Mölkky
Exactly 50. Not one more.
Throw after throw, misses and drops back to 25 included. The notepad stays in the bag.
Score a gameOne throw, one number.
Enter the points for the throw, from 0 to 12. Zero is a miss. Try it!
- Exactly 50 to win
- Go over: back to 25
- 3 misses in a row: the team is out
- Pick Mölkky, and name the two teams.
- After each throw, enter the points: the number on the single pin that fell, or how many pins fell.
- Over 50, Matchito drops you back to 25. It counts the misses, and ends the game at exactly 50.
The rules, in short.
What the International Mölkky Organization’s rules say, and nothing more.
- 50
To win
You win the set by reaching exactly 50 points. If every other team is out, the team left gets 50 points.
IMO, International Mölkky Organization tournament rules, 3rd edition, 2024, 2.4 - 1 to 12
A throw
One pin down: it’s worth its number. Several: you score how many fell. A pin only counts if it lies flat on the ground, not leaning on anything.
IMO, International Mölkky Organization tournament rules, 3rd edition, 2024, 2.3 - 25
Going over
A team that goes over 50 drops back to 25, and play goes on.
IMO, International Mölkky Organization tournament rules, 3rd edition, 2024, 5.2 - 0
Misses
A throw that knocks down no pins scores 0. 3 misses in a row, and the team is out of the set with 0 points.
IMO, International Mölkky Organization tournament rules, 3rd edition, 2024, 2.3 and 5.3 - 37
The 37 rule
At 37 points or more, a fault like stepping over the line or throwing out of turn sends the team back to 25.
IMO, International Mölkky Organization tournament rules, 3rd edition, 2024, 5.7 to 5.9 - 3.5 m
Setting up
The 12 pins, numbered 1 to 12, are set up 3.5 m from the throwing line, as shown in the diagram in the rules.
IMO, International Mölkky Organization tournament rules, 3rd edition, 2024, 2.1
The watch opens the throw, the phone keeps score.
One press on your watch or the three buttons on your earbuds opens the team’s throw: ⏮ for pink, ⏭ for yellow. You enter the points on the phone; ⏯ undoes the last throw.
The questions people ask.
How many points do you need to win at Mölkky?
Exactly fifty. If you go over, your score drops back to 25 and the game goes on.
IMO, International Mölkky Organization tournament rules, 3rd edition, 2024, 2.4 and 5.2How do you score Mölkky?
A single pin down is worth its number, from 1 to 12. If several fall, you score how many fell: three pins, three points.
IMO, International Mölkky Organization tournament rules, 3rd edition, 2024, 2.3How do you stand the pins back up?
Upright, exactly where each one landed, number facing the throwing line. Start with the closest ones.
IMO, International Mölkky Organization tournament rules, 3rd edition, 2024, 2.3What happens after three misses?
The team is out of the set with 0 points. A miss is a throw that knocks down no pins.
IMO, International Mölkky Organization tournament rules, 3rd edition, 2024, 5.3What is the 37-point rule?
At 37 points or more, a fault, like stepping over the line or throwing out of turn, costs more than a throw: the score drops back to 25.
IMO, International Mölkky Organization tournament rules, 3rd edition, 2024, 5.7 to 5.9Is a match played over several sets?
In a tournament, yes: a match can have several sets, for example best of 5, so 3 sets at least and 5 at most. The organiser decides who throws first, often by a coin toss, then alternating. They can also hold a Mölkk-Out, five skittles in a row to knock down, to decide who starts the next set.
IMO, International Mölkky Organization tournament rules, 3rd edition, 2024, 2.5, 2.6 and 9.1