description Pichenotte Overview
Pichenotte is a traditional French-Canadian family of tabletop disk-flicking games, with a name that translates directly to "flick" in French. The game is typically played on a flat wooden board featuring a smooth surface and often includes pegs or bumpers, similar to crokinole or carrom. Players use their fingers to propel wooden disks, aiming to score points by landing them in designated sections or knocking opponents' pieces out of bounds. It is a social game designed for families and groups, frequently played during the winter months in Canada.
help Pichenotte FAQ
What's the difference between pichenotte and crokinole?
Both are tabletop disk-flicking games with pegs or bumpers on a wooden board, but crokinole has a standardized circular board with a center hole worth 20 points, while pichenotte boards and rules vary by region and family. Crokinole is commonly traced to a board made in 1867 in Ontario, and many see it as a codified cousin of the older French-Canadian flicking tradition.
Where does the name pichenotte come from?
It comes from the French word "pichenette," meaning a snap or flick of the finger—which is exactly how the disks are shot. The game is a tradition of French-Canadian families, particularly in Quebec.
How many players does a pichenotte board support?
It's typically played head-to-head by two players or by four players in two-person teams, with partners seated across from each other. Players take turns flicking from their own quadrant and can knock opponents' disks into low-scoring zones or off the board entirely.
What does a traditional pichenotte board look like?
It's a smooth wooden surface, often square or octagonal with raised side rails, divided into quadrants and studded with wooden pegs or bumpers. Those pegs make shots carom at unexpected angles, which is the heart of the game's difficulty and fun.
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