Shove Groat / Shove Ha'penny

Shove Groat is an early form of a popular game still played in English pubs today. The name is derived by the coins used in play -- the old English four pence coin, popularly called a “groat.” The later form of the game, which used an English Half Penny, would come to be known as Shove Ha'penny.

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Shove Ha'penny is a game for two players, or two teams, who take turns. To start, you place one of your coins on the edge of the board. Then you shove it forward, using one hand only. You can strike with your palm, the heel of your hand, the side of your fingers... the only thing you’re not allowed to do is flick. 

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The goal is to get the coin to stop between any of the two lines, called a bed. If the coin is touching the line, or if it hangs over a sideline, it doesn’t count. If it’s completely inside the bed, you score a point. You are allowed to shove coins into other coins to try bump them forward into a scoring position. Coins can also bounce off the backstop into play. 

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One popular theory around the origin of Shove Groat is that it started as an impromptu game among the aristocracy... after a lavish meal, the dining table would be cleared of dishes, and the assembled Lords would take turns sliding a coin down the long and narrow tabletop to see who could come closest to the edge without falling off. However, it’s also possible that Shove Groat began as a simple betting game between drinkers at the local pub.

It is said that King Henry the 8th was fond of playing a variant of Shove Groat called Shove-board or Shovel-board. The Royal Privy Expenses of 1532 records that in one night, he lost a total of £54 to Lord William playing Shovel-board. For reference, that would be nearly 54,000 pounds today, or more than $70,000 US. 

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It's good to be the king! Watch the videos below to see more details and how to build your own board. 

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