Place the wooden board or surface on a stable table or another elevated area where all participants can comfortably reach.

The objective of the game is for each player to hammer their nail into the board using the fewest number of strikes.

Players take turns attempting to drive their nail into the board. The order of turns can be determined randomly or through some agreed-upon method.

Each player uses the hammer to strike their own nail. The nail must be driven into the wood until the head is flush with or below the surface. Players may choose to hammer their nail straight or at an angle, depending on their strategy.

The score is typically recorded based on the number of strikes it takes for each player to fully drive their nail into the board. The player with the fewest strikes (and thus the nail driven in the furthest) wins that round.

Depending on the group playing, variations can include adding obstacles or challenges (like blindfolding or using a smaller hammer) to increase difficulty and excitement.