Growing up, one of the games that I loved to play was Solitaire. Whilst I also love the card game of the same name (I grew up knowing it as Patience), I am talking about the board game offering, also known as Peg Solitaire or Marble Solitaire. As the name suggests, Solitaire is a game for one single solitary player. A game to sit in silence and go into battle with the board to try and get one remaining peg into the centre of the game board.
Solitaire as a board game, is a strategy game mostly played on a circular board with different shape patterns; the English version has 33 holes whilst the French (European) versions has 37 holes and there are several other variations with up to 45 holes. It is played with pegs or marbles.
The idea of the game is to fill all the holes or indentations with pegs or marbles, depending on your board, except the centre space and try to remove all the pieces by jumping over other pieces into an adjacent empty space. Every piece jumped is then removed from the board with the aim to finish with one solitary peg or marble in the centre space.
Solitaire as a board game has been around for centuries! Evidently the game can be traced back to the court of Louis XIV, the King of France, and the specific date of 1697! Although I haven’t been playing it anywhere near as long as that!
I have been playing the Bigjigs Toys wooden version of the game with marbles rather than pegs.
In the box:
- Circular Wooden Game Board
- 32 Blue Marbles
- Instructions
The Bigjigs version of this classic board game has a circular playing board made from responsibly sourced wood. If features 33 indentations and a grooved edge where marbles can sit.
Solitaire is an easy game to play. Just fill 32 of the indentations with marbles, leaving the centre one empty. To play, you move a single marble to jump over another one, horizontally or vertically, into an empty adjacent space, removing the jumped (captured) marble and placing it in the grooved edge around the perimeter. You keep doing this until there is one marble remaining on the board. But to make it more challenging and interesting, and to play properly, the last remaining marble should end up in the centre space on the last move. The shortest solution to the standard English game involves 18 moves, counting multiple jumps as single moves – can you do it as quick?
Overall, I love the game of Solitaire. It has been around for hundreds of years and is still played today and enjoyed by many. It is excellent and challenging fun.
Solitaire is an easy game to learn. It has a simple concept but one that is hard to master as there are many possible strategies and solutions that are not always obvious to see, and you do have to think ahead rather than just react to what is in front of you on the board.
But be warned, once you start playing, it does become very addictive. It is a game that tests logic, patience and problem-solving skills. A game that is very satisfying if you beat and get that last marble in the centre of the board. As a solitary game it can be very relaxing, played at your own speed, but can also be equally as frustrating as it is enjoyable, especially when you make a wrong move that only becomes apparent later.
Solitaire, peg or marble, is an excellent game for anyone who loves puzzles, logic games and brain teasers. It’s a great way to have fun and exercise your mind at the same time.
The wooden board and marbles are good quality. Durable pieces that will last for years. And I love the look of it.
This is a classic board game that every board game player should own. One that you can play alone and not have to wait for someone else to play with. A game that is perfect for keeping your mind active and challenged. Great for kids and adults.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £12.99
For more information or to buy direct, visit www.bigjigstoys.co.uk. Available to buy from Amazon here.
