Cornhole

For other uses, see Cornhole.

File:CORNHOLE.jpg

Typical Cornhole Board

Cornhole, also called Corn Toss, is a game in which players take turns pitching cornhole bags—small bags filled with corn, sand, or beans—at a raised platform with a hole in the far end. These platforms are usually made with plywood or occasionally plastic, and are often decorated. A corn bag in the hole scores 3 points, while one on the platform scores 1 point. Play continues until a player reaches the score of 21.

Regulation platforms measure 4 feet (1.2 m) × 2 ft (0.6 m). However, standard tailgating platforms usually measure 3 feet (0.9 m) × 2 ft (0.6 m), but may vary. The height of the back end is 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) from the ground while the height of the front end can vary from 2½ to 4 inches. The Cornhole platforms are set 33 feet from the inside edge of each hole (the 6 inch diameter holes are centered 9 inches in from the back) while the player can stand anywhere from no further than the back of the platform but not any closer than the front of the platform. Additionally, there must be 12 feet of vertical clearance above the playing area.

Rules

Gameplay

Cornhole matches are broken down into innings (or frames) of play. During each inning, every player throws four bags. A player may deliver the bag from either the left or right pitcher's box, but, in any one inning, all bags must be delivered from the same pitcher’s box. Each player must deliver the bag within twenty seconds. The time starts when the player steps onto the pitcher’s box with the intention of pitching. The player who scored in the preceding inning pitches first in the next inning. If neither pitcher scores, the contestant or team who pitched last in the preceding inning pitches first in the next inning.

Cornhole can be played as either doubles or singles. In doubles play, four players split into two teams. One member from each team pitches from one cornhole platform and the other members pitch from the other. The first side of players alternate pitching bags until both players have thrown all four of their bags, then the players pitching from the opposing cornhole board continue to alternate in the same manner until all four of their bags are delivered and the inning or frame is completed. In singles play, two players play against each other. Delivery is handled in the same manner as doubles play. Both contestants pitch from the same cornhole platform and alternate their pitches until all of their bags have been pitched, completing the inning or frame.

Scoring

In order to score, the bags must either be tossed into the hole or land on the board. A bag that falls through the hole is worth a value of three points. The bag can be tossed directly into the hole, slide into the hole, or be knocked into the hole by another bag. A bag that lands on the board and is still on the board at the end of the inning is worth one point. If a bag touches the ground and comes to rest on the board, it is removed from the board prior to continuation of play and not worth any points. Usually, cancellation scoring is used. In cancellation scoring, bags that fall in the hole and bags that land on the board that are pitched by opponents during a frame cancel each other out. That is, if one player scores four points and the other player scores three points, the first player receives one point for the inning.

Length of the game

A cornhole match is played until the first player or team reaches or exceeds twenty-one points at the completion of an inning. However, many play by the rule that states if a player or team goes over twenty-one, they go back to the amount they started with at the beginning of the last round. The match usually can not end in the middle of an inning. Thus, if a team that pitches first reaches or exceeds twenty-one points, the game does not end until the other side is allowed to pitch all of their bags and the inning is completed.

Optional rules

With the expansion of the game, several optional rules have been created. The following is a list of some of the more wide spread ones:

• Sacks & Holes version: a bag touching the ground is not removed before play continues, and a later bag whose momentum is stopped by a grounded bag may score points.
• If a player gets all four bags in the hole, it is an automatic twenty points and the player wins.
• If the bag goes in without touching anything, it is worth five points.
• Reamer: if a bag lands on the edge of the hole, but stops without going in, its worth two points. It can become three points if another bag knocks it the rest of the way in the hole.
• The JP Rule: the match is played until the first team of contestants reaches exactly twenty-one points at the completion of a frame. If the team exceeds twenty-one points, their score will be reset to thirteen points.

Terminology

The following is a list of terms commonly used in a cornhole game :

Ace or Cow Pie

A bag lands on the board, which is worth one point.

Cornhole or Drain "O"

A bag falls in the hole, which is worth three points.

Slider

A cornhole that slides into the hole.

Blocker

An ace that lands in front of the hole, essentially blocking the hole from sliders.

Back Door

A cornhole that goes over the top of a blocker and into the hole.

Hanger

An ace on the lip of the hole ready to drop.

Honors

The team who tosses first, resulting from the team scoring last.

Dirty Bag

A bag that is on the ground or is hanging off the board touching the ground.

Sally or Corn Patty

A toss that is thrown too weakly and lands on the ground before reaching the board.

Gusher or Double Deuce

Four cornholes by a single player in a single round.

Skunk

A game that, by some rules, ends in an 11-0 score.

Backstop

A bag that lands past the cornhole but remains on the board creating a backboard for a slider to knock into without going off the board.

Jumper

A bag that strikes another bag on the board causing it to jump up into the cornhole.

Hooker

A bag hitting the board and hooking or curving around a blocker and going on the hole.

Cornfusion

When players or teams cannot agree on the scoring of a given inning.

Police

The cornhole referee.

Shucker

When a player pitches a bag and it strikes an opposing players bag knocking it off the board.

References in the media

During his February 6, 2007, episode of The Colbert Report on Comedy Central, Stephen Colbert mentioned a cornhole tournament that takes place each year in Ohio's 18th Congressional District, with the District and its Representative Zack Space being the focus of the segment. Colbert described the game as a "cross between horseshoes and sodomy," jokingly referring to the more widely known connotation of "cornhole".

See also

• Horseshoes, a game similar to cornhole.
• Lawn game, a list of other lawn games.