Cornhole Rules

How to Play Cornhole

Game Format: Singles & Doubles

Cornhole is played in innings. In each inning, every player must toss all four of their bags. An inning is not complete until all players have thrown all four bags.

Singles Play (1 vs 1)

Player 1 competes against Player 2.
Both players stay in their designated lane for the entire game.
Players begin at the headboard and alternate tosses until all four bags have been thrown.
Players then walk to the opposite board, take score, and resume tossing back to the original board.

Doubles Play (2 vs 2)

Team 1 competes against Team 2.
Each team has two players.
Players stay in their designated lane for the entire game.
Partners stand at opposite boards:
- Players at the headboard alternate tosses until all four bags are thrown.
- Players at the footboard take score and then toss back in the next inning.

Scoring

Cornhole uses cancellation scoring, meaning only one player or team scores each inning. Points from one side cancel out points from the other.

Bag In-The-Count (Woody): Any bag that comes to rest on the board surface. Worth 1 point.
Bag In-The-Hole (Cornhole): Any bag tossed through the hole or knocked through by another bag. Worth 3 points.
Foul Bag: Any bag not qualifying as a Woody or Cornhole, or any bag ruled foul based on violations. Worth 0 points and may be removed.

Tossing Rotation

The player or team that scores in an inning throws first in the next inning.
If neither team scores, the side who threw first in the previous inning retains first toss.

Position of Players

Throws must be made from within the pitcher’s box or behind the foul line.
A player must throw all four bags from their designated pitcher’s box.
Bags must be thrown with an underhand release.

Traditional Play

Games are played to 21 points.
The first player or team to reach or exceed 21 points at the end of an inning wins.

Foul Bags & House Rules

These standard ACA foul rules may be adjusted based on house rules.

House Rules May Include:

Rules not listed in an official game manual.
Made-up rules followed by a specific household or group.
Rules that apply to both full-size and travel cornhole boards.

What Counts as a Foul Bag

The following violations result in a foul bag. Foul bags are removed before play continues:

Foot or Box Violations:
- Stepping on or over the foul line.
- Starting from or stepping completely outside the pitcher’s box before releasing the bag.
Time Violation: Any bag not thrown within 20 seconds.
Wrong Pitcher’s Box: Throwing from a different box than the first toss of the inning.
Ground Contact: Any bag that touches the ground before coming to rest on the board.
Obstruction: Any bag that hits a defined external object (tree, wire, ceiling, etc.).
Touched Bag Before Scoring:
- If a bag is removed before scoring is confirmed:
- The offending team forfeits all remaining bags and keeps only points earned before the foul.
- The non-offending team automatically earns 12 points (equivalent to four Cornholes).

Additional Clarifications

If a bag leaves a player’s hand after the final forward swing begins, it counts as a thrown bag.
If a bag is dropped before the final forward swing begins, it may be picked up and rethrown without penalty.