One of autumn’s simple pleasures is heading out conker hunting, then settling in for a proper game of conkers. If you’ve never done this before, or it’s been a while since you last played, here are some fun facts about conkers, how to prepare them, and how to play.
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What Are Conkers?
Conkers are the seeds of the horse chestnut tree (not to be confused with edible chestnuts, which come from sweet chestnut trees). The leaves of a horse chestnut tree are very distinctive, forming five to seven “fingers”.
Conkers are hard, brown, shiny nuts that grow inside a prickly casing, usually bright green. You crack open the casing to reveal the conker inside. You’ll usually find them on the ground underneath a horse chestnut tree, as they fall once they’re ripe during the autumn months.
How to Prepare Your Conkers
Once you’ve got your conker home, here’s how to get it ready for battle:
Bake it in the oven at 120°C for two hours. Ask an adult to help, as it will be hot when it comes out.
Soak it in vinegar for a few days.
Next, make a hole straight through the middle of the conker using a skewer or a nail (kids, ask Mum or Dad to help with this bit).
Cut a piece of string about 35cm long and thread it through the hole. Tie a knot at both ends so the conker doesn’t slip off.
Tip: some of the best conkers are older ones, even ones that are years old. Worth asking if your mum or dad have any old conkers tucked away somewhere.
The Rules of Playing Conkers
Watch how it’s done in the video below, then try the rules for yourself:
Conkers is a two-player game. Each player has their conker on a string.
1. Wrap the loose end of the string around your hand. One player should dangle their conker on about 25cm of string, keeping it absolutely still.
2. The other player then swings their conker at it, trying to break it.
3. If the attacking player misses, they get two more chances before it becomes their opponent’s turn.
4. Take turns until one of the conkers breaks and you have a winner.
5. A new conker is called a ‘none-er’, as it hasn’t beaten anyone yet. When it beats another conker, it becomes a ‘one-er’. Beat another, and it’s a ‘two-er’, and so on.
Did You Know? Facts About Conkers
- The origin of the name ‘conker’ isn’t entirely clear, but one popular theory is that it comes from the French word cogner, meaning to “hit” or “knock”.
- On finding your first conker of the season, tradition says you should call out “Oddly oddly onker, my first conker” for good luck through the rest of the season.
- The game of conkers is known as ‘Kingers’ in some parts of the world.
- Horse chestnut conkers, unlike some other kinds of chestnut seed, aren’t fit for humans to eat — though deer, cattle and horses can enjoy them.
More Autumn Ideas to Try
If conkers has got you in the mood for more seasonal fun, take a look at our 50 awesome autumn activities for kids (and parents!), download our free autumn scavenger hunt, or get creative with these 15 easy and eye-catching leaf craft ideas.
Loved this bit of autumn nostalgia? Bookmark this page so you’ve got the rules handy the next time you spot a horse chestnut tree on a walk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are conkers, exactly?
Conkers are the shiny brown seeds of the horse chestnut tree. They grow inside a spiky green casing that splits open to reveal the conker inside, usually falling to the ground in autumn once ripe.
Can you eat conkers?
No. Horse chestnut conkers aren’t fit for human consumption, though animals such as deer, cattle and horses can eat them.
Do you need to bake or soak conkers before playing?
Many players like to bake conkers in a low oven and soak them in vinegar first, as this is said to harden them up before a game. Older conkers that have been kept from previous years are often considered the toughest.
How do you play the conkers game?
Each player threads their conker onto a string. One player holds their conker still while the other swings theirs to try to break it, taking turns until one conker breaks and a winner is declared.
What do you call an undefeated conker?
A brand-new conker is a ‘none-er’. Each win adds to its title — one-er, two-er, and so on.
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