how does scoring work in curling

In curling, you only score at the end of each round (called an “end”), and only one team can score in that end.

The basic idea

• Each team throws eight stones per end, alternating shots.
• After all 16 stones are thrown, you look at which stone is closest to the center of the target (the “button”).

• Whichever team owns that closest stone is the only team that scores in that end.

How points are counted

• The scoring team gets 1 point for every one of its stones that is closer to the button than the opponent’s closest stone.

• Stones must be in or touching the colored rings (the “house”) to count; anything completely outside the house is 0.

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

Ends, hammer, and blanks

• A game has 8–10 ends in most events; total points after all ends decides the winner.

• The team that throws last in an end has the “hammer,” which is a big strategic advantage.

• If the hammer team scores, the hammer switches to the other team in the next end.

• If no one scores (a “blank end”), it’s 0–0 for that end, and the team that had the hammer keeps it for the next end.

What happens in a tie

• If the score is tied after the scheduled number of ends, teams play extra ends (overtime) until someone wins an end and thus the game.

Quick mental shortcut:
After every end, find the single closest stone. Only that stone’s team scores, counting how many of their stones are closer than the opponent’s best one.