Pens

A penalty shootout against a real person. Pick your spot, pick your dive. Five each, then sudden death.

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How to play Pens

A penalty shootout against a real person. Five kicks each, then sudden death. When you're taking, pick one of six spots and how hard to hit it. When you're in goal, pick where to dive. You both choose in secret and you've got eight seconds.

Placed, firm or blast

A placed penalty almost never misses the target, but if the keeper guesses right he saves it. A blast beats the keeper more often even when he goes the right way, but it can fly over or wide, most of all when you go high. Firm sits in between. Down the middle is safe from a keeper who dives, and a gift to one who stays.

Playing a mate

Tap Play a mate and send the link. The shootout starts when they open it. Or tap Quick match to be paired with whoever else is waiting. If nobody turns up in 20 seconds you play the house keeper, and the page tells you so.

Can the other player see my pick?

No. Your phone sends a locked version of your pick first, and only sends the pick itself once both players have locked in. Neither side can change their mind or peek.

What happens if my opponent leaves?

If they drop out for more than 15 seconds, the house keeper finishes the shootout in their place so you still get a result.

Do I need an account to play Pens?

No. Pick a name and play. Your win and loss record is kept on your device.

All Kickabout games:
Charge Sheet · The Heatmap · Target Man · 38-0 Daily · 7-0 Daily · Higher or Lower Daily · Career Path Daily · One-Two · Teammate Chain · Missing XI · Guess the Goal · Top Tens · Top Bins · Pens · Fee or Not · The Imposter · Rarest Answer · Kit Clash · Bonus Round · Ballon d'Or 2026 · Football Grid · WikiFootballer · Football Connections · Football 501 · Higher or Lower · Career Path · 38-0 · World Cup 7-0 · 38-0 Multiplayer · Bonus Round · Hints and answers
Guides: Football Wordle · Best football quiz sites · Games like Wordle · Games like Who Are Ya? · Games like 38-0 · Today's hints
Player photos: Wikimedia Commons, see credits