To play shuffleboard, follow these basic rules and steps:
Setup
- Shuffleboard is played with two players or two teams (1-4 players per team).
- Each player or team has four weighted pucks, usually colored differently to distinguish sides.
- Players stand at opposite ends of the shuffleboard table or court.
Objective
- The goal is to slide your pucks down the board and land them in the highest scoring zones without falling off the end.
- In a two-player game, the first to reach 15 points wins; in a four-player doubles game, the first team to 21 points wins
Gameplay
- Players alternate turns sliding one puck at a time down the board.
- Each round consists of both players sliding all four of their pucks.
- On your turn, you must release the puck before crossing the closest foul line; failing to do so forfeits that shot
- Pucks that stop before the farthest foul line or fall into the gutter (alley) are removed from play for that round
- You can knock your opponent’s pucks off the board to reduce their score while positioning your pucks in scoring zones
Scoring
- Only the player or team with the puck closest to the far end scores points in that round.
- Points are awarded based on the zone where the puck rests:
- 1 point for the closest zone,
- 2 points for the middle zone,
- 3 points for the farthest zone,
- 4 points if the puck is hanging off the edge of the board (overhanging)
- Pucks touching a line score the lower value of the two zones.
- The winner of the round adds the points from all their pucks that are farther than the opponent’s closest puck.
- If the closest pucks tie, no points are awarded that round
Additional Rules and Etiquette
- Players alternate shooting from opposite ends each round.
- Avoid touching the playing surface or pucks during the round except when it's your turn.
- Do not cross foul lines when shooting.
- Good sportsmanship includes shaking hands before the game and standing clear while others shoot
Summary of Play
- Decide who shoots first.
- Players alternate sliding their four pucks down the board.
- After all pucks are played, score the round.
- Repeat rounds until a player or team reaches the winning score with at least a two-point lead
This provides a clear and concise overview of how to play shuffleboard, including setup, turns, scoring, and etiquette.
