Fox and Hounds - Rules, History & Strategy Guide

Fox and Hounds (also called Fox and Geese) has been played in northern Europe for at least 300 years, with references in 18th-century English game collections. Versions appear under names like "The Devil and the Tailors" and "Wolf and Sheep" across the continent.

Despite its simplicity, Fox and Hounds is a solved game: with optimal play, the Hounds always win. Studying it teaches the core ideas behind asymmetric pursuit games and zugzwang.

One player controls a single Fox starting on the back row. The other controls four Hounds starting on the opposite back row. Pieces move one diagonal square per turn on dark squares only.

1. Hounds move first. Each turn, move one Hound diagonally forward by one square (toward the Fox).
2. On the Fox's turn, move the Fox diagonally one square — forward OR backward.
3. No captures, no jumps. Pieces cannot share a square.
4. The Fox wins by reaching the back rank where the Hounds started, OR by escaping past the Hounds line so they cannot catch it.
5. The Hounds win by trapping the Fox so it has no legal move.

Despite the Fox's diagonal-backward freedom, optimal Hound play wins every time — but only if the Hounds advance as a coordinated wall.

• Hounds: never break the line. Advance the rear Hound first to keep the formation tight; a gap is what the Fox needs to slip through.
• Fox: probe each side aggressively to force the Hounds to commit, then pivot to the weaker flank.
• Hounds: when the Fox retreats, advance — never let it gain tempo without paying for it.
• Both sides: count squares between the Fox and the back rank constantly. The Fox needs to maintain enough breathing room to maneuver.

Some variants use five Hounds (easier for Hounds), or allow the Fox to capture by jumping (closer to checkers). The "Wolf and Goats" variant uses 12 sheep on a smaller board with similar dynamics.