Hammerschlagen

The German village-fair classic: whoever needs the most hits to sink the nail buys the next round.

How to play

Stand a tree stump upright. Everyone drives a nail into it with as few hits as possible.

Whoever needs the most hits buys the next round. For pros: blindfolded.

Weak hand: right-handers hammer with the left – it evens things out.
Cross-peen: traditionally you strike with the narrow side of the hammer – much harder.
Relay: two teams compete with one nail each.

Only with a firm stance, safe distance and a clear head. Anyone who has already had too much watches.

Warning: Keep your distance and only play with a steady hand. Blindfolded only if nobody is standing nearby.

Agree on drinks and amounts before you start. The game works just as well without alcohol.

How many players do you need for Hammerschlagen?

Hammerschlagen is played with 2–10 players.

What do you need for Hammerschlagen?

For Hammerschlagen you need: tree stump, hammer, nails, plus drinks of your choice.

How hard are the rules of Hammerschlagen?

Rule difficulty: Easy. The instructions above are all you need to start.

Can you play Hammerschlagen without alcohol?

Yes. Hammerschlagen works just as well with water, soft drinks or alcohol-free beer. Agree on drinks and amounts before you start.