Cornhole (game)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cornhole, or Corn Toss is a game in which players take turns pitching small bags filled with corn (or sand or beans) at a raised platform with a hole in the far end. A corn bag in the hole scores 3 points, while one on the platform scores 1 point. Play continues until a player reaches the score of 21. The platforms measure 4'×2' and are generally made of wood, although plastic can be a suitable replacement. The bags are generally 6×6", made with duck cloth, and filled with dry feed corn.
The game originated in Cincinnati around 1999, and remains popular there. [1] In recent years the game has spread beyond the confines of the mid-west. [2] It is also growing in popularity among fans of NASCAR stock car racing, [3] particularly those who camp at race sites as well as with college students in the Midwest.
[edit] Singles or doubles play
Cornhole/Corn Toss can be played as doubles or singles. In doubles play two contestants are partners against another team of two contestants; in singles play a contestant competes against another contestant.
In doubles play, one member from each team pitches from one cornhole platform and the other members pitch from the other cornhole platform. In singles play, both contestants pitch from the same cornhole platform. All other rules are basically the same for doubles or singles play.
[edit] Innings
Every Cornhole match is broken down into innings of play. During each inning there is a top and a bottom round of play.
In doubles play, the top of an inning is completed when both contestants pitching from the first cornhole platform pitch all 4 corn bags; the bottom of the inning is completed when the remaining contestants (pitching from the other cornhole platform) pitch all 4 corn bags.
In singles play, the top of an inning is completed when the first contestant pitches all 4 corn bags; the bottom of the inning is completed when the remaining contestant pitches all 4 corn bags.
An inning is never completed until all contestants pitch all four corn bags.
[edit] Value of the corn bag
1. Corn Bag In-The-Hole - A corn bag in-the-hole (or Hole-In) is a corn bag which is thrown through the hole in the cornhole platform or otherwise comes to rest inside the cornhole platform (knocked in by another player or an act of God). A corn bag in-the-hole has a value of three points.
2. Corn Bag In-The-Count - A corn bag that is not in-the-hole but lands with any portion of the corn bag resting on the cornhole platform is in-the-count (sometimes called on-the-board). A corn bag in-the-count has a value of one point. For a corn bag to be in-the-count, it must not touch the ground or any other portion of the court prior to coming to rest on the cornhole platform. If a corn bag touches the ground before coming to rest on the cornhole platform, it is a foul and must be removed from the cornhole platform prior to the continuation of play. If a bag rests on the board but is supported or touching the ground in any way it does not count.
3. Corn Bag Out-Of-The-Count - A corn bag which comes to rest anywhere except in-the-count or in-the-hole is out-of-the-count and has no scoring value. A corn bag which is declared to be a foul is considered to be out-of-the-count (no matter where it comes to rest) and must be removed from the cornhole surface prior to the continuation of play.
4. If a player gets all four bags in the hole, it is an automatic 21 points and the player wins (Optional Rule).
[edit] Delivery of corn bags during play
1. In doubles play, the first side of contestants alternate pitching corn bags until they have thrown all four corn bags, then the remaining contestant (pitching from the other cornhole platform) continue to alternate in the same manner until all four corn bags are delivered and the inning completed. Delivery in singles play is handled in the same manner (but from the same platform) with each of the two contestants alternating their pitching of corn bags until all four corn bags have been pitched completing the inning.
2. A contestant may deliver the corn bag from either the left or right pitchers box (see above) but, in any one inning, all corn bags must be delivered from the same pitcher’s box. Swift and precise thrust is needed.
3. Each individual contestant shall deliver the corn bag within 20 seconds. The time shall start when the contestant steps onto the pitcher’s box with the intention of pitching.
[edit] Pitching rotation during the game
The contestant who scored in the preceding inning shall pitch first in the next inning. If neither pitcher scores, the contestant or team who pitched last in the preceding inning shall pitch first in the next inning.
[edit] Length of the game
The Cornhole / Corn Toss match shall be played until the first team of contestants reaches (or exceeds) 21 points at the completion of an inning. However, many play by the rule which states if you go ove 21 you go back to 15. The winning team does not need to win by two or more points.
The Cornhole / Corn Toss match can never end in the middle of an inning. Thus, if a team that pitches first reaches or exceeds 21 points, the game can not end until the other side is allowed to pitch all of their corn bags and the inning is completed.
If the Cornhole / Corn Toss match is tied at 21 or more at the end of an inning, play continues until one team or the other achieves a higher score at the end of an inning and wins the match.
The game shall be played to 21 unless a team scores 7 or more points at the end of an inning before their opponents score any points. In this case, the game is a skunk and the team that scores 7 or more points wins the match. In many places the skunk rule score is 11 or even as high as 13.
[edit] Cancellation scoring
In cancellation scoring, corn bags in-the-hole and corn bags in-the-count pitched by opponents during an inning (singles play) or half of an inning (doubles play) cancel each other out. Only non cancelled corn bags are counted in the score for the inning.
1. Corn Bags In-The-Hole – Hole-ins (HI’s) cancel each other. A corn bag in-the-hole of one contestant shall cancel a corn bag in-the-hole of his competitor and those corn bags shall not score any points. Any non cancelled corn bag in-the-hole scores three points.
2. Corn Bags In-The-Count – Corn bags in-the-count cancel each other. A corn bag in-the-count of one contestant shall cancel a corn bags in-the-count of the opponent and those corn bags shall not score any points. Any non cancelled corn bags in-the-count score one point each.
Cancellation scoring may be easily calculated as follows:
1. The points of both contestants are calculated for hole-ins and in-the-count corn bags.
2. The points of the lowest scoring contestant for hole-in corn bags are subtracted from the points of the highest scoring contestant for hole-in corn bags. The result is the hole-in score for the highest scoring contestant. The hole-in score for the lowest scoring contestant is zero.
3. The points of the lowest scoring contestant for in-the-count corn bags are subtracted from the points of the highest scoring contestant for in-the-count corn bags. The result is the in-the-count score for the highest scoring contestant. The in-the-count score for the lowest scoring contestant is zero.
3. The hole-in score for each contestant is added to the in-the-count score for each contestant to derive the recorded score for the inning.
4. In this manner hole-in and in-the–count corn bags from each contestant or team of contestants are cancelled out and only non cancelled corn bags are counted in the score.
Another scoring method is to total all points (hole-in and in-the-count together) and subtract the opponents total - so only one team scores each inning. Ex. Team A throws 3 hole-ins and 1 in-the-count, point total = 10, Team B throws 1 hole-in and 3 in-the-counts, point total = 6; Team A would be awarded 4 points (10 minus 6) for this inning.
[edit] Cornhole in Cincinnati
The birthplace of the game is also where the game is played the most. Made popular by a small group of friends at the University of Cincinnati around 1999-2000, Cornhole is popular around Cincinnati during family activities, like picnics for instance, and during tailgating and many other social events. The popularity of Cornhole in Cincinnati has paved way for several professional leagues most notably the ACA or The American Cornhole Association.
[edit] Cornhole in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
This variation is simply called "Bean Bag Toss" and is a common pastime at graduation parties and other gatherings.[citation needed] It is very similar to the traditional version except the board is divided into upper and lower sections as well. The upper region gives the tosser two points while the lower region gives only one. Bags that touch the dividing line are considered on the lower half. If a bag is In-the-hole it is called a ringer, similar to the term in horseshoes. All the points from both teams are totaled and the winner receives the difference. The first to 21 wins.
Some versions dictate that if a player goes over 21 and the other team doesn't cancel out these points, then the team that ended the inning at 22 or above goes back to 10 or 0 (depending on which version is agreed upon).
Another variation includes that ringers subtract from the other players score no matter whether the person that threw the ringer had the highest points in that inning or not. Also ringers can only be canceled by an opposing ringer.
[edit] Cornhole in the Chicago area
This variation of the game, extremely popular on the South Side of Chicago and the southwest suburbs, is simply called "Beanbags", "Bags", "Baggo", "Bags 'N Boards", "Bean Bag Toss" or "Tailgate Toss". The main difference in this style is that the cornhole boards measure 3'×2' instead of the traditional 4'×2'. The game play is slightly more difficult since the pitch is slightly steeper and you are throwing at a smaller surface. This size is often called the "Tailgate Sized" because it can fit in the trunk of a car, unlike the longer 4'×2' boards. Also popular in this region is the beanbag slang. "Put it in the Basement" refers to one partner's direction to his throwing partner to "get a ringer", or throw it in the hole. "Damage Control" means to cancel out as many points as possible after an opponent gets one or more ringers. A "Blocker" is a beanbag strategically thrown such that it lands directly in front of the hole, thus blocking an opponent's clear path to the hole. A "Savvy Veteran Move" (variation "Crafty Veteran Move") is when a player throws his bag so that it knocks another one of his board-resting bags into the hole. The term "Star Wars" (in reference to the United States' Star Wars Missile Defense System of the 1980's) can be called out to a partner, and would direct the partner to aim his throw such that the thrown bag knocks an opponent's bag off of the board.
[edit] Cornhole Leagues
There are several cornhole leagues that have formed. The most well known and which is considered the governing body of cornhole is The American Cornhole Association.
[edit] References in the Media
During his February 6, 2007 episode of The Colbert Report on Comedy Central, Stephen Colbert mentioned a Cornhole tournament which takes place each year in Ohio's 18th Congressional District, the District and its Representative Zach Space being the focus of the segment. His explanation of the game consisted of describing it as a "cross between horseshoes and sodomy," jokingly referring to the more widely known connotation of "cornhole."
[edit] References
- ^ Holt, Gina (August 16, 2003). "Cincinnati crazy for cornhole. Cincinnati Post
- ^ Berger, Richard (April 9, 2004). Cornhole at Yale. Yale Herald
- ^ Wheeler, Lonnie (June 14, 2003). Cornhole, camping and NASCAR. Cincinnati Post
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/entertainment/230074,3_5_EL26_CORNHOLE_S1.article
