14 Move from 4 over 8 to 13 Move from 13 over 14 to 15

The Worst Possible Game!

Start with peg 5 empty.	Move from peg 12 over peg 8 to peg 5.	Move from peg 3 over peg 5 to peg 8.
Move from peg 14 over peg 9 to peg 5.	Move from peg 8 over peg 5 to peg 3.	List of Moves: Start with empty peg in hole 5 Move from 12 over 8 to 5 Move from 3 over 5 to 8 Move from 14 over 9 to 5 Move from 8 over 5 to 3

Section: Our Humble CastleAdventures in AltitudeFamily EventsVarious ProjectsCombat RobotsAnimEigoSelfPromotion.comSite Map Projects: The Casio Exilim EX-F1 CameraEViE : EVE Online Skill Training MonitorHow to remember all your PIN numbersWebLord : Freeware StarWeb UtilitySudoku Susser : Freeware Sudoku Solver & AssistantPoker Room FreeRoll RankingsCertified Email (anti-spam idea)BoxSweeper for EudoraTrebor's Obnoxious Lunchmeat DetectorShellShell OSX Shell MacrosPopUpX OSX Popup Windows AppXTerminator BattleBot DesignHow to Destroy the InternetTipping PaperCracker Barrel Peg Puzzle