Outdoor & pub games
Toad in the hole
- players
- 2–8
- minutes
- 30
- years
- 6+
In the box
1 barrel table with holes, and its frog · Brass discs
Box details
- Origin
- Traditional game, with no specific designer or publisher
- Mechanics
- Dexterity
Where to buy it
Near you
In a shop
Within 50 km.
The basics
Throw your discs into the holes of the cabinet to score as many points as you can, the frog's mouth being worth the most. On your turn, throw all your discs in a row from the line, then add up the values of the compartments they fell into; a disc that goes into no hole scores nothing. Play either over an agreed number of rounds, won by the highest total, or up to a total set in advance, won by the first to reach it.
Traditional rules, checked against reference sources · October 2026
The rules, step by step
Setup
A dozen or so holes, Usually 8 discs, Line about 3 m away
- A wooden cabinet (once a barrel) about 80 to 90 cm high. Its top has a dozen or so holes: in the centre, a metal frog with its mouth open; in front of it, a spinning mill (moulin); at the sides, bridges and plain holes.
- Each hole leads to a compartment that shows its value.
- Cast-iron discs: eight most of the time, ten in the FALSAB description. You can change the number to let more people play.
- A throwing line about three metres away for adults (3 to 3.5 m according to the FALSAB), closer for children (2 to 2.5 m).
- Draw lots to decide which player or team starts.
How to play
Throw all your discs, Thrown disc is played
- On your turn, you throw all your discs in a row, one at a time, from the line: this is a round of throws.
- In teams, the discs of a round are shared between teammates.
- A disc once thrown has been played, even if it falls on the floor: it is not thrown again. Those waiting pick up the fallen discs.
- When the round of throws is over, add up the values of the compartments the discs fell into, then it is the next player’s turn.
Scoring
Compartment value, Frog 2,000 points, Outside holes: nothing
- Each disc scores the value of the compartment it falls into. The frog is worth the most, usually 2,000 points.
- The other targets (mill, bridges, plain holes) are worth less, from 10 points upwards: count with the values painted on the cabinet.
- A disc that goes into no hole scores nothing.
End of the game
Agreed number of rounds, Or total set in advance
- Two ways to play, to choose beforehand: over an agreed number of rounds, won by the highest total; or up to a total set in advance, won by the first to reach it.
- No source sets that total: the 3,000 or 5,000 points offered by the score sheet are a Marquoir house rule. Aim above 2,000, otherwise a single disc in the frog is enough to win.
House rules and pitfalls
The scoring scale changes from one cabinet to another: always count with the one on the game in use.
- The scoring scale changes from one cabinet to another: always count with the one on the game in use.
- A maker’s bonus: the rules supplied with some games add 1,000 points for four discs in the frog in the same round. The FALSAB and the USEP do not mention it: announce it before you play.
- No federation publishes rules: the FALSAB confederation, which wrote the French intangible cultural heritage inventory entry (2012), describes the game without setting the scoring scale or how the game ends.
- The same game is played in Spain and South America under the name rana or sapo.
Going further
Variants · Frequently asked questions · In the same family
Variants
Target
Set number of throws
Highest total after the agreed number of throws, three by default.
3,000 points
House rule: no source sets a target total.
5,000 points
House rule: no source sets a target total.
choose them when you start a game: the scorer adapts
Frequently asked questions
What is the aim?
Get your discs into the holes of a wooden cabinet; the open mouth of the metal frog in the centre scores the most points.
How do you score?
Each hole leads to a compartment marked with a value; add up the values of the compartments your discs fell into. A disc that misses every hole scores nothing.
How many discs per turn?
Eight in most games, ten according to the FALSAB. You throw them all in a row, then add up the round.
How far away do you stand?
About three metres for an adult (3 to 3.5 m according to the FALSAB), 2 to 2.5 m for a child. You throw while staying behind the line.
How do you win?
With the highest total after the agreed number of rounds, or by being first to reach the total set before the game. A disc in the frog can turn a game around.