free printable
Finska Rules Card
A one-page finska rules card: how to play, how to score, and how to set it up. Hit print, fold it, and keep it with your set. Want the full walkthrough? See the Finska rules.
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rules card Finska
Players2 to 12 (individuals or teams)
Ages6+
Setup5 min
SpaceAbout 12 to 15 ft long lane
What you need
- Twelve numbered wooden pins (numbered 1 through 12)
- One throwing pin (the same shape as the numbered pins)
- A flat patch of grass, dirt, or gravel about 12 to 15 ft long
- Two or more players (works great in teams)
- A scorepad or your phone to track each player's running total
Scoring
- Knock down exactly one pin: score the number printed on that pin (the '12' pin is worth 12 points).
- Knock down two or more pins: score the NUMBER of pins that fell, not the total of their numbers (3 pins down = 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 reset back down to 25 points.
- Miss every pin three turns in a row and you are eliminated.
How to play
- Set up the pins. Stand the twelve numbered pins close together in the standard starting cluster at the throwing distance. Turn the numbers to face the throwers so everyone can plan their aim.
- Throw underhand. From behind the throwing line, players take turns tossing the throwing pin underhand at the cluster. Each player gets one throw per turn. Overhand and sideways throws are not allowed.
- Score your throw. Knock down exactly one pin and you score the number printed on that pin. Knock down two or more pins and you score the COUNT of pins that fell, not the sum of their numbers. A pin only counts if it is fully flat.
- Stand the pins back up. After each throw, stand any knocked-down pins back up right where they came to rest, not back at the start. The pins spread out as the game goes on, which keeps changing the strategy.
- Race to exactly 50. Keep rotating through players and adding up scores. The first player or team to land on exactly 50 points wins the game on the spot.
- Mind the reset and the misses. Go over 50 on a throw and your score drops back down to 25. And if you miss every pin three turns in a row, you are eliminated.
Set it up
Players throw from behind a line about 3 to 4 m (roughly 10 to 13 ft) from the pin cluster. Casual play does not fix one rigid distance, so set a comfortable line and have everyone throw from the same spot. The throwing line stays put even as the pins scatter farther out over the game.