Want to Play the Corn Hole Game?

There are few things that are more fun to do at a picnic than playing the old corn hole game. Man, that corn hole game is great. Don't you just love tossing things in someone else's corn hole?

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. Perverted jokes aside (corn hole is a slang term for the anus), the corn hole game, also known as bean bag toss, is actually a very innocent pastime involving bean bags and wooden platforms.

Here's how it works. There are typically two players, but two teams of two can also work. The teams stand facing each other with about 30 feet of distance between them. The official corn hole game rules state that the distance between the two corn hole platforms must be27 feet. Honestly, though, that's quite far and it is more fun to vary the distance depending on your mood.

After you've got your teams figured out, you'll need only a few things: two corn hole platforms (basically a hollow, wooden right angle with a hole on the slant) and "corn bags." The game was originally played with small sacks full of corn kernels, but is now more commonly played with bean bags.

The two teams stand facing one another, each team in possession of four corn bags. The pitcher stands either to the right or the left of the platform, and his or her foot may not cross in front of the platform. The teams then alternate tossing the corn bags at the opposing team's corn hole, or hole in the triangular platform described earlier. Three points are awarded for each bag successfully sunk in the corn hole. One point is awarded if any part of the corn bag is touching the platform, though the bag may not have touched the ground before that.

The game is played until one team reaches 21 points. This, of course, can be varied, because some corn hole games can last a long time if played to 21.

The corn hole game may not seem at all interesting, but in reality, it is! If you've ever played horseshoes or quoits, you know the addictive nature of these sorts of games. It can be a rush when you score consecutive points, or it can be very frustrating when you score no points at all.

People of all ages can play the corn hole game. As long as you can toss a small bag, you are able to play. The distance between platforms can be varied, as I mentioned before, for children or those who don't feel up to the 27 foot distance.

I urge you to give this game a try; it's not as hillbilly as it sounds. Ok, it is, but I promise it is fun!