Basic Rules of Cornhole

Whether it is at a barbeque or at a carnival, cornhole is an easy and fun game for anyone who wants to participate. While many people just play for fun, there are a plethora of rules that go along with the game. Ever wonder what the rules of cornhole are? Read on to find out.

The Objective

The objective of the game of cornhole is simple: outscore your opponent. The game can be played in teams or individually, and the objective is the same. In order to outscore their opponent, a player must try to get as many cornhole bags to fall into or land on top of the cornhole board that is opposite them (and their teammate) as they can. The first team to score 21 points in a match is deemed the winner. 

Basics Rules

Below are the basic rules of cornhole:

• Teams are made up of one or two players.
• Two cornhole boards are set at a distance of 27 feet.
• In doubles play, one member of each team stands behind each board.
• In single play, both opponents start behind one board, alternating boards with each round.
• Eight bags start on one board, with four bags per team/player.
• Teams alternate throws until no bags remain.
• A player must throw the cornhole bag using an underhand motion.
• A bag on the board scores one point; a bag thrown or pushed into the hole scores three points.
• At the end of the round, the highest-scoring team collects the difference in points between their score and their opponent’s score.
• The team that scored during the last round pitches first in the next round.
• The first team to reach 21 points wins the game.

Setup and Equipment

Cornhole is a portable game and requires minimal equipment, so it is easy to play anywhere. All that is needed to play a game of cornhole is two cornhole boards and eight cornhole bags, four per team, and typically the teams’ bags differ in color.

To set up a game of cornhole, the two cornhole boards should be placed 27 feet apart (for a regulation game), measuring from the front of each of the boards; these are called the foul lines. Furthermore, the boards should be two feet by four feet in dimension. The hole in each cornhole board should be six inches in diameter. Next to the cornhole boards is a “pitcher's box” that is about eight to ten feet wide; these indicate the width of the cornhole court.

Scoring

The scoring format in the game of cornhole is referred to as “cancellation scoring.” This means that the points of one player will cancel out the points of their opponents, meaning only one team or player is able to score at a time. There are two ways in which a player can score during a match.

The first way a player can score is if the cornhole bag lands and rests on the surface of the cornhole board. This is called a “Bag In-the-Count” and is worth one point.

The second way to score is if the cornhole bag is thrown into or pushed into the hole by another bag. This is referred to as a “Bag In-the-Hole” and is worth three points. After the players have thrown their four bags of each round, their totals are added up, the lower score is subtracted from the higher score, and the player who scored more points is awarded the difference in points for the round.

Foul Bags

A foul bag is a penalty that is implemented when a violation occurs. When a foul bag is assessed, the cornhole bags must be removed from the board before continuing. For example, players are not allowed to step past the foul line at the front of the board when throwing. When a cornhole bag is thrown and the player is outside of the pitch box, it is also considered a foul bag.

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