The Mayday Games Blog

Cronikole is a thrilling tabletop board game of skill that originated in Canada in the 1870s. Over the last 150 years, it has become widely popular throughout Canada, the United States and worldwide. An annual World Crokinole Tournament, established in 1999, still takes place in Tavistock, Canada, that brings players of all ages to play. The rules are relatively simple, but players can develop strategies that make the game competitive and exciting. The board and accessories can come in unique, customizable designs to tailor to a player's preference and much thought goes into the crokinole board pieces.

Basics of Crokinole Board Pieces 

The game of crokinole consists of a round or octagonal-shaped tabletop board and 24 crokinole pieces or discs. The small discs that come with the game can have various names, like discs, biscuits, counters, buttons, chips, pucks and crokinole shooters. Crokinole discs are generally made of hard maple and come in vibrant colors with a glossy finish. A scoring box comes with the game that is also made of wood and contains small pegs for keeping track of the game.

Differences in Crokinole Board Materials and Dimensions

The crokinole board materials can be designed to the owner's specifications, but the dimensions must meet precise standards. A crokinole board's standard playing area diameter for regular gameplay is 22"-24", while a tournament board has a surface diameter of 26." The base wood material is plywood. It can then have an inlay of various types of wood to give it a beautiful finish. Canadian maple, rosewood, mahogany and walnut are all hardwood materials that can leave a smooth and attractive finish to the board. Handmade boards can have unique designs made from Russian baltic wood with exotic veneers ranging from oak, Birdseye maple, poplar, cherry, teak and lacewood.

Variations of Crokinole Disc Size

The hardwood discs for crokinole come in three sizes depending on the game type and the players' age. For a standard crokinole game on a 22'-24" board, the disc will measure 3/8" thick and 1 1/8" in diameter. Discs for tournament play are the same thickness as the standard size but 1 1/4" in diameter to accommodate the 26" board. For children, there are special mini size discs that measure 1 3/32" in diameter and 13/32" thick. The smaller discs are best for use on standard-size crokinole boards.

Importance of the Rails

Around the perimeter of the crokinole board is a raised rail that fits outside the base. The railing is slightly higher than the surface and keeps the discs from sliding onto the table or floor. Between the rail and the playing surface lies a small ditch where the game pieces can rest when they are not in play. The rail height should be comfortable for a player to rest the palm of their hand to assist in shooting the disc during gameplay. A measurement of 1/4" is a standard height for a crokinole board.

Purposes for Circles on the Deck

On every crokinole board lies a set of circles for scoring the game. A player aims to shoot their disc toward the center hole of the board to receive the maximum 20-point score. The rings around the board are at a radius of 4, 8 and 12 inches from the midpoint. When a player's disc lands on the circle closest to the center, it counts for 15 points. The middle ring is 10 points, with 5 points for the outer circle.

Principles of the Rules Sheet

Every crokinole game set has a sheet or booklet that details how to play the game. Some come in the shape of a full-color brochure with scorecards for home or tournament play, while others come with a plain sheet of paper that offers a set of rules and a list of crokinole board pieces that come with the game. They all include how to prepare before starting play, how the game works, a description of a good shot, scoring, shooting and other rules. Most will add alternate or optional rules that players can apply to their game if they wish.

Significance of Wax and Powders

Crokinole requires shooting discs across the board and a lubricative powder or wax is necessary to keep the discs moving smoothly on the surface. After removing excess dirt, dust and fingerprints, wax is applied to polish the board for a smooth finish. It is an essential step for the maintenance and care of the board after cleaning it with soap and water. Powders are typically non-toxic and consist of food-grade plant starch. The use of powder in a crokinole game is similar to shuffleboard.

Fundamentals of the Scoreboard and Pegs

Pegs or bumpers are strategically placed around the crokinole board's center circle to slow the discs' rebound when they are in play. Crokinole sets generally include a wooden storage box to store game discs and small wooden pegs. The top of the box has a printed scoring track with 42 tiny holes drilled throughout to provide a way for players to keep score. Extra pegs of different colors are in the box, allowing players to add them as needed to help with scoring when playing with more than two colors of discs.

Additions for Crokinole Players

There are many accessories to accompany a crokinole board and crokinole board pieces. Players can find additional disc sizes and colors, bumpers for the game board, carry bags, and cases for storage. Acrylic holders are an option for discs and several types of waxes and powders for maintenance. There are also accessory bundles that include different sections of crokinole boards and matching carrying cases. Tournament players can find special edition crokinole sets suitable for their level of play.

Gather Your Crokinole Board Pieces and Board and Start Playing! 

Crokinole is an excellent game for family and friends of all ages, where the players are as unique as the crokinole board pieces on the table. There are many ways to customize the materials and styles to suit the player's needs, from novice to expert strategist.