Official Rules

BLINKO BALL — OFFICIAL RULES

GAME OVERVIEW

Blinko Ball can be played with one or two boards, in 1v1 or 2v2 formats.

1v1

  • Always played with a single board
  • Both players stand on the same side and toss toward the board

 

 

2v2 - Teams can choose between two setups:

Single-board play

  • All four players stand on the same side
  • Players alternate rounds
  • Each player throws all 4 balls during their team’s turn

Two-board play

  • Boards are set up opposite each other
  • Teammates stand across from each other
  • Teams alternate rounds
  • Each player throws all 4 balls for their team when it’s their turn
  • All tosses must be underhand toward the Blinko board to score points.

SETUP

  • Use one or two Blinko boards
  • Each team gets 4 balls of the same color

Distance

  • 15 feet for regular play
  • 20 feet for advanced play

In a one-board setup, players stand 15 or 20 feet from the board.

GAMEPLAY

  • Players alternate tosses, one ball at a time
  • The team leading in points from the last round throws first

SCORING

3-Point Row

  • Each ball = 3 points
  • Opposing balls in this row cancel each other out

1-Point Rows

  • Each ball = 1 point
  • Cancel only if both teams land in the exact row

Points are tallied at the end of each round.

BLINKO

  • 1 ball in a BLINKO row → no effect
  • 2 balls in BLINKO rows → Risk Zone
    • You must score at least 1 point this round
    • That point cannot be canceled by your opponent
    • If not, you go BLINKO
  • 3 balls in BLINKO rows → Automatic BLINKO
    • No redemption
    • If this happens in the first 3 tosses, the 4th toss is skipped
    • If a team goes BLINKO, their round ends immediately.
      The other team still completes their round.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO BLINKO

  • If your score is under 11 → reset to 0
  • If your score is 11 or greater → reset to 11

WINNING

  • First team to 21 points wins

OPTIONAL HOUSE RULES

1. Win by 2

  • Must be called before the match begins

2. Double Down

  • Can be used when your opponent has exactly 2 BLINKOs
  • Call “Double Down” before your toss
  • You get one shot to land in a BLINKO row

Outcomes

  • Hit a BLINKO → your opponent goes BLINKO, their round ends, and you finish yours for points
  • Miss → you go BLINKO and lose remaining tosses
  • Note:
    • The BLINKO row still counts toward your total
    • If you already have 2 BLINKOs, you cannot Double Down

3. Risking It All

  • Use when you’re behind and need a game-changer
  • Call “Risking It All” before your turn
  • You cannot score this round — only BLINKOs matter
  • Land 3 balls (of your 4 tosses) in BLINKO rows to BLINKO your opponent
  • Fail to get 3 BLINKOs → you go BLINKO

4. The Game That Never Ends

  • Only 1 ball in a BLINKO row ends your round
  • You immediately go BLINKO
  • OFFICIAL CLARIFICATIONS & RULINGS
  • Q: What if the ball rolls on the ground then goes into a row?
    A: Still counts.
  • Q: What if a player is called out crossing the line or throwing over handed?
    A: That toss is forfeited — follow the rules.
  • Q: What if it lands on a divider and doesn’t go in a row?
    A: Then it doesn’t count for anything. However, if a subsequent toss makes it land in a row, then it counts for whichever row it lands in.
  • Q: What if I get 2 BLINKOs and then score a point, but my opponent cancels my point by landing in the same row?
    A: Then you’re BLINKO’ed. You have to actually add a point to your total score by the end of the round or else you’re BLINKO’ed.
  • Q: Do opponents BLINKOs cancel each other out if balls land in the same BLINKO row?
    A: No. Each player’s BLINKO penalty rules are independent of the other player.