In 2003, Chris Moneymaker shocked the world and won the coveted World Series of Poker when he bought his way into the tournament via a $40 satellite tournament on an online poker website. Although the game was popular among certain circles, that is what put it on the map for the general public. Quickly the sport took off and soon enough you noticed poker tables in every superstore and just about every poker event was televised on ESPN or GSN. It looks as if another game, previously know to few, is about to make its breakout. The cornhole game has exploded from its modest roots in Illinois and Ohio and continues to gain speed year after year.

The cornhole bags themselves are something that many players will purchase. While most people can muster up the skills to construct a set of boxes, they don't have the patience or desire to learn how to make cornhole bags. You need a sewing machine and some know how to put them together. Plus, unlike a set of cornhole boards, the bags do go through quite a bit of wear and tear and if you don't know what you are doing, they can break after just a little bit of play . That is the main reason people opt to puchase their cornhole bags from a retailer online, they are reasonably priced and they hold up well. This eventually saves them money in the long run

Most players that have some carpentry skills, will build their own set of bean bag boards. Since the boards are bulky, it might be a little pricey to try to have them shipped across the country. Since the boards measure 4 feet by 2 feet, they tend to cost a bit to have them shipped. So, a lot of people will have one of their handy friends construct a set of boards for their own play. There are a lot of places to get the directions, you can either find them on the internet or you can borrow a friend's boards and take their measurements. The directions are easy enough to where anyone with some basic skills can construct a set. This will save you the expense of having them sent to you, but you'll make up for it with your time. For people that live in an urban environment, don't feel like making the boards, or if they live in an apartment or something, they find that just purchasing the boards and paying the shipping is a whole lot more convienient.

Where did the sport come from? Where did this wildly popular sport come from? There are a few theories out there ranging from a farmer in Germany that invented the game in the 14th century to a group of farmers in Illinois that came up with the game when they had some leftover corn. Over the past few decades, though, the game has remained something that is played here and there with no real concentration in any areas outside of the midwest states. Up until recently, if you wanted your own cornhole sets, you had to make it yourself . Now even the big box stores are starting to carry their own watered down version of the game. A popular choice for people that purchase the product is to go direct and purchase either from someone locally or from an internet site that will make the boards according to the proper specifications.

The game is easy and when you explain the rules to a newcomer, virtually everyone can think of a time or two in the past when they've been exposed to some variation of the game. The only equipment you need is a couple of cornhole boards and a set of 8 cornhole bags. The nice thing about the game is that it doesn't take anything special to play. The young can play on the same team as the old, the out of shape with the most sculpted athletes, and males can play against females. That is why the game is so popular for summer BBQ's and parties, just put all the names in a hat, draw out random teams, and then have a great time. Most of the time, you'd be surprised at who will end up winning.

The draw of the game probably comes from the simplicity of the game. People can play against whoever, no matter what the skill set, and you can have a competitive game. Will the game grow as fast as Texas Hold Em'? Well that remains to be seen. Online poker has really helped everyone practice their poker game anytime of the day, in any season of the year, and against a wide variety of players. But, cornhole has its own online version of the game. Some sites are now featuring virtual cornhole games so you can brush up during the winter. Who knows, we might see cornhole emerge as the next Olympic game!