Official Rules of Cornhole

Like tennis, cornhole can be played by doubles or singles. If doubles are playing, teams of two partners will be playing against another team of two partners. One partner stands by one of the cornhole boards, while the other stands facing him next to the other cornhole board.

Team 1's player will pitch a bean bag first, followed by Team 2's player. After all four bags have been pitched, scores are totaled and the other partners alternate turns.

Points are tallied after each inning of play, which is after each Team has pitched all there bags. A bag in the hole is worth 3 points, while a bag on the board is worth 1.

The score follows a cancellation format, which means nothing more than, if Team 1 makes one bag in the whole, and so does Team 2, no points are awarded that inning. Another example would be if Team 1 has three bags on the board and Team 2 has one bag on the board, then Team 1 is awarded 2 points.

Did ya get all that? It's not as complicated as it sounds. Here's an example that might help:

Team 1: Benny & Bill
Team 2: Jenny & Jill

Benny and Jenny stand on either side of one cornhole board. Bill and Jill each are by the other cornhole board on the same side as there partners. (Facing their partners)

Benny pitches his first bag and makes it in the hole, which is worth three points. (3-0) Jenny pitches her first bag and makes it as well, which cancels out the points Benny earned on his first shot. (0-0) Benny misses completely on his second toss. Jenny makes it in the hole on her second toss. (0-3) Benny lands one on the board on his third toss, which cancels out one of Jenny's points, because a bag on the board is worth one point. (0-2) Jenny misses completely on her third toss. (0-2) Benny tosses his final bag and makes it on the board, which cancels out another of Jenny's points. (0-1) Jenny tosses her fourth and final bag and gets it in the hole. Her shot is worth three points. The score is now 0-4, with Jenny and Jill in the lead.

Now it is Bill and Jill's turn. Jill will go first because her team was the last team to score.

Were you able to follow? If not, don't fret. When you get in the backyard with a drink in one hand and a set of bean bags in the other things will just start to flow.

Check out the American Cornhole Association's website for further instructions.

Enjoy!!