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how do points work in curling

In curling, points are awarded only at the end of each “end” (like an inning), and only one team can score in that end.

The basic idea

  • Teams slide stones toward the circular target called the “house,” whose center is the “button.”
  • After all 16 stones (8 per team) are thrown, you look at which stone is closest to the button.
  • The team with that closest stone is the only team that scores in that end.

How the points are counted

  1. Identify the stone closest to the button (the “shot rock”). The team that owns that stone is the scoring team.
  1. Starting from the button and moving outward, count how many stones of that same team lie closer to the button than the opponent’s nearest stone.
  1. Each of those stones is worth 1 point, so an end might be worth 1, 2, 3, or more points to that single team.

Example: If Team A has the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd closest stones, and Team B’s best stone is 4th, Team A scores 3 points that end.

If the opponent has the second‑closest stone, then the scoring team only gets 1 point, because you stop counting as soon as you reach a stone of the other color.

When no one scores

  • If neither team has a stone in the house (inside the outer circle), or the closest stones are exactly tied, that end is “blank.”
  • In a blank end, no points are given to either team, and the total score stays the same.

The hammer and why it matters

  • The team that throws the last stone in an end is said to “have the hammer,” which is a big strategic advantage.
  • Usually, if you score, you lose the hammer next end; if you don’t score (or you blank the end), you keep the hammer.
  • Scoring with hammer:
    • 1 point with hammer = normal/okay result.
    • 2 or more with hammer = very good end.
    • Any points scored by the team without hammer are called a “steal.”

Game length and winning

  • A standard game is 8–10 ends; each end has up to 8 stones per team.
  • After the final end, the team with the higher total points wins; if tied, extra ends can be played.

TL;DR:
After every end, only the team with the stone closest to the button scores, getting 1 point for each of its stones that is closer to the button than the opponent’s best stone; no stones in the house means no points that end.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.