Kubb

Boys playing the game kaisers with—the author insists—the wrong pins

The features of kubb most distinguishing it from other pin-toppling games (such as bowling and skittles) are that 1) teams "own" opposite sides of the playing field, and 2) toppled pins are "recycled" back into play and may be tossed to opposite sides. Endrei & Zolnay briefly note an unnamed game,[lower-alpha 1] played in Poland "as early as the sixteenth century", which seems to exhibit both features.[1]

Though differing from kubb in detail, kaisers,[lower-alpha 2] as published in Leipzig in 1800, displays most of the fundamental features of kubb, including team sides, recycled pins, a kingpin, and even the requirement to throw from behind one's own pins; though as in the Polish game, the main projectile is a ball rather than a baton.[2]

The Karelian game kyykkä and the possibly Siberian game bunnock both feature team sides and (unlike the Polish game and kaisers) use versions of batons as projectiles rather than balls.

Though typologically related to kubb, no definite historical connection between these games and kubb has been shown.

Sören Wallin has identified the Swedish game kägelkrig (as described in a 1911 encyclopedia[3]) as essentially the same as, and the forebear of, kubb.[4]^: 22 This game was known on the Swedish mainland at least as early as 1878, when it was described in Ungdomens Bok, a sort of Boys' Own Book.[lower-alpha 3]

Kägelkrig, the Polish game, and kaisers all seem to feature felled pins being thrown to the opponent side in order themselves to fell opponent pins, which is not a feature of contemporary kubb.

Kubb was evidently unknown in Gotland in 1912, when a list of traditional Gotlandic games was drawn up, in conjunction with the Olympic Games (held in Stockholm that year).[4]^: 24 However, in 1931 a Gotlandic ethnologist, visiting the island of Fårö, just to the north of Gotland, recorded the earliest known use of the name "kubb" for this game,[4]^: 23 and it was played by residents of Gotland by at least the mid-20th century.

In the 1980s it became a local craze, leading to the first local commercial manufacturing efforts in the late 1980s.[6]^: 20[4]^: 25 In 1995 a tournament was initiated in Rone, Gotland — the Kubb World Championship — somewhat ironically titled, as it was at this time still a thoroughly local affair.[6]^: 20 However, within only a few years, mainland and international teams were coming to Gotland to compete, and a major Swedish manufacturer was selling Kubb sets; in the 2000s Kubb spread to several European countries, as well as the USA and Canada.[6]^: 20–21 Large kubb tournaments now occur throughout Europe and the United States of America. Belgium alone held over 50 tournaments in 2012.

The Kubb World Championship takes place at the same time as "Medieval Week" in Visby[6]^: 22 (which has been "the island's main tourist magnet since the mid 1980s"[6]^: 19). Medieval Week also incorporated the playing of kubb, and this connection has likely motivated kubb's being marketed, both in the US and in Europe, with such unfounded appellations as "Viking Chess" and "Old Norse Viking outdoor game".[6]^: 19

UK Kubb, the national body for Kubb in the UK, was founded in 2006 by two enthusiasts, one of whom had learned the game when on holiday in Sweden. They organised a UK Kubb Championship which has been run annually since that time.[7] The championship rules are adapted from those of the US National Championship rules.[8]

On 13 December 2011, Eau Claire, Wisconsin declared itself to be the 'Kubb Capital of North America'.[9] The city has hosted the U.S. National Kubb Championship since 2007, and is home to Kubbnation magazine and many clubs and leagues, including the Eau Claire Kubb League, which is the largest weekly kubb league in the world. In addition, kubb sets are in the local schools, with some schools having kubb units in physical education classes and kubb clubs.

Kubb continues to grow in popularity throughout the United States of America. Tournaments are now held throughout the country from coast-to-coast. In 2023, there are 32 tournaments on the KubbOn.com tournament schedule.[10] Tournaments have been held in a large variety of states. States that have held tournament include Arkansas, California, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

As the number of tournaments continue to grow, there are groups of players looking to play on a weekly basis. Because of this, kubb leagues have started to form around the United States. The Eau Claire Kubb League is the largest weekly kubb league, playing in Eau Claire, WI.

There are currently 7 other kubb leagues in Wisconsin, Illinois, Maryland, and virtually.

Brew City Kubb League (Milwaukee, WI), Energy City Kubb League (Moose Lodge in Bativia, IL), Hopkins Farm Brewery Kubb League (Havre De Grace, MD),[11] Madison Kubb League (Madison, WI), Keystone Kubb Virtual Kubb League (Played over kubbtracker.com software virtually),[12] St. Paul Kubb Society (St. Paul, MN), and the Twin Cities Kubb League (Minneapolis/St.Paul, MN).

Kubb field setup

Kubb is played between two teams, which may or may not consist of only one person per team.

Kubb form demonstration at the 2009 Peterson Midwest Match

There are two phases for each team's turn:

1. Team A throws the six batons (called Kastpinne/Kastpinnar in Swedish) from their baseline, at their opponent's lined-up kubbs (called baseline kubbs). Throws must be under-handed, and, if the batons spin, they must spin end over end at no more than 45 degrees from the vertical. Throwing batons overhand, sideways or spinning them side-to-side (like a helicopter) is not allowed.
2. Kubbs that are successfully knocked down by Team A are then thrown by Team B onto Team A's half of the pitch, and stood on end. These newly thrown kubbs are called field kubbs. The key objective is to keep them close to each other (as to be able to hit more than one with a single throw of the batons (Kastpinnar)). The player that tosses the kubbs is called the inkastare.

If a kubb is thrown out of play, i.e., outside the boundary markers or not beyond the middle line (Note: after being raised, at least half of the kubb must be in the field of play to be considered in play), then one more attempt is given. If this also goes out, the kubb becomes a "punishment kubb" and can be placed anywhere in the target half by the opposing team as long as it is at least one baton length from a corner marker or the King. If a thrown kubb knocks over an existing baseline or field kubb, then the field kubbs are raised at the location where they rest, and baseline kubbs are raised at their original location.

Play then changes hands, and Team B throws the batons at Team A's kubbs, but must first knock down any standing field kubbs. If a baseline kubb is knocked down before all remaining field kubbs, the baseline kubb is returned to its upright position. (Field kubbs that right themselves due to the momentum of the impact are considered knocked down. Kubbs are considered knocked down if they end up tilting and relying on a game piece for support.) Again, all kubbs that are knocked down are thrown back over onto the opposite half of the field and then stood up.

If either team does not knock down all field kubbs before their turn is over, the kubb closest to the centerline now represents the opposite team's baseline, and throwers may step up to that line to throw at their opponent's kubbs. This rule applies only to throwing the batons at the opposing team's field and baseline kubbs; fallen kubbs are thrown from the original baseline, as are attempts to knock over the king (see below).

Play continues in this fashion until a team is able to knock down all kubbs on the opposing team's half of the field. If the former team still has batons left to throw, they now attempt to knock over the king. If a thrower successfully topples the king, their team has won the game.

If at any time during the game the king is knocked down by a baton or kubb while the opposing team still has kubbs in its half of the field, the throwing team immediately loses the game.

In tournaments, winners are typically determined by playing best out of three.

For informal play between players of widely differing abilities, such as an adult and a child, it is permissible to shorten the length of the pitch. Another option is for both players to play on the same team and keep switching sides during play.