Identifying the German Peg-and-Dice Game with a 6-Hole Board: Mensch ärgere dich nicht

The game you're describing is most likely Mensch ärgere dich nicht ("Man, Don't Get Annoyed"), the classic German cross-and-circle race game.

Why It Fits

• German Origin: Invented 1907/1914 by Josef Friedrich Schmidt. National game of Germany.
• Pegs + Dice: Each player has 4 pegs (men). Roll 1d6 to move.
• "6-Hole Board" – Likely a Travel/Mini Version: Standard board has a cross-shaped track with 40 steps + 4 start + 4 home = 48 holes per color. Compact travel versions often shrink to a 6×6 or circular 6-hole-per-player layout for portability.
• "Get Rid of Your [Pegs] by Rolling Number on Empty Hole": You roll to enter a peg from "house" onto the start arrow (requires 6), then race around. "Empty hole" = unoccupied space. Goal: get all 4 pegs into "home" (safe holes).
• Knocking Out: Land on opponent's peg → they return to house. Core "ärgere" (annoy) mechanic.

Close Relatives (Same System)

• Ludo (UK/World) – Simplified, often 1 die, no "6 to enter" rule in some versions.
• Pachisi / Parcheesi (India/US) – Ancestor. 2 dice, safe squares, blockade rules.
• Sorry! (US) – Cards replace dice, similar track.
• Trouble / Frustration – Pop-O-Matic dice dome, 4 pegs, same track.

If NOT Mensch ärgere dich nicht

• Kniffel (Yahtzee): Dice only, scorepad, no board/pegs.
• Malefiz / Barricade: Pegs + dice, but blockade pieces placed on board, not race-to-home.
• Dog: Swiss variant, cards + pegs, team play.

Search "Mensch ärgere dich nicht travel version" – you'll likely recognize the 6-hole-per-player compact board.