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THE GENTLEMAN'S GAME

As the world isolates to beat COVID-19, the Conker Federation has rushed through a ruling recognising an old version of the game that can be played at home all year round. The revived game, originally played in the 19th century, has been named “The Gentleman’s Game”, as it appears to be loosely based on the duel.

A duel is defined as “an engagement in combat between two people, with matched weapons, in accordance with agreed-upon rules.” Duels were fought not so much to kill the opponent as to gain “satisfaction”: to restore one’s honour by demonstrating a willingness to risk something substantial for it. Historically, duels were fought with swords and, more recently, with pistols. It is thought that conkers were introduced as a non-lethal method of settling disputes.

How to play the Gentleman’s Game

  1. The player with the greater seniority, whether by age, rank or social standing, strikes first.
  2. The players stand back to back, walk five steps, turn around, and walk four steps back.
  3. They shake hands and wish each other luck.
  4. The holder holds out their conker at arm’s length, hanging down, ready to be hit.
  5. Each player in turn takes one strike at the opponent’s conker.
  6. The match is over when one of the conkers is de-stringed. If both conkers are de-stringed at the same time, the bout is drawn. Both players shake hands and say “Ruddy good show.”
  7. A game lasting more than three minutes is drawn.
  8. However the match ends, it concludes with the players retiring for a gin and tonic. The tonic is interchangeable; the gin must be Conker Gin (conkerspirit.co.uk).

A further advantage of the Gentleman’s Game is that players are required to provide their own conkers. This opens a new market for the sale and trade of aged conkers. Nut tampering would not be expected of gentlemen and gentlewomen, but there is nothing wrong with nuts growing old naturally.

Conker Cup is supporting this initiative and is offering emergency conker kits to families in need. Each kit contains two six-month-aged conkers and an emergency swing string, with free postage. To request a kit, email hello@conkercup.com.