pölkky

Pölkky, commonly known as Mölkky in Finnish, is a Finnish outdoor throwing game played with wooden pins and a throwing baton. The game originated in Finland in the 1990s, created in 1996 by Lauri Nissinen, and has since spread internationally, with organized clubs, school programs, and competitive events.

Equipment and setup: The set consists of 12 wooden pins numbered 1 to 12 arranged upright on a flat surface such as grass or a gym floor. A separate throwing baton, called the molkky, is used to strike the pins from behind a designated throwing line.

Rules and scoring: On each turn, a player throws the throwing baton at the pins. Any pins knocked down are removed from play, and the sum of their numbers is added to the player's score for that turn. This is then added to their cumulative score. The usual objective is to reach exactly 50 points; if a throw would exceed 50, no points are awarded for that turn.

Play and accessibility: The game balances luck and strategy, as players must decide which pins to aim for to shape future options while avoiding overshoot. It is popular for family gatherings, school activities, and park or beach play due to its simple setup and durable wooden pieces.

Variants and reach: There are official rules used in many countries, and the game has international reach, with national leagues and occasional world championships. The core concept remains simple: knock down pins, accumulate points, and aim for exactly 50.