About Tower of Hanoi
You start with a stack of discs on the left peg, with the biggest at the bottom and the smallest on top. Your goal is to move the whole stack to the right peg. There are three simple rules. You can move only one disc at a time. You can only take the top disc from a peg. And you can never place a bigger disc on top of a smaller one. To move a disc, tap a peg to lift its top disc, then tap the peg where you want to drop it. Try to solve it in as few moves as possible.
Tips for kids
Start with 3 discs to learn the pattern. A neat trick is that the smallest disc moves every other turn, always in the same direction around the pegs. Think about where you want the biggest disc to end up, and work out how to clear the way for it. Once you can solve 3, try 4, then 5.
Why it is good for kids
Tower of Hanoi is a famous puzzle that teaches planning, sequencing and problem solving. Breaking the big goal into smaller steps is a skill that helps with math and everyday challenges, and finishing it feels great.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Tower of Hanoi?
Move the whole stack of discs from the first peg to the last peg. You can only move one disc at a time, you can only take the top disc of a peg, and you can never put a bigger disc on top of a smaller one. Tap a peg to pick up its top disc, then tap another peg to drop it.
What is the fewest moves?
The smallest number of moves is two to the power of the number of discs, minus one. So 3 discs need 7 moves, 4 discs need 15, and 5 discs need 31. The game shows you the target.
Is it free?
Yes. Tower of Hanoi is free with no download and no sign-up, and it works on any device.