Mastering mölkky? Trivia Quiz

Answer: a wood pin similiar to the target skittles

The mölkky is a cylindrical piece of wood slightly longer than the target skittles. It can still roll on its side but obviously it is handled quite a bit differently than a bowling ball.

The 12 skittles are arranged in a tight formation, like a pyramid, with the corners removed. The skittle numbers are arranged as shown in the crude (top view) diagram below. The player taking their turn stands in a designated throwing box (indicated below by the *) some 3-4 meters (10-12 feet) away and centered between the 1 and 2 skittles at the start (the throwing position does not move as the skittle formation warps and breaks throughout the game).

------7 8 9
--5 11 12 6
-----3 10 4
-------1 2



--------*

Answer: may only be thrown underhand

The mölkky must be tossed underhand but you still have plenty of throwing style options such as a pinpoint toss with a narrow profile forward, a "helicopter" spin, or a straight toss in a horizontal orientation which can roll when it touches down

Answer: the number printed on top of the skittle

The skittles are numbered 1-12. If you knock down just one you score the number of the pin. Targeting specific single skittles is often the most efficient way to score an exact number as needed for seeking the winning score of 50.

Answer: one point per skittle knocked down

As the game progresses and the skittles get spread out more and more, targeting individual high value skittles often makes sense. At first though, because the skittles are packed so tightly and the highest point skittles are bunkered in the center of the initial formation, most experienced players try to simply take down as many skittles as possible on the opening toss.

Answer: False

The skittles are set back up in place wherever they land after a turn. This leads to some interesting strategies and infinite varieties in actual play as, aside from the first toss, you never see exactly the same field of skittles twice.

Answer: 3rd

This happens often when attempting a long range shot for a high value skittle which has been knocked back by repeated hits so you must weigh the temptation of picking a distant target against the limitation of your accuracy in throwing. In the spirit of being a good sport, an eliminated player is encouraged to take up the scorekeeping for the remaining players rather than storming off to pout.

Answer: your score is knocked down to 25 and play continues

This can put you in some precarious situations as the target needed to hit 50 exactly has a funny way of being a very difficult one to hit most of the time. For instance this makes a score of 49 problematic if the number 1 skittle is not a clear shot.

Answer: the 3 and 11

Any skittle leaning on another skittle or on the mölkky is not scored. They may touch the mölkky or any number of skittles beside them but they must be on the ground, completely horizontal, to be counted.

For the case where just two skittles are struck and one comes to rest on the other or the mölkky, only one skittle is considered down and the single skittle scoring rule would apply.

Answer: any terrain with a relatively flat surface and enough space

Popular play has occured on all of the specific surfaces mentioned in the wrong answer choices and more. Though originally an outdoor game, it has also gained popularity indoors as well. As of the writing of this quiz, no professional leagues exist, but there are some pretty serious amateur leagues, particularly in the game's homeland of Finland, the rest of Europe, Japan, and Australia.

Answer: False

Mölkky has similarities to, and was likely inspired by another game, Finnish skittles or kyykkä which uses a skittle bat (much heavier and larger than a mölkky) to knock down skittles. Mölkky by contrast is billed as being for all ages and abilities and is enjoyed by children and adults.