In the English-speaking world a simplified version is known as Fox and Geese. In this version the objective of reaching a certain location has been removed and instead it all comes down to capturing each other's pieces. Neither is it mandatory for the fox to capture the opponent's pieces, and there are no restraints on the defender's (the geese's) movements.
The fox is placed in the middle of the board, and 13 geese are placed on one side of the board. The fox and geese can move to any empty space around them (also diagonally). The fox can jump over geese like in checkers, capturing them. Repeated jumps are possible. Geese can not jump. Unlike in Halatafl, capturing is not mandatory. The geese win if they surround the fox so that it cannot move. The fox wins if it captures enough geese that the remaining geese cannot surround it anymore.
The traditional game with 13 geese is not well balanced and gives advantage to geese. There are more balanced game variants with 15, 17 or 18 geese or two foxes.
Read more about this topic: Fox Games
Famous quotes containing the words fox and, fox and/or geese:
“In a room with a stuffed fox and a stale fern,”
—Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)
“Have you ever been in love? A doll in Washington Heights once got a fox fur out of me.”
—Jay Dratler, U.S. screenwriter, Samuel Hoffenstein (1889–1947)
“Let the long contention cease! Geese are swans, and swans are geese. Let them have it how they will! Thou art tired; best be still.”
—Matthew Arnold (1822–1888)