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RULES & PRACTICE

How to Play River Crossing Puzzle

Play River Crossing Puzzle ↗

Game guide · LUYUANJD

Find your footing in River Crossing Puzzle

Use the controls beside the game rather than guessing the rules. Carry the wolf, goat and cabbage across the river without leaving an unsafe pair unattended. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction. Everyone starts on the near bank. The farmer rows and can take at most one passenger.

The classic single wolf–goat–cabbage puzzle, with one-passenger boat and seven-crossing optimal solution. No claim of a large level collection.

A focus for your next round

Cross alone or take someone on the same bank as the farmer. Unsafe crossings are rejected before the state changes. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction.

Aim for this result

Begin with the basic rule, then follow the result of your action. Carry the wolf, goat and cabbage across the river without leaving an unsafe pair unattended.

How a round unfolds

  1. Everyone starts on the near bank. The farmer rows and can take at most one passenger.
  2. The wolf cannot stay with the goat without the farmer. The goat cannot stay with the cabbage without the farmer.
  3. Cross alone or take someone on the same bank as the farmer. Unsafe crossings are rejected before the state changes.
  4. Bring all four across. Use Undo or Restart to explore another sequence.

Keyboard and screen controls

A careful first move helps you understand the round. Choose Cross alone, Take Wolf, Take Goat or Take Cabbage. Buttons for passengers on the other bank are unavailable. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction.

A useful example

Read the position before choosing your next action. Taking the goat first leaves the wolf with the cabbage, which is safe. Taking the wolf first would leave the goat with the cabbage and is refused. The game area remains available above the explanation.

Check this before moving on

The farmer sometimes must bring a passenger back. Only moving forward is not enough to solve the puzzle. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.

Game-specific help

During a round, what is the aim of River Crossing Puzzle?

Carry the wolf, goat and cabbage across the river without leaving an unsafe pair unattended. You can start a new round from the game controls.

On this page, how do the controls work?

Choose Cross alone, Take Wolf, Take Goat or Take Cabbage. Buttons for passengers on the other bank are unavailable. The game is played locally in your browser.

During a round, can you show an example?

Taking the goat first leaves the wolf with the cabbage, which is safe. Taking the wolf first would leave the goat with the cabbage and is refused. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.

When I start, which mistake should I avoid?

The farmer sometimes must bring a passenger back. Only moving forward is not enough to solve the puzzle. No download or player account is required.

During a round, what rules and limits are used here?

The classic single wolf–goat–cabbage puzzle, with one-passenger boat and seven-crossing optimal solution. No claim of a large level collection. A new round resets the current game.

For this game, how many people can play here?

Solo. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.

During a round, can the farmer travel alone?

Yes. Cross alone moves only the farmer and boat to the opposite bank. The game is played locally in your browser.

During a round, why was my crossing refused?

It would leave the wolf with the goat or the goat with the cabbage without the farmer. You can start a new round from the game controls.

During a round, can I carry two passengers?

No. The boat holds the farmer and at most one passenger. The instructions above use these same rules.

When I start, how many crossings are needed?

The shortest solution uses seven crossings, including return trips. You can start a new round from the game controls.

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