Outdoor & pub games
Mölkky
Reach exactly fifty points by knocking down numbered pins with a throwing stick, without going over, or you drop back to twenty-five.
- players
- 2–12
- minutes
- 20
- variants
- 2
You’ll need: 12 numbered pins + 1 throwing stick. Marquoir gives you all the rules and keeps score.
Setup
- Twelve pins numbered 1 to 12 and a throwing stick, the mölkky.
- The pins are set in a tight formation, numbers facing the players, about three and a half metres from the throwing line.
- Two to twelve players, individually or in teams.
How to play
- Players take turns throwing the mölkky underarm from behind the line.
- After each throw, the fallen pins are stood back up exactly where they landed.
- The formation therefore spreads out as the game goes on: throws become more and more technical.
Scoring
- A single pin knocked down: score the number written on it, from 1 to 12.
- Several pins knocked down: score the number of pins, not their numbers. Three pins make 3 points.
- A pin only counts if it is lying completely flat. A pin leaning on another does not count.
End of the game
- The first to reach exactly 50 points wins.
- Going over 50 brings the score back to 25 points. It is the rule that makes games last.
- Three throws in a row without knocking down a single pin eliminate the player or team.
House rules and pitfalls
- The scorer applies the drop back to 25 automatically: no need to think about it during the game.
- Near the end, aiming at a specific pin beats a big throw: at 47 points, you need a 3, not a 12.
Variants
Target
50 points (official)
30 points (short game)
chosen when starting, the scorer follows
Frequently asked questions
What happens if you go over 50 in Mölkky?
The player's or team's score immediately drops back to 25 points. That is why you aim at specific pins near the end.
How do you score when several pins fall?
Score the number of pins knocked down, not the sum of their numbers. Knocking down pins 12, 9 and 4 scores 3 points, not 25.
How far do you throw from?
About three and a half metres between the throwing line and the starting formation. The distance does not change, but the pins move further away as throws go on.