Cornhole is easy to learn and hard to really master. That is exactly why it is so much fun. In this article you can read how to play cornhole and how to count the points.
What do you need?
- Two cornhole boards
- Eight bags, four in each colour
- Two or four players
The set-up
Place the two boards with their fronts facing each other. The official distance between the fronts is about 8.2 metres. If you play with children or beginners, feel free to place the boards closer together, for example at 5 to 6 metres.
How to play
- Each player or team gets four bags in one colour.
- The players take turns throwing a bag at the board on the other side, until all eight bags have been thrown. This is called a round.
- You throw from beside the board and may not step over the front of your own board.
- After each round you count the points and throw back at the other board.
Counting points
- Bag through the hole: 3 points
- Bag on the board: 1 point
- Bag on the ground or slid off the board: 0 points
In the official count the points of both teams cancel each other out. If one team scores 7 points and the other 4, only the first team gets points: 7 minus 4 is 3. That keeps it exciting until the end.
Who wins?
The first team to reach 21 points wins. At a party or in the park you can also simply play a fixed number of rounds, or until someone has to fetch the first beer.
Tip for beginners
Throw the bag flat and with a little spin, so that it does not flip in the air. Aim at the board just before the hole: a bag that slides on often still falls into the hole.
Feel like playing? Take a look at our complete cornhole sets or make a set with your own design.