Q&A for How to Play Marbles

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  • Question
    How many people can play marbles?
    Eviscerated
    Community Answer
    As many people as there are shooter marbles! You can also share one, so really, there's no limit to how many people can play.
  • Question
    What if it is a tie? Do you continue playing?
    Community Answer
    This is up to you. If you're playing for fun, you can just shake hands and accept the tie. But if you're playing a serious game of marbles and want to determine a true winner, play another round.
  • Question
    When do I use my aggie?
    Eviscerated
    Community Answer
    The shooter marble, or aggie, is used on your turn to knock the smaller marbles out of the circle.
  • Question
    What is the playing marble called?
    Community Answer
    The marble you knock all the other marbles out with is usually called a shooter. It can also be called an aggie, taw, steelie, or middleman.
  • Question
    If someone knocks out my shooter, do I have to shoot outside the circle one time or for the rest of the game?
    Eviscerated
    Community Answer
    If someone knocks out your shooter, you lose. As far as rules go, marbles is not a constrictive game, so you and the other players can decide whether to use this rule or invent your own penalties.
  • Question
    What kind of marbles should I use?
    Raif
    Community Answer
    You can use normal marbles in the ringer version inside the circle and a bigger marble as the shooter.
  • Question
    Is there a way to play when there is only one shooter between the players?
    Eviscerated
    Community Answer
    You can just trade the shooter back and forth. Of course, this means you will not be able to knock the other player's shooter out of the circle since you will have the only shooter marble on your turn, but personally, I think this makes for a longer, more fun game.
  • Question
    Is "keepsies" the same as playing for keeps?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Those two words are synonymous.
  • Question
    What if you only have one shooter?
    Community Answer
    For most games of marbles, you will only need one shooter. All other marbles will need to be smaller so you can knock them out.
  • Question
    Can you do Rock-Paper-Scissors to go first?
    Community Answer
    Sure! This is a fair and efficient way to determine a first player. Try rock-paper-scissors if you want to decide quickly.
  • Question
    If I launch my marble in the air, do I get disqualified?
    Eviscerated
    Community Answer
    No. Eventually, of course, it will fall down, but shooting into the air has the same effect on the game as when you shoot into the circle and miss.
  • Question
    What should I do if I don't have a shooter marble?
    Eviscerated
    Community Answer
    If you want to make the game harder, you could use the same size marbles for all purposes, including shooting. This would require more accurate and precise aiming. If you do not want to use a small marble, most marble sets can be bought with a shooter marble already in them.
  • Question
    Can marbles be played on a table?
    Eviscerated
    Community Answer
    Theoretically, yes, but only if you want to be picking up all the marbles that you knock out.
  • Question
    What if the shooter crosses the circle?
    Community Answer
    If your shooter crosses the circle with or without knocking any marbles out, keep playing. If you want a penalty for that, that is also fine.
  • Question
    Should I go out of my way to buy marbles?
    Eviscerated
    Community Answer
    It depends on the marbles. Generally, you should not go "out of your way" to buy anything, but you can choose how much you want to spend on marbles. Most marbles are pretty much the same size and price, but you may consider buying heavier marbles, which may or may not cost more.
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