Pétanque Scoring Rules Explained: A Complete Guide

At first glance, scoring in pétanque seems simple: the team that gets closest to the jack wins. However, once you step onto the terrain, questions quickly arise. What happens if the jack is knocked out of bounds? Who is responsible for measuring? And what on earth does "kissing the Fanny" mean?

In this guide, we break down every nuance of pétanque scoring, from basic counting to advanced competitive scenarios.

The Objective

A standard game of pétanque is played to 13 points: the first team to reach 13 wins. The FIPJP rules (Article 5) also allow leagues and qualifying heats to be played to 11 points, and some competitions are played with a time limit on marked lanes, with the finish decided by the competition's own regulations. Outside those cases, 13 is the standard target.

How a Round (Mène) Works

Pétanque is played in rounds, called mènes in French. A round ends when both teams have thrown all their boules.

1. Winning the Round: Only one team can score points in a single round. The team with the boule closest to the jack is the winner of that round.
2. Counting the Points: The winning team receives 1 point for every boule that is closer to the jack than the opponent's best (closest) boule.

Because only one team scores per end, the maximum score for a single end equals the number of boules a team has: 3 points in singles (1 player × 3 boules) and 6 points in doubles and triples (2 × 3 or 3 × 2 boules).

Scoring Example

• Team A has boules at 10cm, 25cm, and 40cm from the jack.
• Team B has their closest boule at 30cm from the jack.
• Result: Team A wins the round. They get 2 points because they have two boules (10cm and 25cm) that are closer than Team B's best boule (30cm).

What Happens if the Jack Goes "Dead"?

Under FIPJP Article 9, the jack is "dead" (out of play) if, among other cases, it is knocked completely out of bounds (a jack straddling the boundary line is still valid), it is moved and can no longer be seen from the circle (a jack hidden only by a boule is not dead), it is moved to less than 3 m or more than 20 m from the throwing circle (15 m for younger players), or it cannot be found within 5 minutes.

The scoring for a dead jack depends on how many boules are left in hand:

• Scenario 1: Both teams have boules left: The end is void. No points are awarded, and the jack is thrown again by the team that scored in the previous end or won the toss (Article 14).
• Scenario 2: Only one team has boules left: This is a major advantage. That team receives 1 point for every boule they have left in their hand.
• Scenario 3: Neither team has boules left: The end is void. No points are awarded, and again the jack goes to the team that scored in the previous end or won the toss.

The Art of Measurement

Measuring is one of the most frequent sources of tension on the terrain. The official FIPJP rules (Articles 25-29) are very specific about how this should be handled.

Who Measures?

Under Article 26, measuring is the responsibility of the player who played the last boule or one of their teammates. The opponents always have the right to measure after them. An umpire can be consulted at any stage of the end, and their decision is final; while the umpire measures, players must stand at least 2 metres away.

Measurement Rules & Etiquette

• Instruments Only: Each team must carry appropriate measuring instruments (tape measure, folding rule, or pétanque calipers). Measuring with your feet is expressly forbidden (Article 26), and players who do it incur the penalties of Article 35. Hands or twigs are not appropriate instruments either.
• Don't Move the Boules: Under Article 28, if a player moves the jack or one of the contested boules while measuring, their team loses the point. Mark the positions of the jack and boules before you measure.
• The "Equidistant" Tie (Article 29): If the two closest boules belong to opposing teams and are exactly the same distance from the jack, the team that played the last boule plays again, then the other team, alternating until one team holds the point. If only one team still has boules, it plays them and scores one point for each boule closer than the nearest opposing boule. If neither team has boules left, the end is void and the jack goes to the team that scored the previous end or won the toss.

The "Fanny" Tradition

In pétanque culture, losing a game 13-0 is a special kind of humiliation known as "Fanny."

The Fanny is a social custom, not part of the FIPJP rules: a 13-0 win counts like any other win.

Nobody agrees on the true origin - at least half a dozen versions of the legend circulate. The most commonly cited traces back to a café in Grand-Lemps just before World War I, where a waitress named Fanny would let losers who hadn't scored a single point kiss her... though not on the cheek. Today, many pétanque clubs have a statue or painting of a bare-bottomed "Fanny."

If you lose 13-0, you are traditionally expected to:

1. Kiss the Fanny: Lean in and kiss the bottom of the statue.
2. Buy the Drinks: In modern social play, "Fanny pays for drinks" is the more common (and less embarrassing) rule.

How to Track Your Score

Staying focused on your technique is easier when you aren't trying to remember the score in your head.

1. Manual Scoreboards

Most professional terrains have fixed scoreboards with sliders or pegs. For personal use, many players carry a pocket score counter. These small, mechanical devices allow you to click or dial the score for each team.

2. Digital Apps

Phone apps can help as well:

• Score-keeping apps: Many simple counter apps let you enter each team's points after every end.
• Tape Measure Apps: Some apps use your phone's camera to estimate distances between boules. They can settle a friendly argument, but in competition only a proper measuring instrument counts.

Where to Buy: Measuring Tools & Score Counters

Since measuring with your feet is forbidden, and remembering the score in your head gets harder as the game wears on, a proper tool for each job pays for itself in the first close end.

Summary Checklist for Scoring

• Games are played to 13 points (leagues and qualifying heats may use 11).
• Only the team with the closest boule scores.
• You get 1 point for every boule closer than the opponent's best.
• If the jack goes dead and you have boules left but the opponent doesn't, you get points for your remaining boules.
• The most a team can score in one end is 3 points in singles and 6 in doubles or triples.
• Always use a proper tool for measuring; never use your feet!

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if a boule touches the jack?

This is called a "biberon" (baby bottle). It is the best possible position, but the boule can still be knocked away by the opponent.

Can I measure before the end of the round?

Yes! You can measure at any time during the round to determine which team is currently holding the point.

What if we both have boules at the exact same distance?

This is an equidistant tie (FIPJP Article 29). If both teams still have boules, the team that played the last boule plays again, then the teams alternate until one of them holds the point. If only one team has boules left, it plays them and scores one point for each boule closer than the nearest opposing boule. If neither team has boules left, the end is void.

Does a game always have to go to 13?

Under FIPJP rules, games are played to 13 points, although leagues and qualifying heats may be played to 11 (Article 5). Some competitions are also played with a time limit, always on marked lanes. How a timed game is decided once time runs out (for example, how many extra ends are played) is set by each competition's own regulations, not by the FIPJP rulebook.