How to Play and Collect Pogs

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Stacking, slamming, and flipping your way to victory
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The game of Pogs may be past its prime, but it’s never too late to appreciate a classic. While the game itself dates back to the ‘30s, when kids would play with bottle caps, it was brought back in the ‘90s by a schoolteacher who taught students to play with POG-brand soda caps, which is where the name comes from. We’ll show you how to play this pulse-pounding playground game, plus how to collect and show off your Pog collection like a pro.

Things You Should Know

  • Make a stack of face-up Pogs, with an equal number of Pogs from each player.
  • Take turns throwing the slammer down at the stack. Collect any Pogs that land face-down.
  • Play until there aren’t any Pogs left to flip. Whoever collects the most Pogs is the winner.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Pogs Game Guide

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  1. You can play Pogs with as many people as you like, but it’s best to play with just 2-4 close friends. [1] If you play with too many people, the game might last too long, or there won’t be very many Pogs left by the time the last players take their turns.
    • If you or your friends don’t have any Pogs, play with old bottle caps or cut-out cardboard discs, which was how the game was first played in the 1930s. [2]
  2. Before the game starts, decide with your friends if you’ll be playing to keep any Pogs you manage to flip during the game. This ups the stakes and adds some juicy tension to each turn. Otherwise, just play for fun, and return the Pogs to each player afterward. [3]
    • If you play for keeps and lose some of your favorite Pogs, challenge your friend to a rematch to win them back.
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  3. Make a circle with your friends and take turns placing a Pog into the center. Each player must add the same number of Pogs to the game. [4] There’s no set number of how many Pogs to use, but about 5-10 Pogs per player is a good number.
    • Once your Pogs are gathered, shuffle them around with your hands to evenly and fairly distribute them in the collection.
    • If you're playing for keeps, remember that any Pogs you put into the stack might not come back to you when you're done. Choose your Pogs carefully!
  4. Gather everyone’s Pogs and arrange them into a single column, stacking each Pog so that the design faces upward. [5] Stack the Pogs on a flat, sturdy surface, like a table, carpet, or a hard floor.
  5. Toss an unused Pog like a coin, and have your friend call it in the air—face-up or face-down. The winner of the toss takes the first turn. [6] If you’re playing with more than 2 people, repeat the coin toss with the winner of the last toss and the next player, repeating until each person has participated. The last toss winner goes first.
    • Alternatively, play Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide who goes first.
    • The first player typically gets the most Pogs out of the slam. It's a lot harder to flip over a very small stack of Pogs.
  6. Slammers are heavier, sturdier Pogs that you throw at the stack. In American Pog tournaments, players hold the slammer between their index and middle fingers, and flick it downward over the back of their wrists. [7] But there are lots of ways to hold the slammer, so experiment with these common techniques to see which is best for you:
    • Hold the slammer flat against the inside of your fingers, and keep it in place with your thumb. Throw it down toward the stack.
    • Curl the slammer into your index finger and hold it with your thumb, like you’re going to skip a stone.
    • Hold the slammer like you would a dart, sideways between your index finger and thumb. Or turn it so the flat side is between your finger and thumb.
  7. Hold your slammer in whatever grip you've chosen, and forcefully throw it down onto the top of the stack of Pogs. Let the slammer go before it makes contact with the stack. Then, collect any Pogs that landed face-down.
    • After your turn, restack the Pogs and let the next player slam.
    • If you’re playing for keeps, the Pogs you flipped become yours. Add them to your collection!
  8. Play until all the Pogs have been flipped and removed from the game. Once there are no more Pogs, the player with the most Pogs is the winner. [8]
    • If you're not playing for keeps, return all the Pogs to their original owners at the end of the game.
    • To even the odds, have every player use the same slammer. Some players outlaw metal slammers, which can dent the Pogs.
  9. The basic game of Pogs is pretty simple, so try some different rules if the original game becomes a bit less exciting over time. Make up your own, or try some of these common classics: [9]
    • Play best of 15 . If someone has a Pog you really want, offer to play more Pogs than them in order to get it. Make a stack of 15, and negotiate how many Pogs you’ll play in order for them to use the Pog you want. You might even play 14 Pogs for a chance to get their 1.
    • Play the Pogs where they fall . After the Pogs scatter, pick up the ones you flipped, but don't restack the others. Instead, aim to slam them where they landed for a bigger challenge.
    • Play long-range Pogs . Instead of throwing the slammer from just above the stack, make a line about 3 ft (0.91 m) away and make each player slam from behind the line to test your aim.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Collecting Pogs

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  1. Back in the day, almost every toy store had Pogs in stock, but they’ve recently become harder to find. While you may not be able to find them in stores, browse sites like Craigslist for used or new Pogs to collect and play with. [10]
  2. Draw a circle 4 cm (1.6 in) in diameter onto a piece of paper and cut it out to make a template. Then use the template to trace circles onto a flat piece of cardboard. Cut out the cardboard circles and draw designs on the top, or glue a printed design to one side. To make the slammer, glue 2 pieces of cardboard together. [11]
    • Alternatively, collect bottle caps from glass bottles to use as Pogs.
  3. The most exciting way to collect a bigger stack of Pogs is to play for them regularly. Challenge your friends to play for keeps and try to win as many games as possible to grow your collection. [12]
    • Play with lots of people to make a bigger stack and win more Pogs at once. If you play in a big group and everyone only puts in a few Pogs, you don't stand to lose many, but you can gain a bunch pretty quickly.
  4. Got a Pog you really love? Don't play with it if you don’t want to lose it. Instead, just show it off to your friends for bragging rights. The only sure way to keep the Pogs you like is to keep them in your possession. [13]
    • On the other hand, putting Pogs you really like into the stack helps to keep the game exciting. If you might lose your favorite, there are big stakes!
  5. Some people prefer trading Pogs for other Pogs, instead of playing for them. Comparing your collection to your friends’ and making deals to swap for your favorites is just as fun as playing the game itself. Like baseball cards, Pokémon cards, or any other collectible, a juicy trade is part of the excitement. [14]
  6. Specialized Pog storage tubes were a popular way to keep your collection safe back in the day. If you don’t have one or can’t find one, use a cardboard tube, Tupperware , or a card binder instead . [15]
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  • Question
    Are there kids in jail for gambling while playing Pogs?
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    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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    There aren't any reports of kids getting arrested for playing Pogs, but it does resemble some form of gambling if you play for-keeps. Check with your guardian if you're worried about getting in trouble while playing Pogs.
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    Can you throw your pogs when playing?
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    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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    Yes, you can throw your slammer, but you must aim for the top of the stack. Or, throw the slammer from a few feet away to test your aim.
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    How do I find someone to play Pogs with?
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    Bring your own collection to school or the park, and ask another kid if they'd like to play with you. Explain the rules and play a few games together. You might make a new friend, and inspire someone else to collect Pogs!
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      • If you don't have a slammer, use a regular Pog. Give your slam a little more oomph to make up for the lighter weight.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://bestreamer.com/gaming/how-to-play-pogs/
      2. ↑ https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/11/07/it-s-slammer-time/
      3. ↑ https://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/WhatPartofPogDon%27tYouUnderstand.pdf
      4. ↑ https://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/WhatPartofPogDon%27tYouUnderstand.pdf
      5. ↑ https://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/WhatPartofPogDon%27tYouUnderstand.pdf
      6. ↑ https://guelphmuseums.ca/guelph-circa-1999-pogs-craft/
      7. ↑ https://www.boardgameblitz.com/posts/158/how-to-play-pogs
      8. ↑ https://guelphmuseums.ca/guelph-circa-1999-pogs-craft/
      9. ↑ https://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/WhatPartofPogDon%27tYouUnderstand.pdf
      1. ↑ https://bestreamer.com/gaming/how-to-play-pogs/
      2. ↑ https://guelphmuseums.ca/guelph-circa-1999-pogs-craft/
      3. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/09/06/pogs-kids-are-flipping-their-lids/466de1fe-22b2-4d5d-a52c-0a2ab1179e8d/
      4. ↑ https://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/WhatPartofPogDon%27tYouUnderstand.pdf
      5. ↑ https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/11/07/it-s-slammer-time/
      6. ↑ https://blogs.uoregon.edu/pogsforfun/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To play pogs, start by collecting a pile of pogs, which are cardboard discs about the size of a half dollar, and metal slammers. When you're ready to start a game with friends, compare your pogs and offer to play for ones you like the look of. Then, have each player put 10 pogs face down on a flat surface, shuffle them into a pile, and toss the slammer like a coin to see who goes first. When it's your turn, slam the slammer onto the pogs and collect any that turn face up. Win the game by collecting more than half the pogs. To learn how to play for 'keeps' and how to hold the slammer correctly, read on!

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