Mölkky

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Throwing pin (mölkky), about to hit target pins

Mölkky is a Finnish throwing game which originated in the Päijänne Tavastia region in Southern Finland. It is reminiscent of kyykkä, another Finnish throwing game with Carelian roots. However, mölkky does not require as much physical strength as kyykkä, and is more suitable for everyone regardless of age and condition. Mölkky requires no special equipment and success is based on a combination of chance and skill.

The Mölkky game was invented by Tuoterengas in 1996. Mölkky is quite popular in Finland, and Tuoterengas has sold nearly 200.000 sets in Finland.

[edit] Rules

The players use a wooden pin (also called mölkky) to try and knock over wooden pins of almost similar dimensions with the throwing pin, which are marked with numbers from 1 to 12. The pins are initially placed in a tight group in an upright position 3-4 metres away from the throwing place. Knocking over one pin scores the amount of points marked on the pin. Knocking 2 or more pins scores the amount of pins knocked over (e.g. 3 pins score 3 points). After each throw, the pins are lifted up again in the exact location where they landed. The first one to reach exactly 50 points wins the game. Scoring more than 50 will be penalised by setting the players score back to 25 points. A player will be eliminated from the game if they miss all of the target pins three times in a row.

[edit] Mölkky enthusiasm and competitions

The Finnish championships for mölkky have been organised in Lahti since 1997 by the union of youth clubs in Southern Häme. The technology students in Tampere organised world championships in academic mölkky in 2001. The Finnish Mölkky Union has been formed to promote the game and its subculture.