How to Play
Objective
Roll the ball up the board so that it comes to a complete stop fully inside a point zone (1 pt, 2 pts, or 3 pts) and then rolls back down into the hole.
Play consecutive innings until a player or team reaches exactly 21 points.
Setup
Place Nokkenhole® on a table directly in front of you. The game is best played while standing. Ensure the board is on a stable, level surface.
How to Play
Turn Structure
• Decide who goes first.
• Each player gets 2 rolls per turn.
• Team Play (2 vs 2): Each player on Team A takes a turn, then each player on Team B takes a turn.
• Once every player has taken a turn, the inning ends.
Roll Requirements
For a roll to be valid:
• The ball must make contact with the board and roll over the first line.
• Throwing or lobbing the ball past the first line is not allowed.
• The ball may not touch any border of the play area.
• If it does, the roll is dead and earns zero points.
• The ball must fully enter a scoring zone and come to a complete stop.
• After stopping, the ball must roll back down the incline and fall into the hole.
• If it does not fall into the hole, the roll scores zero points.
Scoring
• If the ball stops fully inside a point zone and then falls into the hole, the player earns that zone’s points:
• 1 Point Zone: 1 point
• 2 Point Zone: 2 points
• 3 Point Zone: 3 points
• If the ball stops on a line between zones, the player earns the lower point value.
• A player can earn a maximum of 6 points per turn (2 rolls x 3 points).
• Points are totaled for each player at the end of the inning.
• Scores do not cancel out between opponents.
Winning the Game
Reaching 21 Points
• A player or team that ends an inning with exactly 21 points wins the game.
• If a player or team exceeds 21, their score reverts to the previous total and play continues.
Last-Chance Tie Attempt
• If Player 1 or Team A reaches 21 first in an inning, Player 2 or Team B may attempt to tie the game using their remaining turn(s) in that same inning.
Extra Innings
• If both sides are tied at 21 points at the end of an inning, play extra innings.
• Whichever player or team with the most points at the end of a complete inning wins the game.
