Q&A for How to Play Marbles

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How many people can play marbles?

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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.

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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.

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Question

When do I use my aggie?

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The shooter marble, or aggie, is used on your turn to knock the smaller marbles out of the circle.

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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.

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Question

If someone knocks out my shooter, do I have to shoot outside the circle one time or for the rest of the game?

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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.

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Question

What kind of marbles should I use?

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Community Answer

You can use normal marbles in the ringer version inside the circle and a bigger marble as the shooter.

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Question

Is there a way to play when there is only one shooter between the players?

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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.

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Question

Is "keepsies" the same as playing for keeps?

Community Answer

Yes. Those two words are synonymous.

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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.

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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.

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Question

If I launch my marble in the air, do I get disqualified?

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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.

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Question

What should I do if I don't have a shooter marble?

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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.

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Question

Can marbles be played on a table?

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Community Answer

Theoretically, yes, but only if you want to be picking up all the marbles that you knock out.

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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.

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Question

Should I go out of my way to buy marbles?

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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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