Horse Collar Shuffleboard Game Rules
Games are played one on one (2 players) or with two or more teams of two players per team, playing on same end of the board. Each player or team uses one set of pucks (red or blue). Depending upon the number of players, teams may need to alternate ends as the frames change. Games are played in frames until one player or team scores 51 points. However, scoring 51 points first does not necessarily make that player or team the winner. Every player or team gets to finish each frame and the highest score is the winner. If the player or team that scores 51 points or more has the hammer (the last player or team to play), then they are declared the winner. Before a player or team can score any points at all, at least one puck must be a 3-pointer or more. Pucks are considered in play if they are on the board and past the designated foul line.
If playing singles, one player will throw all 8 weights. If playing teams (4 or more players), one player will throw 4 weights of the same color, and then the other player will throw the remaining 4 pucks. The objective is to get at least one puck into the 3-point or more zone to get the scoring started. You may bump or tap pucks to accomplish this or simply lag one in. All pucks must be past the designated foul line or off the board. If a puck remains on the board that is not past the designated foul line, no points can be awarded, but if it is not your last weight, it may be knocked off. Again, the objective is to get at least one puck into the 3-point or greater zone (without any pucks short of the designated foul line) in order for any points to count.
How to Play Shuffleboard with 2 Players - Players stand at opposite ends of the board, facing each other. The first player shoots all 8 pucks (4 blue, 4 red) consecutively towards the opposite end of the board. After all pucks have been shot, the score is counted as described under “Method of Scoring”. Then the board is cleared and the opponent shoots in the same manner from the end of the shuffleboard at which he is standing. Player’s alternate shooting until one player has scored 51 points as stated under
“Technical Points”.
How to Play Shuffleboard with 4 or 8 Players - With more than two persons, Horse Collar is a team game. If there are 4 players, they divide into teams of 2 each; if there are 8 players, they divide into teams of 4. To start a game the opposing teams station themselves at opposite ends of the shuffleboard with all of one team at one end and all of their opponents at the other end The first team shoots all its 8 pucks toward the opposite end of the board, with each member of the team shooting his quota consecutively, in the following manner: On a 2-player team, the first player shoots 4 pucks, in a row and then his partner shoots the remaining 4 pucks of opposite color. On a 4-player team, the first player shoots 2 pucks in a row, and each of his partners in turn shots 2 pucks in a row until all 8 pucks have been shot. When all 8 pucks have been thrown, the score is counted as stated in “Method of Scoring”. Then, the opposing team clears the board and shoots it’s 8 pucks in the same manner as described above. Teams continue to alternate shooting until one team has 51 points (see “Technical Points”).
Method of Scoring - After all 8 pucks in a round have been played, it must be determined whether at least one puck is completely in the trey (3-point zone) or overhanging the end, left-hand corner or right-hand corner of the shuffleboard playing field. If there are NO pucks in this zone, NO SCORE OF ANY KIND CAN BE COUNTED, regardless of how many pucks remain on the board. If there is at least one puck in the trey (3-point zone) or overhanging the end (13-point zone), the left-hand corner or the right-hand corner of the board (26-point zone), then the score is counted, as follows:
• All pucks touching or in front of the deuce line count as 1 point. This applies to the entire area up to the designated foul line, but weight must be completely clear of the designated foul line to count.
• All pucks between the deuce line and the trey line (including any touching the trey line) count as 2 points.
• All pucks between the trey line and the far end of the board count as 3 points.
• All pucks overhanging the board at the far end count as 13 points (13-point hanger).
• All pucks overhanging the left- and/or right-hand corner of the board count as 26 points (26-point hanger).
• All pucks which fall into the alleys, or do not clear the designated foul line are dead and do not count.
Score Count Summary - In order to score, a player or team must have at least one puck being worth 3 points or more (it does not have to be the first puck thrown in order to score). For example if a player or team throws 1puck worth 3 points and 2 pucks worth 2 points and 3 pucks worth1point and all remaining pucks on the board are past the designated foul line, the player or team would score 10 points. Hangers are worth 13 points (hanger being a puck that is hanging partially off the end of the board). Hangers on corners are worth 26 points (puck is hanging partially off the end and partially off the side of the board in either corner). A puck just hanging only off the side of the board does not have any special meaning or point value unless it is a 26-point hanger on one of the corners. Games are played in frames until one player or team scores 51 points. However, scoring 51 points first does not necessarily make that player or team the winner. Every player or team gets to finish each frame and the highest score is the winner (51 points or greater). If the player or team that scores 51 points or more has the hammer (the last player or team to play), then they are declared the winner.
Technical Points - • A game is NOT complete until the player or team which has been shooting last has taken it’s LAST TURN AT THE BOARD, even though the player or team shooting first has already scored 51 points or more. If both teams go over 51 points, the one with the FINAL HIGHEST SCORE IS THE WINNER.
• During play, no contestant may leave his position to check the location of weights he or his partners have played.
• All weights that do not completely CLEAR the designated foul line are dead weights, but must not be removed from the board.
Shuffleboard Table Other General Rules
Before a player shoots, the player can dust the board if dry spots are showing
Shooters must have one foot behind the playing surface while they are shooting.
Hitting or shaking the table is never allowed
For other Shuffleboard Games See Below
We hope you find these Game Rules and Tips helpful for enjoyment of your Shuffleboard Table.
