Cornhole is one of those games that works brilliantly on its own. Set it up, let people play, and it'll quietly become the centrepiece of the afternoon without you doing much at all.

But run it as a proper competition? That's a different level entirely.

A Cornhole tournament takes all the things people already love about the game and cranks them up. The banter gets louder. The sideline commentary gets more passionate. People who weren't planning to play end up signing up for a second round. And whoever wins becomes briefly but genuinely famous among their social circle or their team.

The best part? It's incredibly easy to organise. You don't need fancy equipment, a complicated system, or a background in event management. You just need a board, some bags, and this guide.

What You Need to Get Started

Before we get into formats and brackets, here's the basic kit list.

Cornhole boards. A standard competition uses two boards set up facing each other. If you're running a multi-match tournament with several games happening at once, you'll want multiple sets. Backyard Games NZ has the full range, from the Compact Natural Cornhole Set for backyard and casual play through to the Deluxe Wood Cornhole Set for more serious setups. Both are built from premium hardwood and look great whether you're in someone's garden or a corporate event space.

Bean bags. Each Cornhole set comes with eight bags, four per team. Make sure they're in good condition before you start, and keep a spare set handy for larger events where bags might go walkabout.

A scoring system. More on this below, but you'll need a way to track scores across multiple matches. A whiteboard, a printed bracket sheet, or even a notes app on your phone all work perfectly.

Space. A regulation Cornhole setup uses boards placed 8.5 metres apart (27 feet). For a more relaxed backyard game, anywhere from 6 to 9 metres works fine depending on your space and the skill level of your players. Allow clear space on either side of the boards for players and spectators.

A Quick Refresher on the Rules

If you've got players who haven't played before, here's the version that's easy to explain in under two minutes.

Two teams of two players. Each team stands at opposite ends, one player from each team at each board. Teams take turns throwing their four bags toward the opposite board, aiming to either land on the board (one point) or go through the hole (three points).

Scoring is cancellation style: only the team with the higher score in each round scores points, and only for the difference. So if one team scores 7 and the other scores 4, the first team scores 3 points for that round. First team to reach 21 points wins. Must win by exactly 21 or bust back to 15, depending on which house rules you're running with.

That's it. Seriously. Most people have the basics down within the first round.

Choosing Your Tournament Format

The format you choose depends on how many players you have and how long you want the competition to run. Here are the three most common options.

Single Elimination

The classic bracket format. Teams play, the loser is out, the winner advances. Clean, simple, and creates great drama as you get to the final rounds. Works best with 8, 16, or 32 teams for a tidy bracket, but you can run it with any number.

Best for: events where you want a clear winner and a defined end time. Works brilliantly for corporate days, festivals, and gatherings where you need the competition to wrap up at a specific point.

Double Elimination

Each team gets two chances before they're out. Lose once and you drop into the losers bracket, where you can fight your way back through to the final. More forgiving than single elimination, and it means teams get more game time overall.

Best for: backyard tournaments with a committed group who want to play as many games as possible. Also great for corporate events where you want people engaged for a longer window.

Round Robin

Every team plays every other team. Points are accumulated across all matches and the team with the most points at the end wins. No sudden exits, everyone plays the same number of games, and it rewards consistent performance over a single hot streak.

Best for: smaller groups of 4 to 8 teams where you want everyone involved throughout. Works especially well for social gatherings where keeping people in the game matters more than the drama of sudden death.

How to Set Up Your Bracket

For single or double elimination, drawing up a bracket before the competition starts keeps everything running smoothly and gives players a clear view of where they're headed.

Write or print team names on a bracket sheet before play begins. Seed teams randomly by drawing names from a hat, or if you know your players well, seed them so the strongest teams don't meet until the later rounds. This keeps early matches competitive and reserves the big showdowns for when everyone's watching.

Post the bracket somewhere visible. A whiteboard near the playing area works perfectly. People will check it constantly, which keeps energy and anticipation high throughout the event.

Update results in real time after each match. The more visible the progress, the more invested everyone becomes in the outcome.

For round robin, a simple grid with every team on both axes lets you record results and running totals at a glance. Again, keep it visible and update it after every match.

Scoring Tips for Smoother Play

A few things that keep the scoring side of things running without any drama.

Agree on house rules before you start. The most common variation is whether you play "bust" (going over 21 sends you back to 15) or "win by exact score." Both work fine, just make sure everyone knows which version you're running before the first bag is thrown.

Designate a scorer for each match. It doesn't need to be a dedicated role, just one player from each game who takes responsibility for reporting the result to whoever is managing the bracket. This keeps things moving and avoids score disputes.

For larger events, write the final score down immediately after each match rather than relying on memory. Contested scores are the number one source of tournament chaos, and a quick note prevents it entirely.

How to Keep the Energy Up

The logistics of a tournament are the easy part. Keeping the vibe going across the whole competition is where the real work happens, and fortunately it's not much work at all.

Get the first game started quickly. Don't let people mill around waiting for the perfect moment to begin. Get the first match going as soon as you have enough teams signed up and let the momentum build from there.

Keep a running commentary going if you've got someone who's up for it. Even a casual "match two is about to start on court one" style announcement adds a layer of event energy that gets people paying attention.

Add a prize for the winner. It doesn't have to be big. Bragging rights alone are often enough, but a small prize, a bottle of something, a gift card, a trophy you picked up for five dollars, elevates the competition from fun to properly memorable. For corporate events, a discount or branded prize adds a nice branded moment at the finish.

For brand activations specifically, consider adding a challenge element: beat the target score to unlock a freebie, or run a "best bag" competition alongside the main tournament where the most impressive single throw wins a bonus prize. It keeps even eliminated teams engaged and watching.

Running a Cornhole Competition at a Corporate Event

Everything above applies to corporate events, with a couple of extra things worth knowing.

Pre-register teams rather than taking sign-ups on the day. Knowing your team count in advance lets you prepare the bracket properly and set a realistic timeline for the competition.

Run matches in parallel. If you have multiple Cornhole sets, running two or three matches simultaneously keeps the pace up and ensures people aren't waiting around between games. Backyard Games NZ can supply multiple sets for larger events, and custom branded boards are available if you want the competition to carry your brand identity throughout.

Build a simple schedule into your event run sheet. Allow around 15 to 20 minutes per match for a best-of-one game, or 25 to 30 minutes for best of three. A four-team single elimination tournament with parallel play can comfortably run in under two hours. A sixteen-team bracket across a full day gives you a sustained activity that anchors energy throughout the event.

Announce the final in advance. Give people a heads up that the grand final is happening at a specific time so the crowd gathers. The finish of a well-run Cornhole tournament, with the right crowd, the right energy, and a close final, is genuinely one of those moments that people talk about afterward.

Ready to Run Your Own?

Whether you're setting up in the backyard for a Saturday afternoon or building a competition into a full-day corporate event, a Cornhole tournament is one of the simplest and most enjoyable ways to bring a group together.

Browse the full Cornhole range at Backyard Games NZ, or get in touch if you'd like help choosing the right setup for your group size, space, or event brief. Custom branded boards are available for corporate and brand activation use.

Game on.