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how do you score in curling

You score in curling by counting how many of one team’s stones are closer to the center of the target than the other team’s best stone at the end of a round.

How Do You Score in Curling? (Quick Scoop)

The basic idea

  • The target circles on the ice are called the house ; the very middle is the button.
  • After all stones in an end (a round, like an inning) are thrown, only one team can score.
  • That team gets:
    • 1 point for each of its stones that is closer to the button than the opponent’s closest stone,
    • but only if those stones are in the house (within the scoring circle).

Example:
If Team A has the two closest stones to the button and Team B’s best stone is third closest, Team A scores 2 points for that end.

Step‑by‑step: counting the score

  1. Wait until all 16 stones (8 per team) have been thrown in the end.
  1. Look at which stone is closest to the button; that team is the only one that can score.
  1. From the button outward, count how many of that team’s stones are closer than the opponent’s first stone.
  1. Each of those stones is worth 1 point, so that total is the score for the end.

Key detail:

  • The different colored rings don’t change the number of points; being “more inside” doesn’t give bonus points as long as you’re in the house.

A few important terms

  • End : One full round where both teams throw all 8 stones; games are usually 8 or 10 ends.
  • Hammer : The advantage of throwing the last stone in an end; the hammer often sets up scoring chances.
  • Blank end : No team scores (no stone in the house, or the closest stones cancel strategically), and the team with the hammer keeps it for the next end.
  • Steal : When the team without the hammer scores; this is a big momentum play.

Strategy angle (why scoring isn’t just “closest wins”)

Modern curling strategy is built around managing the hammer and trying to score two or more with it, rather than just one.

Teams will sometimes intentionally blank an end (no score) to keep hammer for later when they can set up a bigger score.

They use different shot types to shape scoring:

  • Draws : Gentle shots that come to rest in the house to set up or secure points.
  • Guards : Stones left in front of the house to block the opponent from reaching your scoring stones.
  • Take‑outs : Hard shots to remove opponents’ stones from the house and open space for your own.

Quick forum-style recap

To score in curling, finish an end with your stone closest to the button, then count every one of your stones that’s closer than the opponent’s best stone; each counts 1 point, but only if it’s in the house.

TL;DR:

  • Only one team scores per end.
  • 1 point per stone closer to the button than any opponent stone, as long as it’s in the house.
  • Rings are visual; no extra points for being in a “smaller” ring.

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