Cornhole Rules: Scoring, Who Throws First and Hit Odds
Cornhole, also called bean bag toss or bags, is a lawn game where players take turns tossing bean bags at a slanted board with a hole in it. A bag in the hole scores three points, a bag on the board scores one. It is easy to learn, works for all ages and is a fixture at barbecues, tailgates and school fairs. Here are the basic rules, how scoring works, a fair way to choose teams and who throws first, and how often you can expect a bag to drop.
What you need
- Two cornhole boards. Regulation boards are 2 feet wide and 4 feet long with a 6 inch hole near the top.
- Eight bean bags, four of one colour and four of another.
- A flat space about 35 to 40 feet long. Regulation boards sit 27 feet apart, front edge to front edge; for children, move them closer.
Basic rules
- Set the two boards facing each other. In singles, both players throw from the same board; in doubles, one player from each team stands at each board.
- Players stand beside their board, behind its front edge, and take turns throwing one bag at a time at the opposite board until all eight bags are thrown. That is one round, or inning.
- A bag that goes through the hole, or is knocked in by another bag, scores 3 points. A bag that ends on the board scores 1 point. Bags on the ground score nothing, and a bag that hits the ground first and bounces onto the board is usually removed.
- After each round, score the round (see below). The team that scored in the last round throws first in the next one.
- The first team to reach 21 points at the end of a round wins.
How scoring works
Most games use cancellation scoring: only one team scores in each round. Add up each side’s points for the round and subtract the smaller from the larger. If one team has a bag in the hole and two on the board (5 points) and the other has one bag on the board (1 point), the first team scores 4. If both teams score the same, nobody scores that round.
Some backyard games say you must hit exactly 21 and bust back to a lower score if you go over. That is a house rule, not the standard one, so agree on it before you start.
Fair teams and who throws first
For a party or tournament, put every name into the Random Name Picker and draw the doubles pairs at random, as explained in our guide to random teams. Random pairs stop the two best players from always teaming up.
To decide who throws first in the opening round, flip a Coin Flip. After that, the team that scored the last round throws first, and if nobody scored, the team that threw first last round goes first again.
How often does a bag go in?
Each player throws four bags per round. If you know roughly how often one of your bags drops in the hole, the table shows the chance of getting at least one bag in during a round, and of the famous four-bagger, all four in. It treats each throw as independent, which is a simplification, since a bag already in front of the hole can block the next one or help it slide in.
| In rate | 1+ in | All 4 |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | 34% | 0.01% |
| 20% | 59% | 0.16% |
| 30% | 76% | 0.8% |
| 50% | 94% | 6.3% |
A casual player who drops one bag in ten still gets at least one in about a third of the time. Even a strong player who drops half their bags gets a four-bagger only about once in sixteen rounds, which is why it gets a cheer. The same maths sits behind many games of chance; our guide to dice probability covers it in more detail.
Throwing tips
- Hold the bag flat and throw underhand with a smooth swing.
- Add a little spin so the bag stays flat and slides instead of flipping.
- Aim for the board just below the hole, so the bag can slide up and in.
- Use your later bags to push your own bags into the hole or knock blockers off the board.
Variations
- Kids’ cornhole: move the boards closer, count every bag on the board and skip cancellation scoring.
- Around the world: mark spots at different distances and move to the next spot after each bag in the hole.
- Blind draw tournament: new random partners each round, with each player keeping their own running total.
FAQ
How many points is a bag in the hole in cornhole?
A bag in the hole scores 3 points, a bag on the board scores 1 point, and a bag on the ground scores nothing.
What is cancellation scoring in cornhole?
Only one team scores in each round. Subtract the lower round score from the higher one and give the difference to the team that threw better.
Do you have to get exactly 21 in cornhole?
Not under standard rules: the first team to 21 or more at the end of a round wins. Some backyard groups play a bust rule; agree before the game.
How far apart are cornhole boards?
Regulation boards are 27 feet apart from front edge to front edge. For children, move them closer, for example 10 to 15 feet.
How do you decide who throws first in cornhole?
Flip a coin for the first round. After that, the team that scored the previous round throws first.