Hardball Rules · baseball rules trivia
Hardball Rules
Know the rules. Own the game.
Hardball Rules is a free trivia game about baseball's rulebook and official scoring, played as a real nine-inning game. Every at-bat is a rules question: answer it right for a hit, wrong for an out. Play solo against the computer, challenge friends, join a league, or take the Daily Challenge, free in any web browser.
Works on phones, tablets and computers. iPhone and Android apps are in development.
How a game works
a sample game, scored in pencil1B easy question = single · 2B medium = double · 3B hard = triple · K wrong answer = out · E your opponent missed three in a row, so you reach on their error
- Every at-bat is a question on the rules of baseball or official scoring.
- Right answers are hits. The question's difficulty decides the hit: easy is a single, medium a double, hard a triple. Runners advance like real baseball.
- Wrong answers are outs. Three outs end your half-inning.
- Three wrong in a row is an error. Your opponent banks an error credit and can cash it later to reach base instead of making an out.
- Nine innings decide it. Score more runs than your opponent. Tied after nine, you play extra innings.
After every answer you see the ruling and a short explanation, so each game teaches the rulebook.
The lineup card
six ways to play| # | Mode | What happens | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Single player | Nine innings against the computer, any time. | Opponent: Computer · Length: 9 innings |
| 2 | Multiplayer | Challenge a friend or open a game anyone can join. Games are turn-based, with 7 days to take each turn. | Format: Turn-based · Turn limit: 7 days |
| 3 | Leagues | Create or join a league with a schedule, standings and playoffs, plus a chat for every league. | Includes: Standings · Postseason: Playoffs |
| 4 | Daily Challenge | The same 9 questions for everyone each day, one attempt, with a daily leaderboard and streak. | Questions: 9 · Resets: Midnight ET |
| 5 | Practice | Study by rule area with no timer, see the ruling right away, and replay the questions you missed. | Timer: None · Filter: 8 rule areas |
| 6 | Spectate | Watch other players' games live, at-bat by at-bat. | View: Live · Updates: Every at-bat |
Box score totals
The scorer's handbook
8 rule areas- Area 1Pitching
- Area 2Batting
- Area 3Baserunning
- Area 4Fielding
- Area 5Interference & obstruction
- Area 6Scoring
- Area 7Umpires & game management
- Area 8Field & equipment
The eight rule areas are pitching, batting, baserunning, fielding, interference and obstruction, scoring, umpires and game management, and field and equipment. Questions are checked against the Official Baseball Rules, and any player can flag a question they think is wrong. Your Rules Report Card shows your accuracy in each area.
Frequently asked questions
Scorer's notesWhat is Hardball Rules?
Hardball Rules is a baseball trivia game about the rulebook and official scoring. Every at-bat is a rules question: answer it right for a hit, wrong for an out, over a full nine-inning game.
Is Hardball Rules free?
Yes. Hardball Rules is free to play in any web browser at play.hardballrules.com. Sign up with a free account to play.
Is there an iPhone or Android app?
iPhone and Android apps are in development. Today you can play on any phone, tablet or computer in the browser at play.hardballrules.com.
How do hits work in Hardball Rules?
The question's difficulty decides the hit: an easy question is a single, a medium one a double and a hard one a triple. A wrong answer is an out, and three outs end the half-inning.
What happens if I miss three questions in a row?
Three wrong answers in a row is an error. Your opponent banks an error credit and can cash it on their next wrong answer to reach base instead of making an out.
Where do the questions come from?
There are 191 questions on the rules of the game and official scoring, in eight rule areas such as pitching, baserunning, interference and scoring. They are checked against the Official Baseball Rules, and players can flag any question they think is wrong.
Can I play against friends?
Yes. Challenge a friend or open a game anyone can join. Games are turn-based: each player has 7 days to take a turn. You can also join leagues with standings and playoffs.
What is the Daily Challenge?
The Daily Challenge is the same 9 rules questions for every player each day, with one attempt. It resets at midnight New York time and has its own daily leaderboard and streak.
Step into the box. Play ball.
Nine innings of baseball rules, free in your browser. Sign up with a free account to play.
Play Hardball Rules free