Mixed Doubles Curling Rules
Mixed doubles curling is a faster, more tactical version of curling played by two players per team. It keeps the familiar goal of regular curling: finish each end with your stones closer to the button than your opponent's closest stone. The difference is that every end starts with two stones already placed in play, and each team delivers only five stones.
The result is a game with pressure immediately. There is no slow opening where teams simply trade guards. Mixed doubles often begins with a center guard, a stone in the back of the four-foot, and both teams already thinking about freezes, taps, raises, and controlled hits.
Team Format
In official mixed doubles competition, each team has two players. Event rules define eligibility and team composition, but the playing format is the important part for learning the game:
- each team delivers five stones per end;
- one player throws the first and fifth stones for the team;
- the other player throws the second, third, and fourth stones;
- teams may change which player throws first from one end to the next;
- games are usually scheduled for eight ends.
Because only two people are on a team, both players are involved constantly. One player may be delivering, judging line, calling weight, or sweeping depending on the moment.
Positioned Stones
Before every end begins, two stones are placed at the playing end. These are called positioned stones, and they count in scoring just like delivered stones.
The normal setup uses two positions:
- Position A: a center-line guard in front of the house.
- Position B: a stone on the center line in the back of the four-foot circle.
The team with the stone in Position A delivers first in the end. The team with the stone in Position B has last stone advantage, often called hammer.
Position A can be set at one of three official center-guard distances: the midpoint between the hog line and the top of the house, 3 feet closer to the house, or 3 feet closer to the hog line. Position B is placed so the stone's back edge lines up with the back edge of the four-foot circle.
Who Chooses Placement
The placement decision changes the shape of the end. In official play, the first-end choice is tied to the Last Stone Draw. After that, the team that did not score usually gets the placement decision. If an end is blanked, the first-delivering team normally gets the next choice, with special handling for equal-measure blanks.
The practical idea is simple: the team choosing placement decides whether it wants to play the end with hammer or without hammer, and whether to use its power play.
Power Play
Once per game, each team may use a power play when it has the placement decision. Instead of the normal center setup, both positioned stones move to one side of the sheet.
In a power play:
- the in-house stone is placed to one side of the house;
- the guard is placed on the same side;
- the team still gets only one power play for the game;
- power plays cannot be used in extra ends.
Power plays are often used when a team needs to create offense. Moving the stones away from the center can open different angles and make it easier to build a multiple-point end.
Early Removal Rule
Mixed doubles protects stones early. Before the fourth delivered stone of an end, if a delivered stone causes any delivered or positioned stone to be moved out of play, the delivered stone is removed and the displaced stones are restored.
This rule keeps the early game from turning into a simple hitting contest. The opening stones are meant to stay in play long enough to create strategy.
Scoring
Scoring is the same as regular curling. Only one team scores in an end. The team with the closest stone to the button scores one point for each of its stones that is closer than the opponent's closest stone.
The positioned stones can count. A team can score with a stone it never delivered, as long as that positioned stone remains closer than every opponent stone after the end is complete.
Strategy
Mixed doubles rewards touch and patience. With fewer delivered stones, one missed draw or thin tap can swing the whole end.
Common ideas:
- freeze to the positioned stone in the back four-foot;
- use the center guard to bury shot stone;
- avoid removing stones too early;
- save the power play for a moment when a multiple score matters;
- with hammer, think about scoring two or more rather than settling for one.
Play Mixed Doubles Online
If you want to try the format without booking ice time, HogToHog includes mixed doubles as an online curling mode. Create a game, choose Mixed Doubles, and the game sets up the positioned stones before each end.
Before the first throw of an end, the placement team can choose the guard distance and optionally use a power play. The game then refreshes the sheet and lets the end play out with five delivered stones per team, scoring the positioned stones normally.
You can play mixed doubles in pass-and-play, online multiplayer, or against the available computer opponent modes when those are enabled for your account.