In recent years, the game of Crokinole has been gaining a lot of popularity as a fun and challenging tabletop game. The game, which involves flicking wooden discs across a circular board, has been played for over a century in Canada and has slowly spread across the world. More and more people are buying Crokinole boards so they can learn how to play.
One of the reasons for the game’s surge in popularity is its unique blend of strategy, skill, and luck. This makes it popular with both casual and competitive players. It is also becoming more mainstream thanks to the rise of tournaments and clubs.
The game’s accessibility is another reason why it has become so popular. Anyone can learn how to play and enjoy it, regardless of age or skill level. Plus, it is a fun way to introduce younger people to board games.
Furthermore, Crokinole is a social game that can be played with family and friends, making it a perfect addition to any game night. All these factors have contributed to the rise of Crokinole’s popularity and have also made it a must-have game for many board game enthusiasts.
Origin of Crokinole
While the exact origin of crokinole is unclear, it is believed to have originated in Canada around the mid-19th century. It quickly became popular throughout Canada and spread through other countries around the world. Today, Crokinole is enjoyed by people of all ages and is played in both casual settings and tournaments alike.
While the etymology of Crokinole is also a mystery, the most popular theory is that it is derived from the French word “croquignole,” which means “flick” or “small biscuit”. Since Crokinole is played with discs flicked across a board, the name makes sense.
The game borrows a lot from the British game squails and the Asian game carrom. It requires good eye-hand coordination and strategy to win. Similar to curling, players flick small discs across a board to hit their opponent’s pieces out of position or make it through eight inner pegs to the center hole.
What Do I Need to Play Crokinole? Crokinole Boards and Other Accessories
To play Crokinole, you will need a game board and discs. Crokinole boards come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are often made from different types of wood, including Canadian maple and walnut. They can also be laminated. The boards are waxed to create a friction-free surface that helps the discs slide easily. This also ensures that players have an enjoyable experience, even when competitively playing.
Most boards are designed to be durable and attractive. And some even have other games printed on the reverse side, such as checkers or backgammon.
If you’re looking for the best Crokinole boards, look for a tournament-grade model that meets the NCA’s standard playing surface size of 26 inches. It is a solid investment for a high-quality board you’ll enjoy for years.
In addition to a good-quality wooden board, players will need a set of discs and paper and pen to keep score. Some boards come with them, some do not. Some Crokinole boards even come with accessories, such as additional checker pieces or a drawstring bag for the discs.
How Do You Play Crokinole?
Crokinole is a simple and elegant game that tests your skill, strategy, precision, and ability to move quickly on the board. A typical board has three concentric rings. The inner ring is worth 15 points, the next ring is worth 10 points and the outer ring is worth 5 points. Right in the center of the board is a shallow hole surrounded by eight small posts or bumpers that is worth 20 points.
The game is most often enjoyed by two or four players working in partnership to flick their colored discs into higher-scoring zones and push the other team’s colored discs either off the board or into the lower-scoring zones.
Each player starts with 12 crokinole discs, which they place in a stack at the end of the board. Starting from behind their designated “foul line” and using only their fingers, players take turns flicking their crokinole discs toward the center of the board aiming for the rings.
- If a player’s disc lands on or in the central hole, the player immediately receives 20 points, and that disc is removed from play.
- If the disc lands within the 15-point circle, the player gets 15 points; but if it lands on the line between the 15-point circle and the 10-point circle, he or she will only receive 10 points.
- If it lands inside the 10-point circle, the player gets 10 points; but if the disc lands on the line between the 10-point circle and the 5-point circle, the player only gets 5 points.
- And if the disc lands inside the 5-point circle, they receive 5 points; but if it lands on the line between the 5-point circle and the outer ring, the player gets 0 points.
Players also receive points for hitting and knocking their opponent’s discs off the board. The number of points is again determined by where that disc was sitting.
The first to reach a predetermined number of points (usually 100) wins the game.
Final Thoughts
This family-friendly game is gaining even more popularity in North America thanks to a recent renaissance in board games. It is an excellent way to spend time with friends and family and can even provide an element of competition for players who join clubs or participate in tournaments. If you are looking for a fun new game, give Crokinole a try!