How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow?

Pogs are so dumb.

I know, right? Now tell your friends!
How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow?
Leonora Epstein

At some point in the ’90s, for reasons which escape you both then and now, you began collecting these things called “Pogs.” You’d carry around your lot of decorated cardboard discs in neon plastic tubes, and proudly show off your refined taste for flames and ying-yangs come recess.

The thing is…did anyone ever really know how to play Pogs? You’d stack them up, maybe knock them over, and try to take all of your friends’ items. But in the end, since no one ever wanted to trade or lose their precious Pogs — especially not that cool skull and roses one —you just packed them back up, with no clear winner.

3. It probably looked a lot like this…

4. A bit of background first…


So what are Pogs? The name comes from a brand of juice called POG (stands for passion fruit, orange, guava), which came packaged with lids that made good pieces for playing the game we’d eventually just call “Pogs.” There have been earlier forms of Pog-like games played for ages — usually with milk bottle caps — but Pog is the term that stuck in the ’90s.

5. Basic rules…


1. The game starts by creating a stack of Pogs face-down. How high is up to you and your friends, but everyone contributes the same number of Pogs.
2. The first player takes a Slammer and throws it at the stack. Remember those? They looked like this…

3. After the slammer has knocked over the stack, player gets to keep all Pogs that land face-up.
4. The remaining face-down Pogs are re-stacked and the next player takes his shot.
5. Player with most Pogs wins and keeps his loot — if, that is, you’re brave enough to risk a “for keeps” game.

This is the most boring game. But whatever.

8. Strategy…


Of course, Pog aficionados will know that the game is not quite as simple as just chucking a Slammer. (Well, maybe it kind of is.) But you can use certain throwing techniques to improve your odds. You could aim it downwards, short-range. Or you could try a horizontal shot. If you want to study up on it, someone took the time to go into the finer points of the game, even estimating a shot’s accuracy.

9. Many brands and companies created their own Pogs. Like these beautiful Shaq by Taco Bell ones:

Source: ebay.com

10. Or these infinitely cooler Barney ones.

Source: ebay.com

11. Wait, these William Shatner ones are the coolest.

Source: ebay.com

12. Or THIS. Whatttttttt.

Source: ebay.com

13. Get good enough and then they give you this T-shirt. (Just kidding. You have to buy it.)

Check out more articles on BuzzFeed.com!

Facebook Conversations

          

    10 Responses So Far

    • Adrienne S   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow?  about 2 months ago
    • lazydaisy156   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow?  about 3 months ago
    • hellojillie thinks How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? is Win  about 3 months ago
    • adriannereneel   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow?  about 3 months ago
    • 20sgirl86 3 months ago

      I only cared about having the shiny ones. I remember grocery stores used to hand those out as well.

    • bbqcancelled   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow?  about 3 months ago
    • Ron Bolander thinks How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? is Fail  about 3 months ago
    • willd124   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? and thinks it’s Win & OMG  about 3 months ago
    • Yvilla363   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? and thinks it’s LOL & OMG  about 3 months ago
    • Zakdster   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow?  about 3 months ago
    • Kevin thinks How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? is LOL  about 3 months ago
    • beckie786   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow?  about 3 months ago
    • gomez103   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow?  about 3 months ago
    • areyouawake thinks How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? is , LOL & Smiley  about 3 months ago
    • karolinec thinks How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? is LOL  about 3 months ago
    • Milly 3 months ago

      I want my pogs back

    • NoraVH thinks How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? is LOL  about 3 months ago
    • Curlysf   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow?  about 3 months ago
    • jenniferw45   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow?  about 3 months ago
    • How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? is starting to get hot on Twitter Tweet It  about 3 months ago
    • erinb34 thinks How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? is LOL  about 3 months ago
    • Jamey89 thinks How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? is  about 3 months ago
    • Trob   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow?  about 3 months ago
    • jac152 thinks How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? is LOL &  about 3 months ago
    • Fiji Wiji 3 months ago

      .

    • kristinac7   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow?  about 3 months ago
    • alicias14   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow?  about 3 months ago
    • xlinzymmm thinks How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? is LOL  about 3 months ago
    • How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? is starting to get hot on Facebook Share It  about 3 months ago
    • mikoalanguyen thinks How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? is , LOL & OMG  about 3 months ago
    • joselorenzod   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow?  about 3 months ago
    • timothyryanw   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow?  about 3 months ago
    • chuyb thinks How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? is Ew &  about 3 months ago
    • xtalcase thinks How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? is LOL  about 3 months ago
    • KekeNara thinks How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? is LOL  about 3 months ago
    • lauraarayata   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? and thinks it’s LOL & Win  about 3 months ago
    • KillerNeuron 3 months ago

      The US military still uses them at AAFES
      Locations all over the world. They have
      Coin values on them and can be used as
      change.

    • nikinikiniki   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow?  about 3 months ago
    • saraha27 thinks How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? is LOL  about 3 months ago
    • codyn3   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow?  about 3 months ago
    • Floobity 3 months ago

      POGS ARE NOT DUMB.

    • yelenaz thinks How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? is LOL  about 3 months ago
    • donvarone 3 months ago

      pogs never left mexico the newest series is angry birds space

    • Yolie4u 3 months ago

      I had a really cool pink power ranger pog!

    • Jonny etc 3 months ago


      http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=48877374... [link]

      I made these last year, but this post made them DOUBLE relevant!

    • calli441   How The F*ck Do You Play Pogs, Anyhow? and thinks it’s LOL  about 3 months ago
    • ParahSailin 3 months ago

      I had my own pog maker. I’m bragging and I’m not being humble about it.

    • aegyeol 3 months ago

      I liked the limited edition Lion King pogs that you could only get from Chex ^^

    Now Buzzing