Cornhole is a tossing game played with two boards, each with a hole near the top, and eight fabric bags. The aim is to land bags on the board or sink them through the hole. You can learn it in one throw and keep improving for years. This guide covers the official rules, the scoring system that trips up most beginners, and the habits that win games.
What are the basic cornhole rules?
Two sides take turns throwing bags at a raised board with a hole near the top. Each side throws four bags per frame, alternating one at a time. A bag on the board scores 1 point, a bag through the hole scores 3, and only the difference between the two sides counts each frame. The first side to reach 21 at the end of a frame wins.
The game works for two players (one against one) or four (two teams of two). In singles, both players throw from the same end and then walk to the other board. In doubles, teammates stand at opposite ends, so nobody walks at all.
According to the American Cornhole Organization rules, players alternate throws until all eight bags are down, and that group of throws is called a frame. The side that scored in the previous frame throws first in the next one.
You throw from beside the board, inside an area called the pitcher's box. Keep one foot inside the box when you release, and do not step past the front edge of the board before your bag lands. Stepping over the line makes the throw a foul.
How does cornhole scoring work?
Cornhole uses cancellation scoring. Count each side's points at the end of the frame, 3 for every bag in the hole and 1 for every bag resting on the board, then subtract the smaller total from the larger. Only the leading side scores, and only the difference. If both sides score the same, nobody scores that frame.
Here is a worked example. You sink one bag and leave two on the board, which makes 5. Your opponent sinks one and leaves one on the board, which makes 4. You score 1 point for the frame, and your opponent scores nothing.
The official rules value a bag on the board at 1 point and a bag through the hole at 3. A bag that touches the ground before settling on the board is dead and scores nothing, even if it bounces up onto the surface. Bags hanging over the hole edge count as 1 until they drop.
The game runs to 21, and the first side to reach or pass it at the end of a frame wins. You can overshoot, so there is no need to land on the number exactly. With first-timers or children, agree on a lower target before you start.
How far apart should cornhole boards be?
In regulation play the boards sit 27 feet apart, measured from the front edge of one board to the front edge of the other. Each board is roughly four feet long and two feet wide, with a hole six inches across near the top. For casual games with beginners or children, shorten the distance until everyone lands a few bags.
Those measurements come from the American Cornhole Organization, which also sets the hole centre 9 inches from the top edge and the back of the board 12 inches off the ground. Regulation bags weigh close to one pound each.
On a garden lawn, set the boards on level grass facing each other and pace out the gap. Nobody will measure it with a tape at a birthday party, and a shorter court keeps the game moving for new players.
How do you throw a cornhole bag and win?
Throw underhand with a straight arm, release at about waist height, and aim for a soft arc that lands the bag flat a little short of the hole. A flat, spinning bag slides into the hole far more often than one that tumbles. Pick one throw, repeat it every time, and adjust only your power.
Hold the bag flat in your palm with your fingers spread underneath. As you release, flick your wrist slightly so the bag spins like a small pancake. The spin keeps it flat in the air and stops it flopping when it lands.
Most sunk bags land on the lower half of the board and slide up into the hole, so aim there. Once you have that throw, the tactics begin. If your opponent's bag is blocking the hole, a firmer throw can push it in for you or knock it off the board. If you are well ahead, a blocker bag at the front of the board makes their next throw harder.
What mistakes do beginners make at cornhole?
The most common mistakes are throwing too hard, stepping past the foul line, and forgetting that scores cancel. Beginners also tend to aim straight at the hole, which sends bags skidding off the back. Land short, let the bag slide, and keep a running tally out loud so nobody argues about the total at the end of the frame.
Another habit to drop is walking to the board to count before the frame is over. Leave every bag where it lies until all eight are thrown, because later bags can push earlier ones in or off.
Where can you play cornhole in Chiang Mai?
Mini Golf CNX has cornhole on its garden lawn alongside board games, frisbee and an 18-hole mini golf course. There is no booking, so you can walk in any day between 09:00 and 18:00. It suits anyone who wants a relaxed afternoon in shaded garden seating with a cold drink between games.
A common pattern is a round of mini golf on the garden course followed by a few games of cornhole. For bigger gatherings, our guide to group activities in Chiang Mai for large groups has more ideas, and the one-afternoon Chiang Mai plan shows how to fit games into a wider day.
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Course | 18-hole garden mini golf |
| Lawn games | Cornhole, board games, frisbee |
| Booking | None needed, walk in |
| Opening hours | Every day, 09:00 to 18:00 |
| Round length | About 1 to 2 hours |
| Food and drink | Cold drinks, snacks and ice cream |
| Seating | Shaded garden seating |
| Groups | Birthdays and events welcome, message ahead |
For a birthday or team outing, send us a message beforehand so space is set aside.