Cornhole

1 Setup

Place the two boards 27 feet apart (front edge to front edge) on flat ground. In casual play, 20–25 feet is common. The hole is 6 inches in diameter and centered 9 inches from the top. Teams of two stand on opposite sides, partners stand at opposite boards facing each other.

Each team has 4 bags (one color per team). Flip a coin or play rock-paper-scissors to determine who throws first.

2 Gameplay

Teams alternate throwing bags. Partners on the same team throw from opposite ends. Each player throws all 4 of their bags per round, alternating with the opposing player at the same end.

The throwing order: Player 1 (Team A) throws, then Player 1 (Team B) throws, alternating until all 8 bags have been thrown. Then the players at the other end throw their 8 bags. This completes one round (frame).

3 Scoring

• Hole-in (Cornhole): 3 points, bag goes through the hole
• Woody: 1 point, bag lands and stays on the board surface
• Miss: 0 points, bag hits the ground, falls off, or is knocked off

A bag that hits the ground and bounces onto the board does not count, remove it before the next throw.

4 Cancellation Scoring

Points cancel each other out between teams each frame. Only the team with the higher score earns net points.

Example: Team A scores 7 (two holes + one woody), Team B scores 4 (one hole + one woody). Net: Team A earns 3 points (7 − 4). Team B earns nothing. Running total updates after each frame.

5 Winning

First team to reach exactly 21 points wins. You must reach exactly 21, going over does not cause you to "bust" (unlike some house rules). Official ACA rules: first team to 21 or more wins. Many casual games use an exact 21 rule, agree before starting.

6 Official vs. Casual Rules

Official American Cornhole Association (ACA) rules differ from backyard play in a few ways:

• Distance: 27 feet official vs. 20–25 feet casual
• Winning: First to 21+ (official) vs. exactly 21 (common house rule)
• Bust: Going over 21 doesn't penalize in official play
• Foot fault: In official play, you may not cross the front of the board when throwing

7 Strategy

Airmail vs. Skipping

Two main throwing styles: airmail (arc the bag so it drops directly into or onto the board) and skip (low trajectory that slides). Airmail is more controllable; skip shots are harder for opponents to knock off.

Block the Hole

Throw bags to block the hole when your opponent has a clear shot. A woody in front of the hole forces opponents to either try to knock it in (giving you points if they miss) or aim for the board edges.

Go for the Hole Early

Three points vs. one point means holes win games. Prioritize hole shots over safe woodys, especially when ahead, the math favors aggressive play.

Know When to Block

If you're close to 21 and your opponent is far behind, switch to blocking strategy, make them work for every point rather than trying to close out quickly.