Up For Some Kubb?

A funny thing might happen walking through Oslo’s parks. Out of nowhere, you may stumble upon people throwing wooden sticks at figurines. What’s going on here? Are they vandalizing those poor, defenseless figurines?

Closer inspection reveals a whole world of fun you never knew existed—Kubb. No, not the obscure British band of the same name. Kubb is a game, nicknamed “Viking Chess,” that combines bowling, chess, and horseshoes. The objective is to knock down your opponent’s ten kubbs (rectangular wooden blocks). After taking these down, you move on to eliminate the king kubb—marked by a carved crown—for the win.

Kubb dates back to AD 1000 and was likely played by Vikings. It spread throughout Europe during the Norman conquests. Morbidly, some maintain that the Vikings played with the skulls and bones of their victims rather than wooden blocks. When rampant plundering and using your victims for games went out of fashion, the transition to wooden blocks began. Others believe that wooden blocks have always been used. They are common in Scandinavia, after all, and it would be unfortunate to postpone a game of kubb due to lack of skulls. Talk about a gathering gone badly wrong.

The game involves a surprising amount of strategy. Try your luck, but don’t bet your life savings.