Petanque

Petanque players in Cannes, France

Petanque is a game played by many people, especially in France. It is played on a level surface which can be covered with gravel of varying sizes.Boules [metal balls] are thrown along this terrain. The game is played between two teams. Each team has three players [triples] with 2 boules each. At the start of the game, a small ball [coche or jack] is thrown. Each player stands in a circle and tries to throw a larger ball [boule] so that it lands close to the coche.The team having their boule or boules closest to the coche at the first end takes the points. Play continues until one team reaches 13. In a doubles game each player has 3 boules.

Petanque Media

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  Boules players on the Champs-Élysées around 1840

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  Pétanque being played indoor in Rotterdam.

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  Pétanque at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games

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  Pétanque player throwing from a prefabricated circle

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  Team Red has the boule closest to the jack, but the second-closest boule belongs to Team Blue. Red scores one point. Blue scores nothing.

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  Team Red has two boules closer than Team Blue's closest boule. Red scores two points. Blue scores nothing.

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  Jack (cochonnet) and boule