Aim, power up, add curl, sweep like mad. 6 ends, 8 stones each. Score in the house!
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Game Over
0
0%
Takeout %
0%
Draw Accuracy
—
Best Shot
6
Ends Played
1/6
End
0
You
—
0
AI
1/8
Stone
Aim your shot
Tap/click to set aim
Power
0%
Ice heat: 0%
Tap fast! Goes farther
What Is Curling?
Curling is a precision ice sport played on a 42-metre sheet of ice called the "sheet." Two teams of four players slide 44-pound granite stones toward a circular target called the "house." The sport combines strategy, physics, and teamwork — often compared to chess on ice.
Players alternate delivering stones from one end of the sheet to the other. Teammates sweep the ice in front of the moving stone to influence its speed and direction. After all stones are delivered, the team with the stone closest to the center button scores points.
Did you know?
Curling stones weigh 44 pounds and are made from rare granite quarried from a single Scottish island called Ailsa Craig. The island's granite has unusually low water absorption, making it ideal for the ice conditions curling demands.
How It Works
Each game consists of 8–10 ends (this game plays 6). In each end, players alternate throwing 8 stones each (16 total). Only the team with the stone closest to the button can score, earning one point per stone that's closer to the center than the opponent's nearest stone. Scoring zero is called a "blank end."
Strategy is key: place guards to protect scoring stones, attempt takeouts to knock opponents out of the house, and draw precisely to the button. The last stone advantage (called "hammer") goes to the team that did not score in the previous end — a significant tactical advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does scoring work?
Only one team can score per end. The team with the stone closest to the center (button) scores one point for every stone closer than the opponent's nearest stone. If you have three stones closer than your opponent's closest stone, you score 3 points. A game typically ends after 8–10 ends. The highest total score wins.
What does sweeping do?
Sweeping heats the ice surface through friction, reducing the pebbled texture temporarily. This causes the stone to travel farther and curl less. Expert sweeping can extend a stone's travel by up to 5 metres and reduce curl by nearly a metre. Sweepers must read the ice and communicate with the skip to decide when to sweep hard.
How do you add curl to the stone?
Curl is applied by rotating the stone's handle as you release it. Clockwise rotation (out-turn) makes the stone curl to the right. Counter-clockwise rotation (in-turn) makes it curl to the left. The ice surface has small pebbles of frozen water that create friction, causing the rotating stone to drift in the direction of its rotation. More speed = less curl; less speed = more curl.