What are conkers?
Conkers are the brown shiny seeds of a horse chestnut. In autumn, spiked husks containing the conker fall to the ground and get picked up by children eager to find a winning conker inside.
How to play conkers
Conkers is a game where conkers are hung on string and struck against each other. Played between two players, each player takes it in turn to strike their opponent's conker with their own. Points are then given on whether the conker survives. A winning conker is highly prized.
It’s not known where the word ‘conker’ comes from, but some theories point to the French cogner, meaning ‘to hit’.
When was conkers first played?
The first ever UK game was supposedly played on the Isle of Wight in 1848 and its popularity spread quickly after that.
Which conkers are the best?
Horse chestnut seeds ripen within their iconic spiky green casing, which splits, dropping the seeds to the ground when they are ready. The best ones to look out for are firm and symmetrical
– giving them the best advantage once you’ve drilled a hole in the middle and threaded through your string.
Apparently one way to tell if a conker is any good is to see whether it floats in water. If it does – bin it, as it likely has internal damage. Ways of strengthening conkers include soaking them in vinegar, baking them and even using nail varnish – though we at BBC Countryfile Magazine Towers think that may be cheating.
There’s also the World Conker Championships