The first known reference to the game in print with the directions was in a French magazine, Mercure Galant, in August of 1687. Still, the game’s origins can actually be traced all the way back to the court of Louis XIV in 1697 in several art paintings, with an engraving made ten years later by Claude Auguste Berey of Anne de Rohan-Chabot, Princess of Soubise. The peg game has graced Cracker Barrel tables since we opened the first country store back in 1960. Leave three pegs, and you are just plain “dumb.”īut leave four pegs, and sorry, but you are an “EQ-NO-RA-MOOOSE.” (it’s all in good fun – no judgement here!) The History of the Peg Game Leave two pegs, and you’re “pretty smart.” If you are successful and leave only one peg, you are a “genius.” Keep doing this until only a single peg remains. Jump one peg over another to an open space and remove the one that was jumped. You’ll have one place on the board that won’t have a peg.

Place a peg in each of the holes of the game board. It’s easy! But first, let’s review how to play and look at where the peg game originally came from. You may not believe it, but you can achieve “genius” status. Who knew that trying to get down to one peg left standing could be so fun and challenging at the same time? Sometimes referred to as “Peg Solitaire” or “Hi-Q”, this simple game has been entertaining our guests for decades, plus it’s a great way to give your noggin a mini workout. Chances are, as you’ve been patiently waiting at your table for us to bring out your meal, you’ve tried to beat the famous Cracker Barrel peg game.

Online peg solitaire