Table hockey

A table hockey game, also called rod hockey game or board hockey, is a game for two players, derived from ice hockey. The game consists of a representation of a hockey rink; the players score goals by hitting a small puck into the opposing "net" with cutout figures that represent hockey players. The figures are manipulated by rods below the "ice": each one slides forward and back along its own narrow slot when the player pushes or pulls on the rod, or rotates (about a vertical axis) to shoot or stickhandle the puck when the player spins the rod.

Commonly, each half of the "rink" has three figures representing forwards and controlled by the farther player, moving in alternate slots with two representing defensemen and controlled by his opponent. Each player also defends his goal by manipulating a goaltender figure with a more limited range of motion.

There are many types of the game. The market leader in Europe is the Swedish Stiga Games, whose games also are used in the table hockey sport administered by the International Table Hockey Federation.

The game has also been played using a variety of commercial boards in North America since the 1920's. The most popular board for many years was manufactured by the now-defunct Coleco company, and most North American boards (such as those built by Irwin toys) are a variant of this model. However, the Stiga board has begun to tap the North American market, even as other new boards continue to be introduced.

The arcade version is called 'dome hockey' or 'bubble hockey', because of the large plastic dome that covers the playing surface in order to prevent the puck either becoming lost or stolen. The most popular of these 'bubble hockey' tables is Chexx (USA vs. Soviet Union) and its successor, Super Chexx (Canada vs. USA).

There is another table hockey game called Do-To-Ho, that is completely different from the other games specified here. The play figures are not fastened to bars, but are mobile on the whole playing field. In their bases just like in the puck there is a ball bearing, so they slide like ice skate runners over the board. Moving a play figure is done via a short, unique knock against the figure with a small stick as in the case for billiard. The play courses take place alternating, there are 'attack courses', with which the puck may be played by a play figure, and 'position courses' (defense courses as well as offside release courses), with which a play figure only may change position without touching the puck. Puck possession changes, if the aggressor misses the puck or hits an opposing play figure. Do-To-Ho was developed in Germany and published in 1994.

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