My gosh but this brings back memories. While attending Holy Cross school, Church Avenue and Rogers Avenue, early 1940’s, we played this game. I remember when you cracked the other persons chestnut you became a “killer”. The purpose was to “kill” as many as you could, then you became the target of others who could claim all your kills if they broke your chestnut. I also remember getting wacked in the eye when I didn’t hold my chestnut out with my arm fully extended. When the chestnut was wacked it tended to swing vertically in an arc. Ouch.