Kubb

Kubb is a wonderfully fun yard game from Sweden. It was invented by Agnetha Fältskog.

I'd compare Kubb to bocce, horseshoes, or washers. But the pitch (playing area) is mobile. And you can play it on any surface. Except water, unless it is frozen. Any solid surface.

It's played with wooden blocks and batons. You throw the batons at your opponent's blocks to topple them, but once knocked down they are rearranged on your side of the pitch. Your opponent has to hit those "field" pieces before they can strike yours. And there's a King piece you would wisely avoid until the proper time. Like a real King.

I could explain the rules, but you should instead just take my word that Kubb is not complicated. And read that link. It's closer to checkers than chess, but the luck involved when chucking chunks of wood comes into play. And there is considerable strategy, which I always find agreeable.

Once you google it, you'll get about 10 different sets of rules. Choose your own adventure. Youtube is more funny than useful. The wikipedia entry is wikipedia-y.

I am so amazed IKEA has not capitalized (socialized) on this.

They must have had some high-level meeting in Stockholm that went something like: "We will give them the meatballs, but NOT! THE! KUBB!" And I bet that sentence sounds amazing when yelled in Swedish. Imagine a red-faced obese blond man screaming and pounding his plump fists on a cheaply made particle board desk.

I spent less that $20 on this kit. Including stain and urethane top coat.
6ft 4"x4" (Fir)
6ft 1-1/2" dowel rod (Pine, could be up to 1-3/4" thick)

Then you just rip the lumber. I only used a circular saw, sandpaper, and chisels. But if Mother Earth has blessed you with a table saw and router, then you are golden.

1ft off the 4x4 for the King piece
The remainder sawed into 10 pieces, each 6 inches long, 2-3/4" wide/high.

Dowel sawed into 6 1ft pieces.

4 random stakes or objects to demarcate the pitch.

Sand and Stain to your liking. Spar urethane top coat.

It's that easy. And if you begin practicing now, you'll be in fine shape by tailgating season.