How to Play Cornhole

Step-by-Step Instructions

Equipment

-2 Cornhole Boards

-8 Cornhole Bags

-Scoreboards (optional)

Types of Cornhole Bags

Standard Bags

Great for backyard and casual playing. Made with heavy duty duck cloth and are usually double stitched. Can be made with corn or resin.

Originally, all cornhole bags were filled with corn kernels (hence the name!). However, corn bags cannot be left outside or get wet, as they will mold. They also cannot be left where critters can get to them (i.e. garage). These bags tend to give off corn dust and deflate after several uses.

As of a few years ago, resin tends to be the filling of choice. These bags are weather proof and washable. They also hold their shape and are much more durable.

Pro Bags

Great for experienced players in blocking, sticking, sliding and other strategic cornhole throws.

There are many brands of pro bags but all of them have two sides – “slick” and “stick”. Slick sides will slide down the board, great for sliding into the hole or pushing a bag into the hole. The stick side will stay put when they land, great for getting points on the board and blocking the hole from your opponent.

Cornhole Board Distance

Cornhole boards should be on a flat surface, directly facing each other. They should be 27 feet from front to front or 35 feet back to back

How to Play

For a 4 Person Game

1. Create two teams, 2 people per team.
2. Stand on the side of board, opposite your opponent. Your teammate will be on the other board, standing straight across from you. See illustration below.
3. One person on each team will have 4 bags.
4. Use a coin flip to decide who throws first

5. Throws are alternated.
So if Team A is going first:
-Team A, Player 1 throws
-Team B, Player 1 throws.
-Team A, Player 1 throws again
And so on until all 8 bags are on the other side of the “court”.

Side Notes:
Do not step in front of the board when throwing
If a bag lands on the ground directly in front of the board, remove before next throw so it doesn’t impede.
If a bag is hanging from the front of the board and touching the ground, it does not count and should be removed before the next throw. (If it is not touching the ground, it counts and should not be touched.)
See below for scoring
6. Throws are alternated again.
Whichever team scored points will throw first on the next round.
For example, if Team A, Player 1 scored one point, Team A Player 2 will throw first
If no one scored points (“wash”), the team who went first on the last round will throw first again.
7. To win, score 21 points or more.

For a 2 Person Game

1. Each person will be their own team
2. Stand on the side of a board, opposite your opponent.
3. Each person will have 4 bags.
4. Use a coin flip to decide who throws first

5. Throws are alternated.
So if Team A is going first:
-Team A, Player 1 throws
-Team B, Player 1 throws.
-Team A, Player 1 throws again
So on until all 8 bags are on the other side of the “court”.

Side Notes:
Do not step in front of the board when throwing
If a bag lands on the ground directly in front of the board, remove before next throw so it doesn’t impede.
If a bag is hanging from the front of the board and touching the ground, it does not count and should be removed before the next throw. (If it is not touching the ground, it counts and should not be touched.)
See below for scoring
6. Each player walks straight to the other board.

Whichever person scored points will throw first on the next round.
If no one scored points (“wash”), the person who went first on the last round will throw first again.
7. To win, score 21 points or more.