Tell me about your bar games!
July 7, 2019 12:12 PM   Subscribe

After stumbling across a couple videos recently of some unusual (to me) bar/pub games, I want to learn about more and maybe find venues to try them out.

I just recently learned about crokinole and bar billiards, and now I'm curious about other local games that one might play at the local drinking establishment. I'm familiar with many of them popular in the US - 8-ball pool, table shuffleboard, giant Jenga, cornhole, darts, arcade games and pinball. What are some others, and where do they come from? Are there particular rules or traditions that tie the bar culture to the game (i.e. loser buys the next round)? Do they cost money to play, and if so how much? Are you ever expected to bring your own equipment (i.e. bar has dart boards but players bring their own darts)?
posted by backseatpilot to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (13 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
I’ve only ever played hammerschlagen at somebody’s house, but I think sometimes it’s at bars too. As I recall, the rule was that you drink if you miss the nail.
posted by lakeroon at 1:11 PM on July 7, 2019


One of our local pubs has a version of ringing the bull, although there's no picture of a bull. It's unexpectedly challenging.
posted by bored_now_flay at 1:16 PM on July 7, 2019


Feather bowling in Detroit, MI
posted by atlantica at 1:44 PM on July 7, 2019 [1 favorite]


Some bars with outside areas have horseshoes. (Because throwing 2.5 lb chunks of metal when you’re drunk is the best!!!)
posted by Weeping_angel at 1:55 PM on July 7, 2019 [1 favorite]


All the axe throwing places by me call themselves bars.
posted by OrangeVelour at 2:16 PM on July 7, 2019 [1 favorite]


Table Shuffleboard is definitely a thing. I had to search a bit bc we call it "cheeseboard" for some reason: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_shuffleboard
posted by nkknkk at 2:44 PM on July 7, 2019 [1 favorite]


Oh yeah, I think my friend plays hammerschlagen but calls it 'stump'!

I've seen a lot of giant connect four. I guess giant pieces are harder to lose than the regular size pieces?

I also played a game a few weeks back that claims to have originated as a bar game -- it's sold as Skull but I think you can play it with the right set of scrounged coasters from bars.
posted by batter_my_heart at 3:27 PM on July 7, 2019


I’ve seen large-format Jenga made from 2x4” stock at several bars around the USA, also I saw a set for sale at Aldi last week.
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:21 PM on July 7, 2019


In Wisconsin, Shake of the Day.
posted by sulaine at 6:20 PM on July 7, 2019


there's aunt sally, an old british pub game that was popular in the carnival for many years, and which is still played regionally in britain.
posted by rotten at 6:25 PM on July 7, 2019


My husband and I often play “Blew It” (variation on this game) at bars and breweries, although last night we were told that we weren’t supposed to play anything that looks like gambling in bars due to Hawaii state laws... not sure sure about that bartender’s law background, though.
posted by Paper rabies at 7:44 PM on July 7, 2019


Bar skittles. You set up the skittles on a table, and swing a metal ring attached to the ceiling by a piece of string to knock them down. Wikipedia has it down as devil among the tailors. And we certainly used to play full size skittles outside at the pub when we were young, but that was seasonal.

Card games may not be as much on your list, but cribbage was my father's pub game and the pub would have a scoreboard thing.

As for darts, the serious players bring their own (and there are some quite earnest players in the UK where darts leagues are a thing) but there is typically a couple of sets behind the bar.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 9:45 PM on July 7, 2019


Mäxchen - two dice, you roll and you make the highest number you can, so 3 & 5 is 53, 4 & 6 is 64 and so on. You roll, get a number the next person has to beat that roll with a higher number. After 65, the next highest is double 1 then double 2 and so on. The highest roll is 1& 2, and if you roll ‘Mäxchen’ you win. There’s scoring involved as well but if it’s casual, the game as such is enough.

The hammer-game is funny up to the point your opponent realizes you spent a couple years of your youth with a framing hammer in hand, and then you have to use the claw end - after spinning the hammer once in the air. That’s damn near impossible.
posted by From Bklyn at 5:22 AM on July 8, 2019


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