There is current debate as to whether the sport was created in Ohio or Maryland The game was first described in Heyliger de Windt's 1883 patent for "Parlor Quoits", which displays most of the features of modern cornhole, but uses a square hole.

[1] Quoits is a game similar to horseshoes, played by throwing steel rings at a metal spike.

He sold the rights to the game to a Massachusetts toy manufacturer which marketed a version of it under the name "Faba Baga".

[2] Unlike modern cornhole, which has one hole and one size of bags, a Faba Baga board had two different-sized holes, worth different point values, and provided each player with one extra-large bag per round, which could score double points.

In September 1974, Popular Mechanics magazine published an article written by Carolyn Farrell about a similar game called "bean-bag bull's-eye.

The game spread in Chicago, Illinois, and the Northwest region of Indiana in the late 1970s and early 1980s, perhaps due to the Popular Mechanics article mentioned above.

Cornhole as it is now known originated and gained popularity on Cincinnati's west side (near Ferguson Avenue) in the 1980s and spread to surrounding areas in Kentucky and Southeast Indiana.

[4] The American Cornhole Organization (ACO) was established in 2005 by Frank Geers and is headquartered in Milford, Ohio.

According to its website, "[o]ne of the most important ways to achieve this goal is for people to have high-quality equipment to play on.

"[7] Accordingly, the ACA is largely focused on selling cornhole-related products and equipment rather than acting as a sanctioning body of the sport; however, it does have its own rules and does sponsor events.

The American Cornhole League's rules call for double-seamed fabric bags measuring 6 by 6 inches (150 by 150 mm) and weighing 15.5 to 16.5 ounces (440 to 470 g).

[9] Although bags used to be filled with preserved corn kernels (hence "cornhole") or dried beans, the American Cornhole Organization developed bags filled with plastic resin or other materials that will maintain a consistent weight and shape over many throws without deforming.

Additionally, professional players may opt for different materials depending on their personal throwing styles.

The manner in which the bags are thrown depends on which format of cornhole is being played: singles (1 vs. 1), doubles (2 vs. 2), or crew (4 vs. 4).

After all eight bags are thrown, both players walk to the opposite board, while remaining in their lane, to tally the score.

The effect of this is that by always staying in their respective lane, the two players will alternate each inning throwing from the left vs. right pitcher's box.

Defensive strategies are often employed to slow down gameplay or force opponents to make difficult decisions.

Knowing when to utilize each shot is an important part of the game and can help aid players of all skill levels.

Players are world ranked by division, including Singles, Doubles, Womens, Seniors and Juniors.

[12] The American Cornhole League ranks their players based on points earned through local and regional tournaments.