How to Play Kubb (Rules and Field Setup)

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Learn how to play kubb for beginners with this guide explaining the rules and field setup of this exciting and unique yard game.

If you’re looking for a new, social, and energizing game to play with friends and family in the yard, you’ve come to the right place. Kubb is an entertaining game that can be played with anywhere from two to twelve people.

In this article, I will explain what Kubb is, how the rules work, and how to set up the field. Let’s get started!

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Also referred to as “Viking Chess”, Kubb is a lawn game where players from one team try to knock over all their opponents’ blocks, known as “kubbs”, with wooden batons.

The team that knocks down all their opponents’ kubbs first, plus the so-called king kubb in the middle of the playing field, wins.

Legend has it that Kubb was originally a Viking game, hence the nickname “Viking Chess”. However, there isn’t any evidence that the Vikings had anything to do with Kubb’s invention.

The earliest mention of any game resembling Kubb comes from 1911 Sweden, and is a variation on another Swedish game known as “Skittles”.

To explain Kubb, I am going to walk you through the following sections:

1. Equipment
2. Field setup
3. Game objective
4. Game play
5. Game variations

1. Equipment

This is the basic equipment needed for a game of Kubb:

• 1x King Kubb:
  Large wooden block.
• 10x Kubbs:
  Smaller wooden blocks (5 per team).
• 6x Batons:
  Cylindrical wooden sticks for throwing.
• 4x Corner stakes:
  To mark the boundaries of the playing field. Some Kubb sets include 6 stakes (4 corners + 2 centerline).

The size and weight of the blocks and batons will vary depending on the Kubb set you purchase.

It’s a good idea to do a little bit of research to find a Kubb set that will work best for you and the people you’re going to play with.

2. Field Setup

A standard Kubb field is rectangular and measures 26 x 16 feet (8 x 5 meters).

For recreational backyard play, you’re free to change these dimensions as long as the field is rectangular.

The field should be level and the surface can be grass or sand. Lines are optional but you can use anything from a piece of string to spray paint.

The King is placed in the center of the field, and each team places their five Kubbs on their baseline. The Kubbs need to stand upright, so you might have to press them into place in the grass or sand.

Set them up evenly across each end of the court, with the space between the outside blocks and the edge of the court about the same as the length of a baton.

These are each team’s baseline. When you’ve got them in place, put the king kubb in the center of the court, and you’re now ready to start playing.

3. Game Objective

The goal is to knock down all of the opposing team’s Kubbs using the batons and then knock over the King.

The team that knocks over the King wins.

4. Game Play

A Kubb game is played by two teams with one to six players per team.

To decide which team goes first, have one player from each team throw a baton toward the King. The team with the closest baton without knocking over the King starts the game. If the King is knocked over, the other team goes first.

Batons must be thrown underhand and vertically (no spinning or helicopter throws) throughout the game.

Steps to play the game:

1. Team A stands behind their baseline and throws 2 batons underhand at Team B’s Kubbs.
2. Any Kubbs knocked over by Team A are picked up by Team B and tossed onto Team A’s side of the field. These become Field Kubbs.
3. Team A then sets these Field Kubbs upright where they landed. These now need to be knocked over by Team B before Team B can target Team A’s baseline Kubbs.
4. Team B now throws 4 batons at Team A’s Kubbs, aiming first for any Field Kubbs that have been set up. Once all Field Kubbs are knocked down, they can target the baseline Kubbs.
5. If Team B is not able to knock down Team A’s Field Kubbs in their turn, Team A is allowed to create a new baseline (Advantage Line) where the closest remaining Field Kubb is. This Advantage Line is the new temporary attack line from where Team A can do their next turn of 6 throws.
6. Once a team has knocked down all of the opposing team’s Kubbs (both Field and Baseline Kubbs), they can then aim to knock down the King.
7. The team that successfully knocks over the King after clearing all the Kubbs wins the game.

Important rules:

• The first team throws 2 batons. The opposing team then throws 4 batons. In the third round, the first team then throws 6 batons. From that point, teams always throw 6 batons.
• A variation of the above rule is that the first team throws 4 batons, followed by 6 batons in subsequent rounds. You’re free to ignore these rules and always throw 6 batons.
• If a team accidentally knocks down the King before eliminating all the opponent’s Kubbs, they lose the game immediately.
• If a Field Kubb is thrown out of bounds, the team has one more chance to throw it correctly. If they fail, the other team may place it anywhere within their side of the playing field as long as it is one baton’s length away from the King. A good strategy here is to place the Field Kubb behind the King to make it harder for the other team to knock it over.
• When setting a Field Kubb upright, two corners of the Kubb must stay in contact with the ground. In other words, you can’t pick it up.
• If a player knocks over a Baseline Kubb before all Field Kubbs are knocked over, that Baseline Kubb can be placed upright again. The player cannot re-throw.
• A targeted King shot can only be done from behind the original baseline.

5. Game Variations

Players are free to change up the rules to make games easier or shorter, or to make them more entertaining. Here are some ideas.

Tower of Kubbs

When you’re placing Field Kubbs upright, you can put one upright as you would ordinarily do, but any subsequent Kubbs knocked over would go on top of that one, building a tower.

That makes taking out all the field kubbs easier and quicker because you can knock multiple Kubbs down with a single throw.

Removing Kubbs

Another way to shorten the game is to remove a Kubb from the field once it’s been knocked over twice.

That helps children and beginners get a handle on how to play the game without dragging it on for too long.

Going After the King

If you want to lengthen the game or otherwise make it harder, you can make it so that turns end after one throw at the king kubb, even if you have batons left over.

If you would like to discover more great games to play outside, check out my list of top backyard games for inspiration.

Last updated: August 12, 2024