Toad in the hole (game)
Encyclopedia
Toad in the hole is a pub game
, involving throwing brass coins at a lead topped table with a hole in the middle. A variation of this game has been played in pubs in East Sussex
, UK, the 'hole' being in the centre of the lead which is on top of a wooden table. Toad in the hole is a more refined version of the coin-throwing game Pitch penny
.
The only known league in the country is based in East Sussex, and has three divisions, involving roughly 21 teams based in pubs around the county. There is also a major "International Competition", run by Lewes
Lions Club and held in Lewes every year.
The game itself involves throwing four brass coins or "toads" from the same distance as a dart
board, to a square toad table, made of wooden legs and with a lead surface. If a toad goes down the hole it scores 2 points, or if it lands on the top it scores 1. If it hits the back of the table, or falls off it is void, so a grand total of 8 points per turn can be scored. Scoring is performed in darts
fashion, playing from 31 down. The first competitor throws 2 toads, with their opponent then throwing 3, and from then on they throw all 4, until they reach scores of less than four, wherein only the number of toads equal to the required finishing score may be thrown. Like darts you must finish exactly - scoring more causes you to "bust".
For the last two years the Laughing Fish have won the league, but the game is getting a lot more competitive with teams trying ever harder to improve. Pubs outside the county are also trying to compete, with The Woolpack, Burgess Hill aiming to compete in the near future.
Game Scoring: Starts at 31 for each game and decreases by points scored until 0 is reached. The first team to 0 wins the game.
Starting a Match: A coin may be tossed to see which of the teams is to start the first game.
Starting a Game: At the start of each game the first player in each team uses 2 toads, the next player uses 3 toads, and the next player and those thereafter use 4 toads.
Ending a Game: Where a score of less than 4 is needed to finish a game, then only that number of toads may be used, i.e.; if there are only three points left, the thrower may only play three toads.
Matches: Best of 3 games (5 in the final) but, if a team wins the first 2 games (3 in the final out of 3 or 4), then the match ends.
where it is known as juego de la rana, the Basque Country where it is known as igel jokoa or the jeu de la grenouille in France
. Outside Europe, it is widely played in South America
where it is variously known as juego de la rana in Chile
, juego de sapo in Peru
and Argentina
, tiro al sapo in Bolivia
or just rana in Colombia
.
Pub games
Pub games are games which are or were played in pubs, bars, inns, and taverns, particularly traditional games played in English pubs. Most are indoor games, though some are played outdoors Pub games are games which are or were played in pubs, bars, inns, and taverns, particularly traditional games...
, involving throwing brass coins at a lead topped table with a hole in the middle. A variation of this game has been played in pubs in East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, UK, the 'hole' being in the centre of the lead which is on top of a wooden table. Toad in the hole is a more refined version of the coin-throwing game Pitch penny
Pitch penny
Pitch penny is a pub game. It involves throwing coins across the room and into a hole carved in the seat of a wooden bench. Another version of the game is played in many western pubs...
.
The only known league in the country is based in East Sussex, and has three divisions, involving roughly 21 teams based in pubs around the county. There is also a major "International Competition", run by Lewes
Lewes
Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and historically of all of Sussex. It is a civil parish and is the centre of the Lewes local government district. The settlement has a history as a bridging point and as a market town, and today as a communications hub and tourist-oriented town...
Lions Club and held in Lewes every year.
The game itself involves throwing four brass coins or "toads" from the same distance as a dart
Darts
Darts is a form of throwing game where darts are thrown at a circular target fixed to a wall. Though various boards and games have been used in the past, the term "darts" usually now refers to a standardised game involving a specific board design and set of rules...
board, to a square toad table, made of wooden legs and with a lead surface. If a toad goes down the hole it scores 2 points, or if it lands on the top it scores 1. If it hits the back of the table, or falls off it is void, so a grand total of 8 points per turn can be scored. Scoring is performed in darts
Darts
Darts is a form of throwing game where darts are thrown at a circular target fixed to a wall. Though various boards and games have been used in the past, the term "darts" usually now refers to a standardised game involving a specific board design and set of rules...
fashion, playing from 31 down. The first competitor throws 2 toads, with their opponent then throwing 3, and from then on they throw all 4, until they reach scores of less than four, wherein only the number of toads equal to the required finishing score may be thrown. Like darts you must finish exactly - scoring more causes you to "bust".
For the last two years the Laughing Fish have won the league, but the game is getting a lot more competitive with teams trying ever harder to improve. Pubs outside the county are also trying to compete, with The Woolpack, Burgess Hill aiming to compete in the near future.
International Competition winners
- 1995 Lewes Arms http://www.lewesarms.org.uk/
- 1996 Lewes Arms
- 1997 Brack Mount
- 1998 Lewes Arms
- 1999 Lewes Working Men's Club
- 2000 CSBSSussex Bonfire SocietiesThe Sussex Bonfire Societies are responsible for the series of bonfire festivals around Central/Eastern Sussex along with parts of Surrey and Kent from September - November....
- 2001 Lewes Arms
- 2002 Swan Cygnets
- 2003 The Laughing Fish
- 2004 The Laughing Fish
- 2005 The Laughing Fish
- 2006 Old Azurians
- 2007 Kings Head
- 2008 The Laughing Fish
- 2009 The Laughing Fish
- 2010 DCC
The official rules of toads as used at the International Competition
Throw Scoring: Toad into the hole is 2 points and cleanly on the table without hitting the back is 1 point.Game Scoring: Starts at 31 for each game and decreases by points scored until 0 is reached. The first team to 0 wins the game.
Starting a Match: A coin may be tossed to see which of the teams is to start the first game.
Starting a Game: At the start of each game the first player in each team uses 2 toads, the next player uses 3 toads, and the next player and those thereafter use 4 toads.
Ending a Game: Where a score of less than 4 is needed to finish a game, then only that number of toads may be used, i.e.; if there are only three points left, the thrower may only play three toads.
Matches: Best of 3 games (5 in the final) but, if a team wins the first 2 games (3 in the final out of 3 or 4), then the match ends.
Abroad
Variants of this game are played both wider afield in Europe, for example SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
where it is known as juego de la rana, the Basque Country where it is known as igel jokoa or the jeu de la grenouille in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Outside Europe, it is widely played in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
where it is variously known as juego de la rana in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, juego de sapo in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
and Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, tiro al sapo in Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
or just rana in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
.