How to Play Cornhole Game: Rules & Gameplay

You’ve seen it at backyard barbecues, tailgates, and weekend get-togethers—two boards, a few bean bags, and a surprising amount of shouting and celebration. It looks simple enough: toss the bag, aim for the hole, and rack up points. But once you step up to the board, you realize something—you’re not exactly sure how the game actually works.

Do you toss all four bags in a row? How does scoring work? What happens if someone knocks your bag off the board? And how do you actually win?

How to play Cornhole at all?

The game Cornhole is one of the most accessible lawn games in North America. It is also known as sack toss or bags. But for beginners, figuring out the rules and flow of gameplay can be harder than it looks.

In this post, you’ll get clear, beginner-friendly instructions on how to play the cornhole game—from the official setup and basic cornhole rules to scoring, team formats, and more.

What is Cornhole Game?

Cornhole is a lawn game where players take turns and toss cornhole bags at a raised platform with a hole in it. The goal is to score 21 points by landing the bags on the board or into the hole. You don’t need special skills to play – just a little space, a set of boards, and beanbags.

Cornhole Game Rules

• Cornhole is played with 2 or 4 players (singles or teams of two).
• Players take turns throwing 4 bean bags each toward a raised board with a hole (the cornhole board).
• The board is placed 27 feet apart (front to front).
• 3 points are scored when a bag goes through the hole.
• 1 point is scored when a bag lands and stays on the board.
• No points are given for bags that hit the ground.
• Only one team scores per round (called “cancellation scoring”).
• The first team to reach or exceed 21 points wins.
• There are extensive rules for how bags must be tossed: underhand from behind the front edge of the board.

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How to Play Cornhole for Beginners

Requirements

To play cornhole, you need a Cornhole game set. Learn how to make a cornhole game with the following:

• 2 cornhole boards (each 2 feet wide and 4 feet long). The board where players (or the primary team) stand is a headboard, while the other is a footboard.
• 8 bean bags (4 of one color, 4 of another). Red and blue are the two standard colors used. But, it can vary.
• A flat space like a backyard, driveway, or open area.

Each board has a hole near the top. The standard hole is 6 inches in diameter and is centered 9 inches from the top. Regulation boards are made of smooth plywood, with a surface height of 3-4 inches at the front and 12 inches at the back.

The bean bags should be 6×6 inches and weigh around 14-16 ounces. Bags should be made of durable fabric and filled with plastic pellets or corn.

Note: Cornhole game sets may be purchased on the official website of the American Cornhole Association.

Cornhole Board Rules

The official distance between the front edges of the boards is 27 feet. For juniors (12 and under), seniors, or those with mobility needs, use a shorter distance of 12 to 15 feet. Make sure the playing surface is level and clear of obstacles.

How to play cornhole indoors? Maintain a minimum ceiling height of 12 feet.

A regulation cornhole court is 10–12 feet wide and 40–45 feet long. Leave at least 10 feet between courts if you set up multiple games.

Cornhole Game Set Up

1. Place the two boards on flat ground, 27 feet apart (or less for younger players). It may also be described as “the distance between foul lines is 27 feet.”
2. Each team gets 4 bags of the same color.
3. Players stand in the pitcher’s box, which is a 4-by-3-foot rectangle beside each board.
4. Use a coin toss to decide who goes first or picks a side. A team can either change their throwing lane or the throwing order in the first innings.

Cornhole Gameplay

Rules for the cornhole game mainly guide how to throw bags, scoring rules, foul rules, etc. While playing the game looks simple, there are many chances to play foul without knowing the rules.

1. How to Throw

Players take turns throwing one bag at a time toward the opposite board. Bags must be thrown with an underhand motion. You must stay within your pitcher’s box and behind the foul line while pitching. Crossing the line is a foul, and the bag earns no points.

Wait until the previous bag has come to a complete stop before throwing the next one. Players must use the same hand to throw throughout the match unless there’s a medical reason to switch.

2. Scoring

Points are counted after all eight bags are thrown (4 per player).

Scoring Options

There are two ways to keep score in cornhole:

Cancellation Scoring: Only one team scores per inning. Subtract the lower team’s score from the higher team’s. For example, if Team A scores 5 and Team B scores 2, Team A gets 3 points.

Non-Deduction (Straight) Scoring: Both teams keep all their points.

Decide which method to use before the game starts.

3. Pitching and Court Conduct

• Players must pitch with an underhand release.
• All four bags must be pitched from within the same pitcher’s box.
• Players may not step over or touch the foul line while releasing the bag.
• Wait at least 2 seconds after a bag lands before throwing the next one.
• Do not touch the boards or move any bags until scoring is complete.
• Players must use the same hand for all pitches unless medically necessary.

4. Fouls and Dead Bags

A foul bag earns 0 points. The cases for a foul are as follows:

• A bag pitched when a player steps over the foul line
• A bag is not thrown underhand
• A bag pitched when a player throws from outside the pitcher’s box
• A bag hits the ground before the board
• A bag is not thrown within 20 seconds
• A bag pitched from a different pitcher’s box
• Player changes throwing hand during the game (unless due to injury)
• The player interferes with the board or bags before the score is confirmed

Dead bags include:

• Any bag that hits the ground or any object before landing on the board
• Any bag that contacts a ceiling, tree, or similar obstacle

Dead bags are immediately removed from play with no penalty or foul to the throwing team.

If a dead bag moves another bag, only the dead bag is removed. The remaining bags stay where they are, and play continues.

5. Foul Bag Rule Violations

Cornhole game rules handle the foul throws in two ways: non-impacting and impacting.

A non-impacting foul means the thrown bag breaks a rule but doesn’t move any other bags. The foul bag is taken off the board right away and the bag scores zero points. All other bags stay where they are and nothing else is moved.

An impacting foul happens when the foul bag hits or moves other bags on the board. How to play cornhole when that happens? All bags, including the foul one, stay in place until the round is over. At the end of the round, the team that made the foul loses their highest-scoring bag from that inning. If they didn’t score any points, nothing changes.

Example: A player steps over the line, and their offending bag knocks an opponent’s bag off the board. All bags stay put until the round ends. Then, the fouling team shall remove their best-scoring bag from their total.

Additional Cornhole Game Rules

• Once a player starts the final forward swing, the bag counts as thrown, even if it is dropped.
• If a bag is dropped before the final swing begins, it can be picked up and thrown without penalty.
• If players think they’ve thrown all their bags and cleared the board but later realize one was missed, the inning is over. The missed bag is forfeited and scores 0 points.
• Any intentional action that harms the fairness of the game, as judged by the court official, leads to disqualification and match forfeiture.
• In official tournaments, purposely interfering with an opponent’s throw will lead to disqualification and game forfeiture. Excessively poor sportsmanship will also result in disqualification and loss of the game.

6. Winning

The game is played until one team reaches or exceeds 21 points at the end of a full inning. If a team scores over 21, they still win.

Some casual games may use the “exact 21” or “back to 15” rule. As per the official cornhole rules, it is 21 points.

In case of a tie between teams (or players), a tiebreaker round is played to determine the winning team.

Cornhole Match Formats

• Singles (1 vs. 1): Two individual players compete against each other. Each player stays in their assigned lane for the entire game. The game begins with both players at the same board (the headboard), where they take turns throwing all four of their bags. Once both have thrown, they walk to the other board, record the score, and continue playing from there.
• Doubles (2 vs. 2): Two teams of two players face off in doubles cornhole matches. Each player stays in their lane throughout the game and lines up directly across from their teammate. Players at the headboard alternate pitching bags until they’ve each thrown all four bags. Meanwhile, their partners stand at the opposite board (the footboard), where they keep score and then take their turn throwing back to the headboard. The game continues with players alternating rounds until a team wins.
• Crew (4 vs. 4): Teams of four, with two teammates on each side. Each teammate throws two bags per round.

In all formats, each player must remain in their lane throughout the game. Team members always pitch from the same side and face their opponents. After a round is completed, the score is taken and play resumes from the opposite side.

The team that scored in the previous round throws first in the next round. If the round is tied, the team that threw first throws again.

Types of Throws

There’s plenty of strategy involved in cornhole game, especially at competitive levels. Skilled players learn to block their opponents, slide bags, or knock other bags into the hole.

Common throws in Cornhole include:

• Slide shot: Bag lands on the board and slides into the hole.
• Blocker: Bag lands in front of the hole to block the opponent.
• Airmail: Bag is thrown directly into the hole without touching the board.
• Bully bag: A bag used to push an opponent’s bag away while scoring.
• Roll shot: Bag is thrown with a spin to roll over a blocker into the hole.

Knowing when and how to use each technique is important when learning how to play cornhole game. Don’t fret! It takes practice.

History of Cornhole

Cornhole has a surprisingly long and interesting history. The first version of the game was described in an 1883 patent by Heyliger de Windt for a game called “Parlor Quoits.” It used bean bags and a slanted board with a square hole and was designed for indoor play.

Later, a version called “Faba Baga” introduced boards with two differently sized holes and an extra-large bag for bonus points. In 1974, Popular Mechanics published a version called “bean-bag bull’s-eye,” which resembled modern cornhole but had a shorter board and used 8-ounce bags.

Modern cornhole game rules took off in the 1980s, especially in Cincinnati, Ohio. The game spread throughout Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. Today, it is a staple at tailgates, backyard gatherings, and even national tournaments.

Official Cornhole Organizations and Tournaments

Cornhole is played competitively across the United States and has several major organizations:

• American Cornhole Organization (ACO): Founded in 2005, ACO is headquartered in Milford, Ohio, and serves as a governing body for the sport.
• American Cornhole League (ACL): Founded in 2015, the ACL promotes the game and supports players through apps and tournament management software.
• American Cornhole Association (ACA): Focuses primarily on providing quality equipment but also hosts events and offers its own rules.

Competitive players can earn rankings through the official events:

• ACO World Rankings: Players are ranked across Singles, Doubles, Women’s, Seniors, and Juniors.
• ACL Points System: Points are earned in open, advanced, competitive, intermediate, and novice divisions. Higher placements earn more points.

How to Play Cornhole for Kids

Kids cornhole follows the same basic format as the standard game, with simple adjustments for younger players. Kids can play one-on-one or in teams of two. The boards are usually placed closer—between 12 and 15 feet apart. The cancellation scoring is not used. Each team adds and keeps all their points after every round.

Bags that land on the board earn one point, and bags that go into the hole are worth three points. Any bag off the board or touching the ground earns zero points. Players must not step past the front edge of the board while tossing to prevent fouls.

Play continues until a player or team reaches 15 points. If both sides reach 15 in the same round, a tiebreaker round is played. The side with more points in that round wins.

Tips for Game Hosts and Parents

• Let kids or beginners throw from a shorter distance.
• Use kid-friendly bags for safety.
• Keep things fun and relaxed—stick with simple scoring if needed.
• Help players stay behind the line and keep their form consistent.

Review Glossary

Closure

Now you know how to play Cornhole game. As you get more comfortable with the game, one overlooked skill to build is consistency in your throw mechanics. Beginners often focus only on scoring, but refining your stance, grip, and release timing leads to long-term improvement. Practice with purpose, repeat the same motion, and adjust for different board conditions. Learn how your bags react to spin or slide. Small tweaks can change your entire learning.

Whether you’re playing for fun or aiming for tournaments, start steadily. Your game will grow in technique and precision.

Want to explore more sport games? How to Play Shuffleboard: Step-by-Step Rules for Beginners is a must-read guide to get started.

FAQs

How many players are required to play the Cornhole game?

Cornhole is usually played with either 2 or 4 players. In a 2-player game, opponents face each other and alternate throws. In a 4-player game, teammates stand at opposite boards and alternate turns.

Can you go over 21 in cornhole?

Yes, in standard cornhole, you can go over 21 points. The first team to reach 21 or more at the end of a round wins. There’s no penalty or score reset for exceeding 21 unless you’re using house rules.

What are the official cornhole dimensions?

The official dimensions for a cornhole board, as regulated by the American Cornhole Association (ACA), are:

Board Dimensions:

• Length: 47.5 to 48 inches
• Width: 23.5 to 24 inches
• Front Height: 3 to 4 inches
• Back Height: Approximately 12 inches
• Material: Smooth, wooden plywood at least ½ inch thick

Hole Dimensions and Placement:

• Diameter: 6 inches (±¼ inch)
• Center of hole: 9 inches from the top edge and 12 inches from each side (±¼ inch)

How long does it take for a double team to reach 21 points?

A double team game of cornhole usually takes 15–20 minutes to reach 21 points. It may take longer if the match is closely contested.

What if an opponent knocks your bag off the board?

If an opponent knocks your bag off the board during play, it no longer counts for points. Only bags remaining on the board or in the hole at the end of the round are scored.