Toad in the hole (game)

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 two points, or if it lands on the top it scores one point. If it hits the back of the table, or falls off it is void, so a grand total of eight points per turn can be scored. Scoring is performed in darts fashion, playing from 31 down. The first competitor throws two toads, with their opponent then throwing three, and from then on they throw all four, 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".

International competition winners

• 1995 Lewes Arms [1]
• 1996 Lewes Arms
• 1997 Brack Mount
• 1998 Lewes Arms
• 1999 Lewes Working Men's Club
• 2000 CSBS
• 2001 Lewes Arms
• 2002 Swan Cygnets
• 2003 The Laughing Fish
• 2004 The Laughing Fish
• 2005 The Laughing Fish
• 2006 Old Azurians
• 2007 King's Head
• 2008 The Laughing Fish A
• 2009 The Laughing Fish B
• 2010 DCC
• 2011 DCC
• 2012 The Chalk Pit
• 2013 Old Azurians
• 2014
• 2015
• 2016 Rodmell Toad Club

The official rules of toads as used at the International Competition

Throw Scoring: Toad into the hole is two points and cleanly on the table without hitting the back is one 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 two toads, the next player uses three toads, and the next player and those thereafter use four toads.

Ending a Game: Where a score of less than four 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 three games (five in the final) but, if a team wins the first two games (three in the final out of three or four), then the match ends.

Abroad

Jeu de la grenouille, at the entrance of the park of the Pagode de Chanteloup, Touraine

Variants of this game are played both wider afield in Europe, for example Spain 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 and Peru, and just rana in Colombia.

References

• Finn, Timothy: Pub Games of England (Oleander Press)

Notes

External links

• Toad in the hole in the Online guide to traditional games