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SHUFL. GAMES

Horse Collar

Not Your First Rodeo

For those who have delved deep into SHUFL and are looking for something fresh and fun, Horse Collar is a classic and fast-paced shuffleboard variant, perfect for casual competition and team play. It's a race to 51 points, but with a few twists along the way.

The Basics

Setup

  • Recommended for 2 or 4 players (singles or teams).
  • Played on a full-size shuffleboard table (ideally 22ft).
  • Each team or player uses 4 pucks per frame.

Objective

  • The first team (or player) to reach 51 points wins.
  • However, you must score at least one puck in the 4-point zone during a frame to score any points that round.

Teams & Order

Team Format (4 Players)

  • Players form two teams of two.
  • Each team takes turns shooting 8 pucks per frame (4 per player).
  • Common format: one teammate shoots all 4 pucks, then the other shoots 4.

Order of Play

  • Rock, paper, scissors to determine which team shoots first, and which end of the table each team plays from.
  • Teams alternate ends between rounds if desired, but typically stay at one end.

Scoring

Points are awarded based on standard shuffleboard zones:

  • Zone 1 = 1 point
  • Zone 2 = 2 points
  • Zone 3 = 3 points
  • Zone 4 = 4 points
  • Hanger (puck overhanging edge) = 10 points

BUT: If your team fails to land at least one puck fully in the 4-point zone or beyond, you score zero for that frame, even if other pucks are scoring.

The 'Walk the Board' Rule (Traditional)

  • After scoring, the opposing team may either accept the declared score or "walk the board" to check it themselves.
  • If the walk confirms the declared score is accurate, the walking team buys the other team a drink.
  • If the declared score was exaggerated or incorrect, the declaring team must buy the drinks instead.

Note: During the "walk," a player must keep at least one finger along the table edge, this is tradition and keeps it playful, not confrontational.

Winning the Game

  • The first team to reach exactly 51 points wins the game.
  • If a team exceeds 51 in a frame, their score from that round is nullified, and they remain at their previous total.
  • The opposing team still gets one final frame to catch up if the leading team reaches 51 first.

Playing Tips

  • Aim for the 4-point zone every frame. No 4 means no score.
  • Use your final pucks to bump teammates' pucks into better scoring positions.
  • Protect hangers; they're high-risk, high-reward.
  • Keep it social. Horse Collar is as much about fun as it is finesse.