Why keep your eye on the Kubb? First, let me explain what a Kubb is. It is a wooden block used in the game with the same name. Its been said that the game dates back to the Viking age and was played on Gotland as well as other locations in Sweden. Kubb means "wooden block" in the Swedish dialect of Gutnish. Kubb is a game which is usually played on grass, but can be played successfully on almost any other flat surface including dirt, sand and ice. The game is usually played between two people or by teams of two people. Teens can play and more and more families are finding Kubb perfect for picnics or other outdoor get-togethers. The object of the game is to knock over the opposing team’s Kubbs or wooden blocks by throwing wooden sticks at them. Throws must be under-handed while standing at the base line or the field line. Everything needed to play the game comes in a set of twenty-one pieces and is easily set up and ready to play in minutes.

Kubb has been characterized as a game that is akin to horseshoes, bowling and chess or a combination of these games. So what are the similarities of these very different games and how do they apply to the game of Kubb?

We’ll start with horseshoes. If you like to play horseshoes, you will take to Kubb immediately. Horseshoes, like Kubb, has an historical origin dating from the early Olympic Games in Greece and Rome. In those games, a discus was used which was similar to the quoit of modern times. The discus, however, was a circular plate of metal or stone different in size and weight than the quoit. The player held on to it by a strap or thong which passed through a hole in the center. It was swung and released by the player to permit the discus to go the greatest distance possible.

The transition from the discus to the horseshoe is said to have come about because camp followers of the Grecian armies could not afford the discus. They improvised by using the discarded iron plates or rings used to nail on horses’ feet. They set up a stake and began pitching horseshoes at the stake. Sometime thereafter, no one knows exactly when, the use of two stakes was introduced. So where is the similarity to Kubb? Horseshoes, like Kubb, can be set up in almost any flat area. That area must permit driving stakes into the ground, however, and a soft bed of sand around the stakes is a plus. Horseshoes is usually played by two players or sometimes by teams of two. The horseshoe is thrown underhanded. And it is important for the player to keep his eye on the target in order to pitch the shoe in such a manner as to have a "ringer" or for it to land as near the stake as possible. "Keep your eye on the Kubb" and in the case of horseshoes, keep your eye on the stake.

Bowling is a game which also has historical roots. Presently there are many different forms of bowling. The Egyptians are credited with inventing bowling but a variation of the game has also been traced to Finland, Yemen and later to Germany. The form of bowling best know in the United States is undoubtedly the North American game of ten pins. This form is now played around the world by amateur and professional players. But how is bowling similar to Kubb? Bowling is played on a flat surface called a "lane or alley." Bowlers use a special ball and aim it with a strong underhanded movement at the pins standing at the other end of the alley. Ten pin bowling has long used lanes that had a surface made of wood and the pins were also made of wood. Modern times have changed this traditon to use a synthetic material which is thought to be more durable than wood. Another form of bowling is played outdoors on a lawn. Bowling can be played alone by trying to better one’s score, by two people competing or by teams. It is a social game, one that can be enjoyed by different ages playing together or for family fun. In any form of the game, the player must keep his eye on the pins as he winds up and releases the ball in the direction of the pins in order to strike them in just the right spot to gain the most on impact, all ten down, called a "strike."

We have just discussed two games which have similarities to Kubb. In each of these games, horseshoes and bowling, as in Kubb, the object of the game is to throw or roll an object at other objects in order to score. So how does Chess fit into this trio of games similar to Kubb? Chess is played on a square chequered chessboard and is played one on one. The players each have 16 pieces, either black or white. Over simplified, the object of the game is to "checkmate" the opponent’s king rendering the king under attack or in "check" with no way to remove it from attack on the next move.

Chess is another game with roots in antiquity as a form of it was played in the ancient Persian empire and "the King" in the game is derived from the Persian Shah meaning "King." The present day variation of the game is called, "Western Chess" or "International Chess" in order to distinguish it from former variations of the game.

Tactics in general for Chess and for Kubb concentrate on short term action. A certain amount of strategy can be used by the players which has caused some to call Kubb, "Viking Chess." The object of the game of Kubb is to knock the "King" over before the opposing side does. However, unlike Chess, all of the Kubbs on the opposing team must be knocked down before the King can be attacked. If at any time during the game the king is knocked down before the objective is reached, that team or player loses the game. The "keep your eye on the Kubb" rule applies in Chess as well because concentration on the game is a must in order to try to figure out the opponents moves or strategy.

In summation, Kubb is a game that includes the best of horseshoes, bowling and chess: skill of aim, judgment for action and strategy learned as the game is played more and more. It can be purely social or it can be excitingly competitive. It is easy to obtain and is completely portable. So get one now and introduce it in your neighborhood. All eyes will be on you as you teach others how to "keep their eyes on the Kubb."