The Traditional Game of Marbles

Main Motive

• The main goal is to end up with the most marbles at the end of the game. Each player brings his personal set of marbles to use and potentially lose. This is considered playing "for keeps" or "keepsies."

Playing Field

• Draw a circle measuring 10 feet in diameter (according to tournament rules) and a starting or "lag" line. The lag line is drawn just outside of the circle or "ring."

Game Setup

• Players decide who goes first by shooting marbles from the line into the ring. The player whose marble is closest to the far edge of the ring goes first. Each player then places 13 marbles in the ring.

Game Play

• Players use a shooter marble, which is larger than the others, to knock opponent marbles out of the ring. Players win any marbles they knock out. The player with the most "won" marbles wins the game. Players can also win marbles by knocking out another player's shooter marble, thereby collecting all of that player's "won" marbles.