How to Play Crokinole

Game Objective

Get ready for a contest of precision and strategy! In Crokinole, the main objective is simple: flick your wooden discs into the central hole of the board or into the higher-scoring regions. You'll do this by flicking the pieces, aiming at opponents' discs to knock them off the playing area, and, of course, trying to accumulate more points by the end of the round. The player with the most points wins the round, and usually, several rounds are played until a player reaches the necessary score to be the grand champion of the match!

Preparation (Setup)

Setting up your Crokinole game is super quick and easy, so the fun can begin right away:

1. Position the Board: Place the Crokinole board on a table so that all players can comfortably reach their respective quadrants. Remember: the board cannot be moved once the game begins!
2. Prepare the Container: Place a bowl, cup, or mug near the board. This will be the spot for discs that fall into the central hole.
3. Scoring Material: Set aside a sheet of paper and a pen to record scores for each round.
4. Choose the First Player: Decide however you prefer who starts the first round.
5. Distribute Discs and Positions:
   • For 2 Players: Each player sits in opposite quadrants of the board and receives 12 discs of one color.
   • For 4 Players (Teams): Divide into 2 teams of 2 players. Each team member should sit in opposite quadrants of the table (facing each other). The 12 discs of one color are divided between the two team members, so each will use 6 discs.
   • For 3 Players (2v1 Mode): If you have 2 sets of discs, one team will have 2 players (with 6 discs each) and will face 1 player (with 12 discs). The team players sit in opposite quadrants, and the solo player in a remaining quadrant.
   • For 3 Players (Normal Mode): If you have 3 sets of discs of different colors, each player chooses a quadrant. It is suggested that each player has 8 discs for shorter games.

The Game Turn

Each turn, a player will flick one of their discs. Here's how it works:

1. Disc Positioning: The disc must be positioned with its flat side touching the shooting line of your quadrant. Valid positions include the disc touching the quadrant line. Discs outside the shooting line or outside the quadrant are invalid.
2. The Flick: Use only one finger to make contact with the disc. The player cannot stand up from their chair, move the chair, or the board. They must be touching the chair with at least one buttock during the shot.
3. Shot Target:
   • Free Shot (No Opponent Discs): If there are no opponent discs anywhere on the board (including at the start of the round), the player MUST aim for the central hole or the central circle. If the disc does not fall completely into the central hole or at least touch the delimiting lines of the central circle (15 points), it is removed from the board and placed in the ditches.
   • Shot with Opponent Discs: If there is at least 1 opponent disc on the board, you MUST flick your disc so that it hits at least one of the opponent discs. You can hit the discs indirectly, by hitting one of the posts before hitting the opponent disc, or by using one of your own discs already on the board to touch the opponent disc.
4. Consequences of the Shot:
   • Hitting the Central Hole: If the disc falls completely into the central hole (fitting and completely touching the lowest part), the player picks it up and places it in the bowl. Each disc in the bowl is worth 20 points at the end of the round. If you accidentally make an opponent's disc fall into the central hole, those 20 points will count for the opponent.
   • Failure to Hit the Opponent: If the player fails to hit at least one opponent disc that was on the board, the disc they used to flick must be removed from play. Additionally, all of the current player's discs that were touched by the flicked disc must also be removed (even if one of them ends up in the central hole).
   • Discs Off the Playing Area: Discs that leave the playing area are worth 0 points. Discs that are touching the shooting lines (the edges) must be removed from play (go to the ditch). If a disc hits the side of the board and ricochets back into the playing area, it must be removed. Discs affected by this stay where they land.
5. Alternating Turns: Each player plays one disc at a time, alternating turns. In 4-player games, the round continues clockwise. The starting player alternates clockwise at the beginning of each round.

End of Game and Scoring

A round of Crokinole ends when all players have shot all their discs (12 discs for 2 players, 6 discs for each in 4-player teams, or according to the 3-player variation). Then, it's time to count the points!

1. Counting Discs: Players count each of the discs that are in the playing area and add the value of the discs that are inside the bowl. Each disc can only be counted once.
2. Disc Values:
   • Each disc in the bowl is worth 20 points.
   • Discs in the inner circle (inside the posts) are worth 15 points.
   • Discs in the intermediate circle (outside the posts) are worth 10 points.
   • Discs in the outer circle are worth 5 points.
3. Discs on the Line: If a disc is touching any of the lines at the end of the round, it will always count as the lower score. For example, if a disc is touching the line that divides the central circle (15 points) and the intermediate circle (10 points), it will count as 10 points.
4. Types of Final Match Scoring:
   • Traditional Scoring: After summing the values of all discs, players compare the results and subtract the values. The loser's score is subtracted from the winner's score, and this difference is recorded as points for the round winner. In case of a tie, no one gains points. To win the match, a player (or team) must score 100 points after one or more rounds. It is possible to set a different score to win the match (50, 60, 150, etc.).
   • Championship Scoring: The player who scores the most points in the round simply receives 2 points (regardless of the score difference). In case of a tie, both players receive 1 point. The first to score 8 points wins the match.

Tips for Winning

• Prioritize the Central Hole and the 15-Point Circle: At the beginning of the round, when there are no opponent discs, your focus should be the central hole (20 points) or the 15-point circle. A free shot that does not hit at least the 15-point circle results in the removal of your disc, which is a precious waste!
• Aim at Opponent Discs with Purpose: When there are opponent discs on the board, your main goal is to hit them to remove them and, if possible, position your own discs in high-scoring areas. Don't hesitate to use the posts to ricochet or even your own discs to create a strategic carom and hit the enemy target.
• Control the Playing Area: Try to keep your discs in the higher-scoring regions (15 and 10 points) and, at the same time, push your opponent's discs off the playing area or into the lower-scoring regions (5 points). Remember that discs touching the edges or lower-scoring lines are worth less, so precision is key!