Shuffleboard

Shuffleboard (or shuffle board) is played both indoors and outdoors. In the late 19th century it became popular for tourists to play deck shuffleboard on the decks of ocean liners.

The indoor - table - version of the game is similar in concept but uses scaled down equipment more suited for an indoor games room.

The basic objective of all forms of the game is to propel discs into scoring regions of the play area. As such it is similar to the far smaller scale game of shove ha'penny. The connecton is confirmed by the old names for the game: "shovel board" and "shove groat" (a groat being an old English coin).

Table Shuffleboard

There are many games that are played with shuffleboard equipment, and many variations on the rules for each game. Here are the rules with which I'm most familiar - it's also known as Knock Off.

Formal table shuffleboard is played on a table 22 foot long, however you can buy much smaller models - for example some of those for sale are a mere 9 foot long. The surface of the table is smooth and usually "waxed" to reduce friction.

Players propel their pucks - circular discs - along the board from one end to the other. The far end is divided into four regions: a large region nearest the player that is worth one point, then a smaller region worth two points, then a final smaller region still worth three points. Pucks that go past the far end and off the board score nothing.

Shuffleboard tables are often marked so that they can be played from either end. After one round is completed the players walk to the other end where their pucks are waiting for them and play the next round from there. Rounds of shuffleboard are thus sometimes called ends.

Players have four pucks each. They take turns to propel one, attempting to get their pucks into the best scoring position whilst also knocking out the opponents' best pucks. (This means it is an advantage to go second).

Once all eight pucks have been played, the player whose puck is nearest the far end of the board without having overshot scores. They score for all of their pucks that have passed all of the opponent's pucks - the other player scores nothing. This scoring system is reminiscent of bowls. There are also various penalties for which players can lose points.

Players retrieve their pucks and, if neither has won, play another round. The player who scored in one round plays first in the next round.

The game is played until a predetermined score is reached - 15 is a common target.