Molkky Rules: Scoring to Exactly 50 & Setup
Molkky (say it MOLK-ee) is a Finnish throwing game that is shockingly easy to start and sneaky-strategic to win. You toss a wooden pin at a cluster of twelve numbered pins, trying to be the first to land on exactly 50 points. The twist that makes it brilliant: overshoot 50 and you crash back down to 25. Here is how to set it up, score it right, and use the reset rule to your advantage.
What you need
- Twelve numbered wooden pins (numbered 1 through 12)
- One throwing pin, called the molkky
- A flat patch of grass, dirt, or gravel about 12 to 15 ft long
- Two or more players (great with teams)
- A scorepad or your phone to track each player's running total
How to play molkky
- Set up the pinsStand the twelve numbered pins close together in the official starting formation (a tight cluster) at the throwing distance. The numbers face the throwers so everyone can plan their aim.
- Throw underhandStanding behind the throwing line, players take turns tossing the molkky underhand at the pins. Overhand and sideways throws are not allowed. Each player gets one throw per turn.
- Score your throwIf you knock over exactly one pin, you score the number printed on that pin. If you knock over two or more pins, you score the COUNT of pins that fell, not the sum of their numbers. A pin only counts if it is fully knocked flat.
- Stand the pins back upAfter each throw, stand the knocked-down pins back up right where they came to rest (do not return them to the start). The pins spread out over the game, which changes the strategy as you go.
- Race to exactly 50Keep rotating through players, adding up scores. The first player or team to reach exactly 50 points wins the game right then.
- Mind the reset and the missesGo over 50 on a throw and your score drops back to 25. And if you miss all the pins three times in a row, you are eliminated from the game.
Scoring
- Knock down exactly one pin: score the number on that pin (so the '12' pin is worth 12)
- Knock down two or more pins: score the NUMBER of pins knocked over, not the total of their numbers (knock over 3 pins = 3 points)
- A pin only scores if it is fully knocked flat; a leaning pin does not count
- First to reach exactly 50 points wins
- Score more than 50 on a throw and you are knocked back down to 25 points
- Miss all pins three times in a row and you are eliminated
Distance & setup
Fun variations
- Team play: split into teams and have players alternate throws between teams. The first team to exactly 50 wins.
- Shorter line for kids: move the throwing line in to 6 to 8 ft so younger players can reach the cluster.
- Reset to 25 (standard): going over 50 drops you to 25. Some friendly games soften this so you just lose the throw.
- Three-miss elimination (standard): three straight whiffs and you are out. Drop this rule for relaxed family games.
Molkky rules FAQ
How do you score in Molkky?
Knock down a single pin and you score that pin's printed number. Knock down two or more pins and you score the count of pins that fell, not the sum of their numbers. So toppling three pins is worth 3 points regardless of which numbers they were.
What happens if you go over 50 in Molkky?
If a throw pushes your total over 50, your score resets all the way back to 25 and you keep playing from there. That reset rule is what makes the endgame so tense.
How far away do you throw in Molkky?
Players throw from behind a line about 3 to 4 m away (roughly 10 to 13 ft) from the pins. The line stays fixed for the whole game even as the pins scatter farther out. For kids, move the line closer.
Do you have to throw underhand in Molkky?
Yes. The molkky must be tossed underhand. Overhand, sideways, helicopter-style, and other throwing styles are not allowed in standard rules.
What happens if you miss in Molkky?
A miss scores zero for that turn. If you miss all the pins three times in a row, you are eliminated from the game under the standard rules. Casual family games often skip the elimination rule.
Do you reset the pins after each throw in Molkky?
You stand the knocked-down pins back up where they came to rest, not back at the starting cluster. This spreads the pins out over the course of the game and is a big part of Molkky's strategy.
Ready to play?
Grab a set and start your league this weekend. We ranked the best molkky sets for every budget.
See our top molkky picks → Printable rules card