Game guide · NEW61
River Crossing Puzzle: instructions and practice
A careful first move helps you understand the round. Carry the wolf, goat and cabbage across the river without leaving an unsafe pair unattended. Keep the goal in mind before your next move. Everyone starts on the near bank. The farmer rows and can take at most one passenger. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
The classic single wolf–goat–cabbage puzzle, with one-passenger boat and seven-crossing optimal solution. No claim of a large level collection.
One thing to notice as you play
The board gives you the information needed for the next action. Cross alone or take someone on the same bank as the farmer. Unsafe crossings are rejected before the state changes.
Your objective
Carry the wolf, goat and cabbage across the river without leaving an unsafe pair unattended.
Start here and follow along
- Everyone starts on the near bank. The farmer rows and can take at most one passenger.
- The wolf cannot stay with the goat without the farmer. The goat cannot stay with the cabbage without the farmer.
- Cross alone or take someone on the same bank as the farmer. Unsafe crossings are rejected before the state changes.
- Bring all four across. Use Undo or Restart to explore another sequence.
How your actions work
Read the position before choosing your next action. Choose Cross alone, Take Wolf, Take Goat or Take Cabbage. Buttons for passengers on the other bank are unavailable. The game area remains available above the explanation.
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. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
One detail worth checking
The example and rules describe the same game you can play above. The farmer sometimes must bring a passenger back. Only moving forward is not enough to solve the puzzle. The game area remains available above the explanation.
A few questions answered
What is the aim of River Crossing Puzzle?
Carry the wolf, goat and cabbage across the river without leaving an unsafe pair unattended. A new round resets the current game.
When I start, how do the controls work?
Choose Cross alone, Take Wolf, Take Goat or Take Cabbage. Buttons for passengers on the other bank are unavailable. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
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.
Which mistake should I avoid?
The farmer sometimes must bring a passenger back. Only moving forward is not enough to solve the puzzle. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
For this game, 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. The game is played locally in your browser.
How many people can play here?
Solo. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.
During a round, can the farmer travel alone?
Yes. Cross alone moves only the farmer and boat to the opposite bank. You can start a new round from the game controls.
For this game, why was my crossing refused?
It would leave the wolf with the goat or the goat with the cabbage without the farmer. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
On this page, can I carry two passengers?
No. The boat holds the farmer and at most one passenger. No download or player account is required.
For this game, how many crossings are needed?
The shortest solution uses seven crossings, including return trips. The instructions above use these same rules.
