Recently, a classic Scandinavian game called Kubb has gained momentum as a new outdoor game that’s fun to play. It is a bit of a variation on lawn bowling.
There are square pins (kubbs), including a larger king pin. This pin often has a crown design carved at the top. Instead of balls, players throw batons to try to knock the pins over.
It’s fun, and games can last ten minutes to an hour. Read on to learn more about the background of the game of Kubb and how it evolved.
Kubb Game History
The game was developed in Scandinavia, primarily in Sweden. It is rumored that the Vikings played a version of Kubb, which is often referred to as “Viking Chess.”
It is a variation of the game Skittles. Skittles was a bowling-style game played indoors and outdoors. It was trendy in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries and is still played today. Skittles are pins that are rounder in the middle and tapered at the top and bottom. A player rolls a ball and scores points for the pins they knock down.
While Skittles was growing in popularity in Europe, the game of Kubb was enjoying success in Sweden. The game uses skittle-like pins (although square), but the players toss batons – round, long cylinders – at the pins instead of a ball. An additional larger pin must be knocked over to win the game. Both games are played on a “pitch.” The pitch is where the pins are placed, and the batons are tossed. The pitch size is decided before the beginning of the play (from the official Kubb rules).
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Playing Pieces and Set-Up
A Kubb set consists of 10 kubbs (rectangular wooden blocks that stand upright). These kubbs measure 15 cm tall and 7 cm square on the ends. A larger kubb called the king, often adorned with a crown-like top, is 30 cm tall and 9 cm square on both ends. Six batons are round cylinders 30 cm long and 4.4 cm in diameter. In addition, six pitch marking stakes are used to mark the four corners of the pitch and the centerline.
Kubb is played on a rectangular pitch of 5 Meters by 8 Meters. This pitch size is designated in the U.S. National Championship and World Championship Rules. The pitch marking stakes measure out the four corners and are placed there. The two remaining stakes are placed at the centerline on either side of the pitch, dividing the pitch into two halves.
The King kubb is standing upright in the center of the pitch. The kubbs are placed on the two baselines of the pitch (the side that measures 5 Meters), and five kubbs are placed on each side equally spaced from each other. The baseline should be positioned through the center of the upright standing kubbs. Each team is given six batons before the start of the game. Teams can be one person, three people, or six people per side.
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How to Play Kubb
The team selected to go first throws its six batons from the baseline behind its kubbs at the kubbs of the other team. The batons must be thrown underhanded and revolve end over end toward their intended target.
If the team that started successfully knocked down any of their opponent’s kubbs. Their opponent must throw the kubbs that were knocked down onto the side of the first team. These kubbs are then placed upright again in the spots where they were thrown.
If a thrown kubb knocks down a baseline kubb, the baseline kubb is placed upright again in the spot where it had fallen. And if thrown out of play, a player is given a second chance to throw the kubb. If this also travels out, the kubb is called a “punishment kubb” and can be placed anywhere in the field of play.
Play then switches to the second team, and the process starts again. If either team fails to knock down all of the field kubbs in their turn, the kubb closest to the centerline now represents the baseline, and players can move up to this point to throw their batons. Play continues until one team successfully knocks down all of the opposing side’s field and baseline kubbs.
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Kubb Game Objective — Go After the King
At this point, if the team has any batons left, they may go after King kubb. If a throw successfully topples the King, that team wins. However, if at any point in the game, a team knocks over the king either with a baton or a kubb before that team has eliminated all of the kubbs from the field of play, that team loses.
Three matches are played for tournament play, and the team that wins two out of the three advances in the tournament.
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Where Can I Buy a Kubb Set?
Kubb playing sets were traditionally handmade, but in the 1980s, they began to be mass-produced, and their popularity worldwide soared. The growth of Kubb’s game has led to the formation of leagues, tournaments, and clubs.
You can find plans online for building your Kubb set; however, it’s a lot of work. A wooden Kubb set costs anywhere from $15.00 to $75.00+. Here’s one of our favorites.
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The National Kubb Championship & Other Tournaments
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is home to the U.S. National Kubb Championship, established in 2007. At that time, it was the only Kubb Tournament in the U.S. Since then, the game has grown to 40 tournaments throughout 2016. The National Championship itself had 128 teams with 450 total players. The Kid’s Kubb division had 24 Teams with over 60 players. Kubb is often played in Physical Education classes in Wisconsin Schools. The U.S. National Kubb Championship is held as a two-day event in mid-summer.
A Kubb World Championship has been held in Gotland, Sweden, since 1995. The venue has a clubhouse with locker rooms and an adjoining pitch for playing Kubb. The Kubb World Championship is held at the beginning of August every year, and at least 11 countries attend. Teams consist of six players.
In addition, tournaments are held each year in Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, the UK, and Italy.
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Kubbnation Magazine
Kubbnation Magazine is entirely devoted to the game of Kubb. It was founded in the fall of 2010, and the first issue was published in January 2011. The magazine is released just once a year and contains information on recreational and competitive Kubb.
The articles generally include interviews with players and Kubb champions, tips for play, reviews of different Kubb sets, information on clubs and teams, and upcoming tournaments. The magazine has even printed collectible player cards of well-known Kubb players.
Where is Kubb Played the Most in the United States?
The magazine is based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, which has become the de facto center of Kubbnation. Wisconsin and Minnesota have the greatest concentration of Kubb Teams in the country.
Other states with a Kubb presence include; Nebraska, Indiana, California, Arkansas, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Maine, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Kubbnation Magazine
Many interesting articles have been included in the pages of Kubbnation Magazine, focusing on different and unique aspects of the game. Articles include:
Women in Kubb
Kubb in the UK
The German Kubb Scene
Kubb Life
Exclusive: 12 Female Players Interviews
Mastering Kubb
Czech Mate
Battle of the Best
Kubb in Switzerland
Good Kubb Drills
How Kubb Brought Me Back to Life
Growing Up with Kubb
Going Big in Belgium
Where Your Kubb at?
Kubb in the Netherlands
Diaries of a Kubb Widow
The Kubb Collective – Playing Cube for Charity Since 2009
The Kubbolution
Kubb on Campus
Red Cedar River Yacht Club – Longest Running Three-person Team in the U.S.
Kubb Game Team Names
Kubb players love to have fun, so it stands to reason that the clubs have come up with cute, clever, and funny team names. Here are some of our favorites:
Kubb Brothers
Malibu United
Blue/Orange Team
Kubb On
KP Wild Dogs
Chouffekubbers
The Kubboys
Kalifornia Kubbin’
Kubbaholics
Ringers
Team Kubbmeisters
Clever and Creative Naming Options
Woodsnipers
Norman’s All-Stars
Kalamazoo Kubb
Rubick’s Kubbs
The Kubb Train
Kubb Canada
The Kubb Nerds
Signalgatan
Team Knockerheads
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Funny Kubb Team Names
Kubb Its
Kubb Power
The Kubb Krew
Kubbicles
The Kubb Chronicles
The Kubb Masters
Baseline Beasts
The Skittle Splinters
Kubb Princesses
Planet Kubb
To Kubb or Not to Kubb
The Kubb Ninjas
Kubbooms
Good Ones
Kubbalicious
Baton Busters
Kubb Kings
The Kubbsters
Kubb Maniacs
Kubb Cuties
May the Kubb be with You
Kubb
The official saying of Kubb is, “Kubb unites people and brings peace on Earth.” This is a nice sentiment and conveys the philosophy of the game of Kubb. It is just that, a game. A game to be enjoyed by family and friends and a game to serve as a spirited competition, but never mean-spirited. If we all looked at the world like Kubb players, perhaps it would be a better place.
A good outdoor game brings people together in the fresh air and spurs conversation and camaraderie. Kubb fits the bill. If you haven’t played, give it a try!
By Tim Moodie
Tim Moodie is a Freelance Writer, Product Designer, Inventor, and avid outdoor game enthusiast. He has never shied away from a spirited game of Bocce Ball, Cornhole, or even Lawn Darts back in the day. He is still designing and developing today and hopes to have a new game on the market soon.
Extra Points
Originally published in 2019.
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