The History of Fox and Geese
A hunt game from medieval Europe: one fox, a flock of geese and a cross-shaped board.
One Against Many
Fox and Geese belongs to a family of hunt games in which one strong piece plays against many weak ones. In northern Europe the related game Halatafl is known from at least the 14th century.
In England
In England the game was played on the cross-shaped board. The board-game historian H. J. R. Murray describes several such boards scratched into the stone seats of Gloucester Cathedral, and King Edward IV is recorded as having bought pieces for a fox game: two foxes and 26 hounds.
More Geese
The oldest form with 13 geese gives the fox the better chances. Later players added geese - 15, 17 or more - or a second fox to even it out. In the 19th century the game was a favourite pastime of Queen Victoria.
On PaperGames
PaperGames plays the 13-geese game on the cross without diagonals. You can take either side against the computer, or play with two people on one device.