How to Win at Petanque

Stand in the throwing ring and toss your first boule at the target boule. Pull the boule forward with your palm facing forward and release with your arm straight in front of you. As the boule leaves your fingers, flick your fingertips downward to spin the boule backward. This backspin will prevent the boule from rolling upon contact with the ground.

Step out of the throwing ring so that your opponent can throw. Your opponent will continue throwing boules until one lands closer to the target boule than your boule. If your opponent fails to do so with all four boules, you will finish the round by throwing your three remaining boules.

Knock your opponent's boules away from the target boule. Instead of dropping your boule near the target boule, it is often more strategic to roll your boule into your opponent's boule. This transfer of kinetic energy will knock the opposing boule away while simultaneously stopping your own in its previous position.

Throw your first three boules several feet away from the target boule for an alternate strategy. Use your last boule to strike the target boule and knock it toward your first three. This technique is especially useful when the target boule is close to the throwing circle, making for a relatively easy fourth toss.

Approach the target boule after all boules have been thrown and tally the points. Only the player with boules closest to the target boule earns points. If the two closest boules belong to the same player, that player receives two points. If the three closest belong to the same player, that player receives three points. If the four closest boules belong to the same player, that player receivers four points.

Earn 13 points before your opponent to win the game. Focus on landing one boule nearer to the target boule than you opponent, instead of trying to land all four nearer to the target boule. Slow and steady wins the race, and Petanque is no exception.