A Cornhole tournament changes the energy of a gathering. What starts as a casual game becomes a proper event — with brackets, upsets, sideline commentary, and someone who ends up briefly but genuinely famous among their social circle for the afternoon.
The best part: it's not complicated to organise. You need boards, bags, a bracket, and this guide.
What you need before you start
• Two Cornhole boards — regulation setup is boards placed 8.2 metres apart (27 feet), but 6–7 metres works perfectly for social play
• Eight bags — four per team. Pro Bags give better feel and control than standard canvas bags and are worth the upgrade for a tournament setting
• A way to track scores — the wooden BYG scoreboard handles this and keeps the running totals visible for spectators
• A bracket — drawn on paper, a whiteboard, or printed off. 4, 8, or 16 teams work cleanly for single elimination
The rules in two minutes
• Two teams of two players, one player from each team at each board
• Teams alternate throwing their four bags toward the opposite board
• A bag through the hole scores 3 points. A bag on the board scores 1 point
• Scoring is cancellation: only the team with the higher score in each round scores, and only for the difference. Team A scores 7, Team B scores 4 — Team A scores 3 points for the round
• First team to exactly 21 points wins — or the team leading at an agreed time limit
Most people have the basics down within the first round of throwing.
Tournament formats — pick the right one for your group
Single elimination (best for 8–16 teams, defined end time)
Classic bracket. Lose once and you're out. Creates drama and works well when you want a clear winner. Allow 20–25 minutes per match.
Double elimination (best for 6–12 teams, longer afternoon)
Teams get two chances before they're out. More forgiving, keeps more people playing for longer, and often produces more interesting finals.
Round robin into finals (best for 4–8 teams, everyone plays everyone)
Every team plays every other team, then the top two or four play off. Maximises game time and works well when the social element matters as much as the competition.
The details that make a tournament feel like an event
• Announce match-ups rather than just telling people to play — it gives the occasion a ceremony
• Keep score publicly — the wooden scoreboard in view of spectators creates genuine investment in the outcome
• Run games simultaneously if you have two sets — keeps pace up and means nobody waits long between games
• Announce the final separately — a heads-up that it's happening means a crowd gathers
Playing at night
Cornhole Lights extend the tournament into the evening — simply attached them around the throwing hole and the game continues after dark. For a summer backyard tournament that runs long, this is what keeps things going past sunset.
Get your tournament set up
Everything you need is at Backyard Games NZ with free shipping. Cornhole sets, Pro Bags, the wooden scoreboard with drinks holders, and Cornhole Lights.
