What you need
- Two cornhole boards, each 2 feet by 4 feet with a 6-inch hole near the top
- Eight bags, four of one color and four of another
- Flat ground with room for the boards 27 feet apart, front edge to front edge
- Pen and paper, or the free score keeper
Players and time
2 or 4 players (one or two per side). About 15 to 30 minutes a game.
The goal
Be the first side to reach 21 points or more at the end of an inning. A bag in the hole scores 3 points and a bag that stays on the board scores 1 point.
Only one side scores in an inning. The points of the two sides cancel out, and the side with more points scores the difference.
Setup
- Set the two boards 27 feet apart, measured from the front edge of one board to the front edge of the other. The front edge is the foul line, and the hole end of the board is the back.
- Play singles (one player a side) or doubles (two players a side). Each player throws four bags in an inning, so each side throws four bags in singles and eight in doubles.
- In singles, both players stand at the same board. In doubles, partners stand at opposite boards and opponents at the same board.
- Decide who throws first with a coin toss or a bag spin. Many leagues let the winner pick either to throw first or which side to stand on.
A turn
- The sides alternate throws, one bag at a time, from the same board, until everyone has thrown all four of their bags.
- Throw underhand from behind the front edge of the board. The bag must leave your hand before your foot crosses the front plane of the board. The throw clock is 15 seconds under ACO rules and 25 seconds under ACL rules.
- When all the bags are thrown, count the bags on the board and in the hole. Score the inning (see Scoring below), then pick up the bags.
- In singles, walk to the other board and throw from there in the next inning. In doubles, the players standing at the other board pick up the bags and throw them back.
- Under ACO rules, the side that scored in the last inning throws first in the next one. If neither side scored, the side that threw first last time keeps the first throw. The ACL page does not spell this out, so follow your league if it has a rule.
Special cards and combinations
- Cancellation scoring
- Add up each side's points for the inning. Subtract the lower total from the higher. Only the side with more points scores, and it scores the difference. If both sides have the same total, nobody scores.
- Bag in the hole
- A bag that goes through the hole at any time during the inning is worth 3 points. Under ACO rules this includes a bag that is knocked in by a later bag.
- Bag on the board
- A bag that is resting on the board when the inning ends is worth 1 point. ACO rules call this a woody.
- Bags that touch the ground
- A bag that hits the ground before it comes to rest on the board is dead and scores 0. A bag resting on both the ground and the board is also dead. Take dead bags off the board right away.
- Foot fault
- If your foot crosses the front line before the bag has left your hand, ACO rules call the bag dead and remove it. ACO officials give a warning for the first offense, and a third strike forfeits the match. The ACL page names no penalty.
Scoring
Score each inning once all the bags are thrown. A bag in the hole is 3 points, a bag on the board is 1 point and any other bag is 0. After you add up both sides, only the higher side scores.
| Bag | Points |
|---|---|
| In the hole | 3 |
| On the board | 1 |
| On the ground, off the board or dead | 0 |
| Most possible for one side in one inning (four bags in the hole) | 12 |
Worked example
Red leads Blue 17 to 14. In the next inning Red puts one bag in the hole and two on the board: 3 + 1 + 1 = 5. Blue puts two bags on the board: 1 + 1 = 2. Red scores 5 - 2 = 3, so Red leads 20 to 14. Blue scores nothing.
Next inning: Red has one bag on the board (1). Blue has one in the hole and one on the board (3 + 1 = 4). Blue scores 4 - 1 = 3, so it is 20 to 17.
Last inning: Red has one in the hole and one on the board (4). Blue has two on the board (2). Red scores 4 - 2 = 2 and reaches 22. That is more than 21, and Red wins.
Keep score with the Cornhole score keeper
How to win
The first side to reach 21 points or more at the end of an inning wins. You do not have to land on 21 exactly, and you do not have to win by two points.
The ACL also lists a shootout format that is played for 10 innings. The side with the most points after the tenth inning wins.
Common house rules
These are house rules. They are not part of the official rules, so agree on them before you start.
- Bust (house rule) House rule
- The official rules have no bust. In this house rule you must finish on exactly 21. If an inning would take you over 21, your score drops back to a set number. 15 is the most common drop-back, but groups also use 11 or 13. Agree on the number before you start. The score keeper has an option for this.
- Win by two (house rule) House rule
- Some leagues and clubs require a margin of two points to win the game. The ACL and ACO do not.
- Shorter distance for kids and casual play (house rule) House rule
- The 27 feet is the official distance for adult play. Backyard games often use a shorter distance for younger players or small yards.
- Alternate throws bag by bag or four at a time (house rule) House rule
- The official rule is to alternate one bag at a time. Some backyard groups let each player throw all four bags in a row.
Frequently asked questions
How far apart do the cornhole boards go?
The official distance is 27 feet, measured from the front edge of one board to the front edge of the other. Boards are 2 feet by 4 feet with a 6-inch hole.
How does cancellation scoring work in cornhole?
After all eight bags are thrown, you subtract the lower total from the higher total. Only the side with more points scores, and it scores the difference. A tie scores nothing for either side.
Do you have to hit exactly 21 to win?
No. Both the ACL and the ACO say the first side to reach or exceed 21 at the end of an inning wins. A bust rule that sends you back if you go over is a house rule.
Do you have to win by two points?
No. The ACL page says you do not have to win by two. Some leagues add it as a house rule.
Who throws first after the first inning?
Under ACO rules, the side that scored in the previous inning throws first. If no one scored, the side that threw first before throws first again. Other leagues have their own rules, and in casual games the side that scored last often goes first.
What happens to a bag that bounces off the ground onto the board?
It is a dead bag and scores no points. ACO rules say a bag that touches the ground before it comes to rest on the board is dead and has to be removed.
How many points is a bag worth if it hangs over the hole?
A bag only scores 3 points if it passes through the hole. A bag that is resting on the board, including one that is partly over the hole, counts as 1 point.
Does a bag knocked into the hole by another bag count?
Under ACO rules, yes. A bag that passes through the hole at any time during the inning is worth 3 points. The ACL page does not address this, so check your league.
Sources
- American Cornhole League (ACL): Basic Rules & Scoring (Board size, 27-foot distance, four bags a side, alternating throws, 3 and 1 point bags, cancellation, 21 or more at the end of a round, no win-by-two, throw clock, the shootout format.)
- American Cornhole Organization (ACO): Official Cornhole Rules (Board and court sizes, bags per player, throw order, woody and cornhole values, cancellation scoring, 21 to win (reach or exceed), dead bags, foot fouls, who throws first in the next frame, 15-second throw clock.)