Rules variations
(Note: See Glossary below for explanation of named pins)
Front pin first
In this variant of the game, pins are counted only if the front pin is knocked over first. If the front pin is missed, any pins that are knocked over are not reset. In Devon Summer League, this rule is played frequently. In Bristol, this is the form of the game played and "all in" skittles tends to be looked down upon as involving less skill. In Worcestershire, this type of game is also known as King Pin.
Nomination
In this variant of the game, the player has to nominate the pin that will be hit first before the throw. Unless this pin is knocked over, the player will not score. The names given to the pins may vary from region to region; in Wiltshire they are usually referred to as "front pin", "front right quarter", "front left quarter", "outside right" (or "right winger"), "centre pin", "outside left" (or "left winger"), "back right quarter", "back left quarter", and "back pin".
Four-pins
In this variant of the game, only four pins (the two coppers and the front and back pins) are put up and must be hit with the front pin first. It is often used in conjunction with nomination as well. It is currently used in North Somerset Cup games.
London Bridge
A variant of nomination but with only the landlord and two coppers set up, i.e. one has to hit a pin with each ball and nominate which one each time.
Killer, Coffins, or German skittles
A game for any number of people. Each starts with three lives. Each bowls only one ball at a time. The first bowls at a full frame and the skittles are not stuck up until all nine are hit down. Each time a player fails to hit at least one pin, they lose a life. The winner is the last one left with a life intact. Usually played for small amounts of money, the winner takes the combined player entry fees (typically £1 or 50p per game each). It is found in the Wiltshire, Somerset, and Bristol areas. Players might claim a "tactical miss" when they have multiple lives remaining and fail to hit the only pin still standing. This is to avoid giving the following player a full frame.
Six-ball Westbury
Another game for any number of people. Each player has one hand of six balls at a full frame. If all nine pins are knocked down within the hand, then they are reset, meaning that a player may score anywhere between 0 and 54. The winner is the player with the highest score. It is similar to killer in that it is usually played for money with the winner taking the pot.
London Skittles
London Skittles games are usually played over seven ends (legs). Competition matches are usually played over twenty-one ends. Games are played one-against-one, a chalk (a point) being scored by knocking all the pins over in fewer throws than one's opponent. It is assumed that a player can get a single pin, so any standing pins each count as an extra throw. If the pins aren't all down in four throws, five is scored. The order of play alternates - player A sets for player B then player B sets for player A and so on.
Twenty ones
This is played for money at the end of an evening of London Skittles. Players have one throw per turn and score the number of pins knocked down. The winner is the first player to reach exactly twenty one. If a player goes bust, their score goes back to twelve.
