One of the world’s oldest games is marbles. Since ancient times children have gathered outdoors in the spring to shoot a game of marbles.
The game is played with colored balls that are about 5/8 inch (1.6 centimeters) in diameter. Marbles may be made of clay, glass, plastic, or agate. Particular marbles may be known for their use (shooters); their original material (alleys were once made of alabaster); or their appearance (cloudies and cat’s eyes).
The object of marble games is to roll, throw, or drop against an opponent’s marbles—often to knock them out of a prescribed area. If the game is played for fair, the winner is the one who shoots the most marbles out of the circle. In a game for keeps, each player is allowed to keep all the marbles won.
Rules and names of marble games vary according to locality and country. In taw, ringtaw, or ringer, players attempt to shoot marbles (sometimes arranged in a cross) out of a ring as much as 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) in diameter. In this game the shooter, which is held between the index finger and the outside of the thumb, is propelled forward by snapping the thumb. If knuckling is called for, at least one knuckle of the shooting hand must touch the ground.
In a game known as hit and span, players try to shoot or roll marbles either against an opponent’s marbles or a hand’s span from them. In various pot games (a pot is a small hole in the ground), including moshie, players try to pitch their own marbles or knock opponents’ marbles into a hole. In bridgeboard, or nineholes, a board with several numbered arches is set up, and players try to shoot their marbles through the arches. Local, regional, and national tournaments are held in many countries.