QUICK START
VerifiedFILE #010 // RUSSIA // ~18TH CENTURY
Knock down all wooden figures (gorodki) from the playing area using as few throws as possible.
Throw wooden bats at figure formations arranged in the "city" zone. Each player gets two throws per turn. Figures must be completely knocked out of the city to count.
Clear all 15 standard figures using the fewest total throws. The player with the lowest throw count wins.
FULL RULES
VerifiedSetup
Gorodki uses 5 cylindrical wooden pins (each 20cm long, 4.5-5cm diameter) to create 15 different figure formations. Figures are arranged one at a time in the 'city' zone. Players take turns attempting to knock all pieces out of the city.
The Field
The 'city' (gorod) is a 2m x 2m square where figures are placed. The front throw line (kon) is 13m away, and the half-kon line is 6.5m away. Players start from the far line and move to the half-kon after hitting the first piece.
The Bats
Players throw wooden bats (biты) approximately 80-100cm long and weighing 1.5-2kg. Each player receives 2 throws per turn. The bat must be thrown without crossing the throw line. Spinning throws are common for maximum impact.
The 15 Figures
Standard competition uses 15 figures in order: Cannon, Fork, Star, Arrow, Well, Crankshaft, Artillery, Racket, Machine Gun Nest, Cancer, Watch, Sickle, Airplane, Letter, and Rocker. Each figure has a specific pin arrangement.
Scoring
Count the total number of bat throws needed to clear all figures. Lower is better. A perfect game would use the minimum throws (theoretically 15 if each figure is cleared in one throw). Championship play tracks cumulative throws across multiple rounds.
Penalty Rule
If a pin lands outside the city zone but then rolls back in, it is still considered 'in' and must be knocked out again. If a bat lands in the city without hitting any pins, that throw is wasted.
Victory
The player (or team) who clears all 15 figures using the fewest total throws wins the game. In tournament play, matches consist of multiple rounds, with the best cumulative score determining the winner.
VARIANTS
DramatizationSpeed Gorodki
MODERN ADAPTATION
Players race against the clock to clear figures. Each player has a fixed time limit (usually 5 minutes) to complete all 15 figures. Throws that miss don't end your turn - keep throwing until time runs out or all figures are cleared.
Team Play
TRADITIONAL COMPETITION
Teams of 2-5 players alternate throws. Team members share the throw count, requiring strategic decisions about which player tackles which figures. Popular in Soviet-era factory and military competitions.