A scoreboard for any game
This score keeper replaces the notepad next to the game box. It works for card games, board games, word games, darts, quiz nights and sports in the backyard. Add 2 to 8 players or teams, give them names, and enter points as the game goes. The totals update at once, the player in the lead is highlighted, and every round is kept in a table you can download.
It does not know the rules of any particular game. You decide what a point is worth and when a round ends. That keeps it simple, and it means you can use it for house rules and games you made up yourself.
Entering points
- +1 and −1: for games scored one point at a time, like table tennis or a quiz. Each tap changes the current round of that player.
- Points field: type any whole number and press Add or Subtract, or press Enter to add. Use it for card games where a round is worth 25 or 140 points. Commas are allowed, so 1,000 works.
- End round: moves the current round into the table and starts the next one. A round with no points is not added. If your game has no rounds, you never need to press it; the totals include the open round.
- Undo: takes back the last change, step by step, including an ended round, a removed player or a new game.
Target score and who wins
Leave the target empty for open-ended games. Then the page only shows who is in the lead. With a target, the game ends as soon as any total reaches it or goes past it, and the page names the winner. Two settings decide who that is:
| Setting | Who leads | When a total reaches the target |
|---|---|---|
| Highest score wins | The highest total | The highest total wins |
| Lowest score wins | The lowest total | The lowest total wins; reaching the target ends the game |
Lowest score wins fits games where points are bad, such as golf strokes or penalty points in some card games. Equal totals share a place. If two players are tied at the end, the page says it is a tie and you can play a deciding round if your game has a rule for that.
A worked example
Three friends play a card game to 100 where low scores are good. They pick Lowest score wins and type 100 as the target. After round one, Ann has 12, Bo has 30 and Cy has 8. Cy leads. After four rounds the totals are 64, 101 and 70. Bo has reached the target, so the game is over, and Ann wins with the lowest total of 64. The table shows all four rounds, and Download CSV saves them for next time.
Big display and full screen
Press Big display to show the totals in large digits for everyone at the table. Name fields, the points fields and the remove buttons are hidden in this mode, while +1, −1 and End round stay. On browsers that support it, the scoreboard also goes full screen. Press the button again or Escape to leave. Where a browser does not let a page go full screen, the big display still works inside the browser window.
Saving and export
The game is saved in your browser's local storage after every change and comes back when you reopen the page on the same device and browser. A private window or clearing site data removes it. Download CSV saves a file for a spreadsheet app, with one row per round, the open round if it has points, and a total row. A name that starts with a sign such as = gets a leading apostrophe in the file, so a spreadsheet shows it as text and does not run it as a formula.
How to use the score keeper
- 1Type the players' names into the cards, or press Add player for up to 8. Set a target score and who wins, if your game has them.
- 2Enter points with +1, −1 or the points field. Press End round when the round is over.
- 3Watch the lead and the winner message. Use Undo for mistakes and Big display to show the scores to everyone.
- 4Download the rounds as CSV, then press New game to play again with the same players.
Related guides
- How to Pick a Random Winner Fairly: Draws People Trust
- Dice and Coin Probability: Odds for 2d6, Doubles and Streaks
- How to Make a Round Robin Schedule: Pairings and Timing
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep score for a round?
Tap +1 or −1 under a player, or type a number into their points field and press Add or Subtract. The points go into the current round, shown as "This round" under the total. When everyone has their points, press End round. The round moves into the table below and a new round starts.
Can the lowest score win?
Yes. Pick Lowest score wins for games such as golf or hearts, where points count against you. The lead and the places then go to the lowest total. With a target score set, the game ends when any player reaches the target, and the player with the lowest total wins.
What happens when someone reaches the target score?
The page shows the winner as soon as any total reaches the target or goes past it. With Highest score wins, the highest total wins; with Lowest score wins, the lowest total wins. Equal totals are a tie. You can keep playing after that, or press New game to start again with the same players.
I tapped the wrong player. How do I fix it?
Press Undo. It takes back the last change, one step at a time: points, an ended round, an added or removed player and a new game. You can also enter the opposite amount, for example Subtract 5 after adding 5 to the wrong player.
Is my scoreboard saved?
Yes, in this browser only. Names, rounds and settings are written to local storage after every change, so a reload or a closed tab keeps the game. Nothing is sent to a server. Download the CSV file if you want to keep the scores somewhere else.
How do I show the scores to the whole table?
Press Big display. The totals get large and the setup fields are hidden. Where your browser supports it, the scoreboard also fills the whole screen; press the button again or Escape to leave. On a phone in big display, the +1 and −1 buttons still work.