KIKKERLAND Fox and Geese Scandinavian Game of Odds User Guide
- June 12, 2024
- KIKKERLAND
Table of Contents
HOW TO PLAY 
PLAYERS: 2 TIME: 20-90mins
SCANDINAVIAN GAME OF ODDS
Fox and Geese Scandinavian Game of Odds
CONTENTS 1x Folded Game Board ] 15x White Geese ] 1x Red Fox
FOX & GEESE RULES
Equipment
Fox & Geese is played upon a cross shaped board consisting of a 3×3 point
square in the middle with four 2x 3 point areas adjacent to each face of the
central square. This makes a total of 33 points. Pieces are allowed to move
from one point to another only along lines which join points. The game is
played with 1 fox piece and 15 geese pieces.
Preparation and Objective
Fox & Geese is a game of inequality. The geese cannot capture the fox but aim,
through the benefit of numbers, to hem the fox in so that he cannot move. The
objective of the fox is to capture each goose until it becomes impossible for
them to trap him. The geese start by occupying all 6 squares of one arm of the
cross plus the whole first adjacent row and the two end points of the central
row. The fox starts in the middle of the board. As indicated on board with
solid circles for geese and outlined circle for fox.
Basic Play
Players toss a coin to decide who will play the fox – the geese always move
first. Players take turns moving their geese or fox to an adjacent point along
a line. The geese are only able to move directly forwards, diagonally forwards
or sideways, not backwards. Upon the fox’s turn, if a goose is adjacent to
the fox with an empty point directly behind, the fox may capture that goose by
hopping over it into the empty square and removing the goose from the board.
Captured pieces are never replayed onto the board and remain captured for the
remainder of the game. The game is finished when a player loses either by
being reduced to two pieces or by being unable to move. Like all unequal
games, it makes sense to play an even number of games, each player
alternating between playing the fox and playing the geese. The player who wins
the most games wins the match.
Variations
The fox can start anywhere on the board not occupied by a goose at the option
of the player controlling him. Some variations prevent the fox from moving but
not capturing diagonally. The limitations on the movement of the geese can
also be varied. For instance, diagonal movement can be disallowed. A “huffing
rule” can be used meaning if the fox can take a goose but does not do so, a
new goose is added anywhere on the board by the player playing the geese.
FUN FACTS:
FOX & GEESE IS A HUNT GAME FROM NORTHERN EUROPE.
IT WAS POPULAR IN SCANDINAVIA AND THE BRITISH ISLES, DATING BACK TO MEDIEVAL
TIMES. MANY VARIATIONS OF THE GAME HAVE BEEN CREATED SINCE.
THE GAME CONSISTS OF 1 FOX AGAINST 15 GEESE. AS SUCH, THE GAME SEEMS TO FAVOR
THE GEESE, WHO SHOULD WIN IF THEY MANAGE TO AVOID THE FOX. FOR THE FOX TO WIN,
IT MUST TRY TO EXPLOIT MISTAKES MADE BY THE GEESE, LOOKING AHEAD FOR ANY WEAK
POINTS THEY MAY HAVE. THE GAME IS TRUE TO NATURE, WITH FOXES TYPICALLY HUNTING
ALONE AND GEESE USUALLY TRAVELING IN GROUPS.