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Hole Marbles Games

From the The Great American Marble Book on hole games:

Poison

There are several four-hole games that generally involve moving from hole to hole in order. These appear to be played in England, Scotland, Ireland and in Australia, and include Castles, Pot Holes, Holes, Poison and Basins. But in one of these, Poison, there is an interesting variation. Four holes are dug, three in a line and a fourth about five feet to the side of the third. Players must go from the first to the second to the third; back to the first; and again, from the first through the third, and then into the fourth or Poison hole. he then becomes "Poison" and may shoot at the marble of any other player, and claim it, or an agreed upon stake, if he hits it.

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Rolly-polly

This five-hole marbles game was popular in the Philadelphia-Central New jersey area. Five holes, up to four inches deep, are dug in a line, three feet apart. The players shoot from a starting line about 10 feet from the first hole and make their way through the five holes. Once through they become "Killer" or "Poison" and can shoot their fellow players out of the game.

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Da bawh ji

A southern Chinese six-hole game for which five holes are arranged pentagonally, with sixth in the middle. The winner is he who gets his marble through the five outer holes (counter-clockwise) and into the center hole. Landing in a hole entitles the advantaged to another turn. The marble is removed from the hole and shot from the lip. A player may shoot his opponents' marbles away from the holes as he goes along, receiving an extra shot for a hit.

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Black Snake

This is an American seven-hole game. The holes are dug at irregular and unmeasured intervals. Players must progress through all seven holes, then return back through the holes to become "Black Snakes." Attaining that distinction, a player is entitled to shoot at other players' marbles. Once hit, a player is eliminated from the game. However a "Black Snake" must be careful too; if he shoots into any of the seven holes he is eliminated.

Generally no marbles are at stake. The game is played only with shooters and is looked upon as a kind of championship scrimmage, an excellent opportunity to develop aim and backspin. This game was popular in Ohio and Kansas and throughout the midwest, and was only, obviously, for the best of shooters.

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Nine holes

An English game, a derivative of golf. Nine holes are dug into the ground, either in a squared or rounded S-shape, and the players shoot into them in turn, one at a time. The players do not shoot at each and the winner is he who, according to Strutt, "completes in the fewest bowls" the nine-hole course. According to Strutt this was a most popular game in nineteenth century London. {Joseph Strutt, Sports and Pastimes of the People of England (London, 1898).}

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Poison hole

Poison Hole is similar to Nine Holes but is played on a course of 11. Though its name connotes a "Killer" or "Poison" type game, it is essentially a form of golf.

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Song: "Duck Tales"