You’re standing over a circular wooden board, flicking a small wooden disc with just your index finger. It looks simple. It looks like something your grandfather might have done in a rural Ontario barn back in the 1860s—which, honestly, is exactly where this game started. But then your disc hits the center pin, ricochets off a rubber post, and knocks your opponent’s piece straight into the "ditch." Suddenly, you realize why people get obsessed with how to play crokinole. It’s not just a board game. It’s a high-stakes, flick-based chess match that combines the finesse of billiards with the sheer chaos of a tavern brawl.
Most people see a crokinole board and think of carrom or shuffleboard. They aren't entirely wrong. But there’s a specific tension in a crokinole match that those games lack. You have to balance the urge to go for the high-scoring "20" hole in the middle with the absolute necessity of hitting your opponent's pieces. If you miss their disc entirely? Your shot doesn't count. It’s gone. Into the ditch.
The Gear: What’s on the Table?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the rules, you need to know what you’re looking at. A standard, tournament-grade board—like the ones made by Tracey Boards or Muzzies—is a work of art. It’s usually about 26 inches in diameter, made of Baltic birch or maple, and polished until it's slicker than a frozen pond.
In the very center, there’s a shallow hole. That’s the "20." Surrounding that hole are the "posts" or "pegs." These are the gatekeepers. They are often covered in small rubber sleeves to make the discs bounce more unpredictably. The board is divided into three concentric scoring rings: the inner circle (15 points), the middle circle (10 points), and the outer circle (5 points). Around the edge is the ditch, where discs go to die.
You also have the "shooting line," which is the outermost circle line on the playing surface. This is your starting point. You don't just put the disc anywhere; it has to be on the line, usually within your designated quadrant.
The Golden Rule: The Contact Requirement
If there’s one thing that trips up beginners learning how to play crokinole, it’s the contact rule. It’s the heart of the game’s strategy.
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If your opponent has any discs on the board, you must make contact with one of their discs during your shot. You can hit it directly. You can hit one of your own discs first and have that disc hit theirs (a "carom" shot). You can even bounce off a peg to hit them. But if you don't touch their wood? Your disc is immediately removed from play and placed in the ditch. Even if your shot landed perfectly in the 20-hole, if you didn't hit their piece first, it doesn't count.
What if the board is empty? If there are no opposing discs, you’re free to go for the center. However, your disc must end up in the inner 15-point circle or the 20-hole to stay on the board. If it’s lingering in the 10 or 5-point zones on an open board, it gets cleared off. This prevents players from just "laying up" safely in the outer rings.
Scoring and the "Twenty"
The 20-point hole is the Holy Grail. If you sink a shot into that center hole, you don't wait until the end of the round to count it. You remove the disc immediately and place it in a designated spot on the side of the board (or a small transparent cup). It’s "banked." This is huge because it means your opponent can’t knock it out later.
At the end of the round—after everyone has flicked their 12 discs (in singles) or 6 discs (in doubles)—you count up what’s left on the board.
We use "cancellation scoring." If I have 45 points and you have 30, I win the round by 15 points. In competitive play, like the World Crokinole Championship held annually in Tavistock, Ontario, rounds are usually worth 2 points for a win and 1 for a tie. You play until someone hits a predetermined score, often 8 or 10 points.
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The "One-Cheek" Rule and Other Etiquette
There is a weirdly specific rule in crokinole that sounds like a joke but is strictly enforced in tournaments: the "One-Cheek Rule."
When you are taking your shot, you cannot move your chair. You have to keep at least one buttock firmly planted on your seat at all times. No leaning way over to the side to get a better angle. No standing up. It’s a test of reach and flexibility as much as it is flicking skill.
Also, don't forget the "Free Line." In most casual and tournament setups, if a disc is touching the line of the 20-hole but hasn't fallen in, it's just a 15. If a disc is touching the shooting line at the end of the round, it’s worth zero. It’s effectively in the ditch.
Strategies for the Modern Flicker
Knowing how to play crokinole is one thing; winning is another.
- The Hide: If you have to hit an opponent's disc, try to hit it in a way that leaves your disc tucked behind a peg. This makes it incredibly hard for them to hit you back on their turn.
- The Follow-Through: Don't just "poke" the disc. Use a smooth, flicking motion with your finger. Most pros use their middle or index finger, resting it against their thumb for tension before releasing.
- Gliding Wax: Many players use a sprinkle of boric acid powder or specialized crokinole wax (which is often just food-grade corn starch or shuffleboard wax) in the ditch. You dip your disc in it before shooting to ensure maximum speed. Be careful, though—too much wax makes the board feel like an ice rink.
- The "Hammer": This is the last shot of the round. It is a massive advantage. If you have the hammer, you can play defensively, knowing you have the final say on the board's state.
Why This Century-Old Game is Exploding Now
It’s easy to dismiss crokinole as a "grandpa game," but it’s seeing a massive resurgence. Why? Because it’s tactile. In a world of touchscreens and VR, there is something deeply satisfying about the "clack" of two pieces of high-quality hardwood colliding.
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The game has spread far beyond its Mennonite roots in Canada. You’ll find clubs in New York, London, and even coastal cities in Australia. It’s become a staple of "board game cafes" because you can explain the rules in 90 seconds, but you can spend 90 years trying to master the perfect 20-shot.
The community is also surprisingly robust. Check out the National Crokinole Association (NCA) rankings if you want to see how serious it gets. They track players across a whole circuit of tournaments. Players like Justin Slater or Ray Beierling are legends in this space, known for their uncanny ability to sink "20s" even when the center is guarded by a forest of opposing discs.
Common Misconceptions That Ruin Games
A lot of people play with "house rules" that actually make the game less fun. One big one is allowing players to move the board. Don't do that. The board stays stationary. You move your body (within the one-cheek limit). Moving the board changes the angles and ruins the competitive integrity.
Another mistake? Not clearing "dead" discs. If a disc flies off the board and bounces back on, it's dead. If a disc hits a disc sitting in the ditch and jumps back onto the playing surface, it's dead. Keeping the board clean is essential for clear scoring.
Getting Started: Your Action Plan
If you're ready to dive in, don't just buy a cheap $30 board from a big-box toy store. They are usually made of particle board and don't have the "bounce" or "glide" necessary for a real game. It’ll frustrate you.
- Invest in a Baltic Birch Board: Look for makers like Tracey, Willard, or Jeremy Tracey. Yes, they cost more (usually $200-$300), but they last a lifetime and play infinitely better.
- Learn the "Flick": Practice hitting the 20-hole on an empty board. Do it 50 times a day. Once you can hit it 50% of the time without obstacles, you’re ready for real opponents.
- Find a Local Club: Use the NCA website or Facebook groups to find a local "Crokinole Night." It’s one of the friendliest gaming communities out there.
- Master the "Take-Out": Practice hitting an opponent's disc while keeping your own disc on the board. This is called a "stay" shot. It's the most important skill in the game.
- Watch the Pros: Go to YouTube and watch match footage from the World Championships. Pay attention to how they use the pegs to "wrap" their discs around corners. It’s physics in action.
Crokinole is a game of millimeters. It’s a game where a single millimeter of finger placement determines whether you’re a hero or whether your disc is sitting uselessly in the ditch. It's fast, it's loud, and once you sink your first "20" from across the board, you’ll never want to put the discs away.
Next Steps for Mastery:
- Acquire a high-quality lubricant: Buy a small tin of 100% pure carnauba wax to keep your board surface lightning fast.
- Practice the "Double Take-Out": Set up two opponent discs and try to find the angle that clears both with a single flick.
- Join a tournament: Even as a beginner, the "Rec" divisions at local tournaments are the fastest way to learn nuance from seasoned veterans.