If successful (the cap cannot touch a line), the player continues by flicking for the next number - and so on in the sequence: '2', '3', '4' etc., up to '12'. The object is to land it in the box labeled '1'. On hands and knees, each player begins by placing his cap on the start line, and flicks a cap using the middle or index finger launched from behind the thumb. Some players took extreme pride in customizing their playing pieces. Caps were typically soft drink bottle caps. Many players use clay, wax, and most commonly crayons melted into the bottle cap (these having been referred to as 'melties'), even a coin covered with tar or a bottle cap filled with tar that was dug from the streets to weigh down their caps for easier gliding. Players use caps-usually bottle caps, or similar items like checkers, or chair glides-to play. There were no numbered squares in the corners of the board and the box labeled '1' is below the main area, with an attached 'start' oval. Lines connect the corners of the central square with the 10 in a middle circle. The game board goes up to 10 which is in a small circle in the middle of the MUD. In some layouts, the central area is labeled 'MUD' or 'BURNS' if your bottle-cap lands in the MUD you lose 3 turns. If a bottlecap lands in the 'mud' area, the player loses 3 turns. Skully Game Board From New Rochelle, NY circa 1963. Earlier versions of the board had only 9 boxes, and boards used in the similar games like deadbox (played mainly in Philadelphia) have upwards of 15 boxes. The dimensions of the skully board can vary depending upon physical restrictions and neighborhood game play practices. The areas around the 13 box are marked with skulls or numbers, and describe a penalty area where players are not meant to shoot their game pieces, called caps.ДЄ short distance from the '1' box is found a start line approximately six inches long. In the center of the skull, a 13th box is drawn at the same size as the other boxes and is labeled '13'. Boxes '1' and '2' are in opposite corners of the board, as are '3' and '4'. These boxes are labeled '1' to '12' in a pattern so that the path from one square to the next requires-as much as possible-crossing through a large center square called the skull or skully (hence the name of the game). This board is drawn on a flat surface, such as the pavement of a street or playground.ДЄt each corner and along the edges of the board are drawn 12 smaller squares, called boxes, of about six inches (15В cm) a side each (see diagram). The skully field of play, or board, is a large square approximately six feet (2В m) a side. Typical skully board as found in New York City

Games played on a court