Game rules : Molkky

The essential rules of each game, available offline.

A Finnish skittles game where you aim for exactly 50 points, no more, no less.

Overview

Molkky is a Finnish game of skill played with twelve numbered skittles (1 to 12) and a throwing pin, also called the molkky. You throw it to knock down skittles and score points.

The whole subtlety lies in the target: you must reach exactly 50 points. Going over sends you back to 25, which turns every late-game throw into a small tactical puzzle. Molkky plays anywhere, solo or in teams.

Origin and history

Molkky was created in 1996 in Finland by the company Lahden Paino Tuote (now Tactic), drawing on a much older Karelian skittles game called kyykka. The modern version simplified the equipment and the rules to make it a friendly outdoor game.

The game took off in France from the 2010s onwards, to the point of having its own federation and championships. Its name, tricky to pronounce at first, became a familiar sight in gardens and parks over the summer.

Goal

Be the first to reach exactly 50 points.

Equipment

Twelve wooden skittles numbered 1 to 12.
A throwing pin (the molkky).
A clear playing area of about 3 to 4 metres in front of the skittles.

How a game unfolds

Set the twelve skittles in a tight formation, about 3 to 4 metres from the throwing line.
Each player (or team) throws the molkky in turn to knock down skittles.
Fallen skittles are stood back up exactly where they land: the formation scatters as the game goes on.
Each player counts their points and play continues until someone reaches exactly 50.

How to score

Throw the mölkky at the pins. A single pin down scores its number; several pins score the count of pins knocked over (2 to 12).

Scoring in detail

If a single skittle falls, the player scores the number written on it (for example, skittle 12 scores 12 points).
If several skittles fall, the player scores the NUMBER of skittles knocked down (not the sum of their numbers). Knocking down 3 skittles scores 3 points.
The goal is to reach exactly 50 points.
If a player goes over 50, their score drops back to 25: they must then aim carefully to climb back to 50.

A player is on 44 points. Here is how their next throws move the score along, and the overshoot trap.

Example: aiming for exactly 50
Throw	Skittles down	Points	Score
1	Skittle 4 alone	+4	48
2	Skittles 8 and 12	+2	50 (win)
Trap	Skittle 5 alone	+5	25 (reset)

Two skittles knocked down are worth 2 points, not 20. On 48, aiming for a single skittle numbered 2 lands exactly on 50. Hitting skittle 5 would have pushed the score to 53, so back to 25. Aim small at the end of the game.

Winning

The first player to exactly 50 points wins.

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Fouls and special cases

Three missed throws in a row (no skittle down) eliminate the player from the game.
A single successful throw resets the miss counter to zero.
Throwing while crossing the throwing line usually voids the turn (local rules).

Tips to play well

Early in the game, try to knock down several skittles at once: it is steadier than aiming for a single high number.
As you approach 50, switch logic: aim for one specific skittle to score the exact count and avoid the drop back to 25.
Throw the molkky flat, in an arc, rather than spinning it: the skittles fall more cleanly and the trajectory is more predictable.
Spot the skittle you need before you throw: on 47 it is skittle 3, on 49 it is skittle 1.

A bit of strategy

The skittles scatter as the game goes on. A skittle left on its own at a good distance becomes a reliable target for a specific number at the end of the game.
When you are ahead, playing safe (two skittles) beats gambling on a big score that might push you past 50.
In teams, save your best thrower for tight finishes, when you need to hit a single skittle.

Variants

You can play individually or in teams, each team sharing a common score.
Some variants cap the number of players or use a different skittle-resetting rule.
The three-miss elimination rule can be switched off for a more relaxed family game.

Key points

Going over 50 drops the score back to 25.
Three missed throws in a row eliminate the player.
A successful throw resets the miss counter to zero.

Frequently asked questions

How do you score in molkky?

A single fallen skittle scores the number on it. Several fallen skittles score the number of skittles knocked down (not the sum of their numbers). The goal is to reach exactly 50 points.

What happens if you go over 50 in molkky?

If a player exceeds 50 points, their score drops back to 25. They must then aim precisely to climb back to exactly 50 and win the game.

How are you eliminated in molkky?

A player who misses three throws in a row (knocking down no skittle) is eliminated. A single successful throw resets that miss counter to zero.

How many skittles in molkky?

Molkky is played with twelve wooden skittles numbered 1 to 12, plus the throwing pin, also called the molkky.

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