How to play Kubb in 3 steps

Kubb: the Swedish throwing game that turns your lawn into a battlefield

Kubb is not your average game. This is wood in your hand. Strategy in your head. And a dash of courage in your wrist. Think of bowling, petanque and chess on a lawn. With a beer nearby. Two teams compete against each other. The sun is shining (hopefully). And then it starts: throwing, laughing, cheering. Fun? Definitely. But don't underestimate it. Winning feels magical.

Players in action during a game of Kubb on a grass field

How Kubb works (in 3 simple steps)

🕒 Playing time: between 10 and 60 minutes

Step 0: Set up the field

How big was the field again? What was the starting line-up again? Check out the dimensions of the Kubb field and the starting line-up here.

Step 1: Focus on the back line

Team 1 starts. With six throwing sticks you aim at the blocks of Team 2. They are on the back line. Do you knock one over? Great. On to the next step.

Step 2: The blocks move to the field

The knocked over blocks are thrown back into your field. They are now called field Kubbs. From now on you have to knock them over before you can aim at the back line again. See it as an extra obstacle. Or as an opportunity, if you are good.

Step 3: Conquer the field, then the King

If the opponent does not manage to knock down all the field Kubbs, your team may move up to the last fallen Kubb. So you are getting closer and closer. If you have knocked down all the Kubbs, you may aim for the King in the middle. If you knock him down with at least two sticks left, it is over. You win.

But be careful: if you hit the King too early, before all the other Kubbs are down, it's over immediately. You don't win. You're just out.

Kubb variations: for those who like variety

Kubb is one of those games that is easy to adapt. Shorter games? Smaller teams? Or a mini version for camping? Everything is possible. In our tips for Kubb variations you can read how to make Kubb faster, harder or even crazier.

What is the purpose of Kubb?

Knock down all of the opponent's Kubbs. Only then can you take the King. But be careful: every Kubb you knock down comes back as an extra obstacle in your field. The further you get, the harder it gets. It's all about smart aiming, tactical thinking and knowing when to take risks.

📌 Looking for the full official Kubb rules ? Check out our extensive explanation.