Divide into two teams.
If 3 players: play against 3 players and each player uses 2 boules.
If 2 players: play against 2 players or 1 player plays against 1 and each player uses 3 boules.
If you have an uneven number of players in each team, each team should have the same number of boules.
Mark out a circle no more than 50cm in diameter.
Toss a coin to decide which team is first to throw the jack and which team is to throw the first boule.
Throw the jack 6-10 metres away from the circle.
Players stand within the circle to throw their boules and remain within the circle until the boule lands. The aim is to get your boule as close to the jack as possible. This can include hitting an opponent’s boule out of the way.
The team with the boule closest to the jack wins the round (called an end) and scores 1 point. They also score 1 point for each boule that’s closer to the jack than their opponents’ closest boule.
The first boule is thrown by a player belonging to the team that has won the draw or has been the last to score. After that, it is the team that does not hold the point that plays. The winner of the end (round) plays first in the next game/end starting from the jack’s finishing position in the previous end.
Games are usually played to 13 points.
The official rules are available here.
If you are interested in joining the Preston Park pétanque group, please contact prestonparkpetanque@gmail.com