KIKKERLAND Fox and Geese Scandinavian Game of Odds User Guide

June 12, 2024
KIKKERLAND

HOW TO PLAY KIKKERLAND logo1

PLAYERS: 2 TIME: 20-90mins
SCANDINAVIAN GAME OF ODDS

Fox and Geese Scandinavian Game of Odds

KIKKERLAND Fox and Geese Scandinavian Game of Odds -
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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.

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