How to play Kubb in 3 steps

Simple explanation of the game Kubb

Table of contents
Kubb explained in 3 steps
Kubb game variations
Objective of the game Kubb

Children playing Kubb on a field

Kubb is a tactical block game where two parties compete against each other in a relaxed manner. It is also seen as a combination of bowling, petanque and chess. But how do you actually play Kubb? Well, officially you play with two teams of 6 players. Each team member is allowed to throw 1 throwing stick each turn, so 1 player is not allowed to throw multiple throwing sticks.

Kubb explained in 3 steps

Playing time: between 10 and 60 minutes

  1. Team 1 starts throwing. The goal is to knock down the "line Kubbs" of Team 2 (on the back line) with the throwing sticks. When at least 1 line Kubb is knocked down, step 2 follows.
  3. Team 2 throws the knocked down line Kubb into the field of team 1, this has now become a "field Kubb" or "Knight". Team 2 must now first knock down this field Kubb before the line Kubbs on the back line of team 1 may be knocked down. The knocked down field Kubbs are thrown into the field of team 2 by team 1 in the next turn. These must now first be knocked down by team 1 before the line Kubbs may be knocked down.
    Attention! If team 2 does not knock down the field Kubbs, team 1 may throw the throwing sticks from a line at the height of the still upright field Kubb, which of course makes it much easier for this team. This process repeats itself until all Kubbs in the opponent's field have been knocked down.
  5. When all Kubbs have been knocked over (and there are at least 2 throwing sticks left), the team from the back line may try to knock over the king. If this succeeds, the team has won.

Kubb game variations

Of course there are also variations on the above official game explanation. I have listed a number of Kubb variations for you so that you can quickly make it easier, faster or more dynamic.

Objective of the game Kubb

The aim of the game is to knock over the opponent's wooden blocks (the "Kubbs") with five wooden sticks ("Throwing Sticks" or "Clubs"). The knocked over kubbs , after being knocked over, join the game, making it increasingly difficult to achieve victory. When all of the opponent's kubbs have been knocked over, only the king is waiting to be knocked over. When this has been knocked over, victory has been achieved.

Want to know what the official rules are? Then take a look at Kubb rules .