How to play the game of Jacks
Rules, directions and how to play jacks with a ball. Variations included.
Become a pro at Jacks or Better video poker game with this easy-to-follow strategy! Play online for free or for real money and beat the game even if you're a beginner. (California Jack has the unusual feature of keeping the stock pile face up.) Card Game Rules California Jack is a trick taking game played with four people. It uses a standard 52 playing card deck with Aces high and 2s low. The objective of California Jack is to get the most tricks. For more trick taking games, check out our guides for Pitch and Hearts. If you are looking for cards to play. Rules for Playing Jacks. The basic way to play the game of Jacks. You then throw the ball into the air pick up one jack then catch the ball after it bounces one time. Continue picking up the jacks one at a time. When you have collected all the jacks, throw them again and start picking the jacks up two at a time (twosies).
Teach your children how to play the fun game of Jacks with these great variations from the past. Remember Cherries in a Basket, or Over the Fence?
- Sit across from the other player, if playing with only one other person, or sit in a circle. If playing alone just to practice, sit wherever you like. Toss all ten jacks in front of you, within the circle or between you and the other player. Aim to keep the jacks fairly close to you, yet spread apart enough to.
- The game of jacks is a popular activity enjoyed by children. With many variations over the years, the game involves tossing small objects to be picked up in succession. The origins of the game are thought to be from Asia, although there have been many references in Greek and Roman mythology that describe games using stones or small bones.
What you need to play jacks
Set of jacks and ball. Smooth surface to play on.
Object of Jacks:Be the first to go from “onsies” to “tensies”
Set up the game: Begin by throwing your jacks onto the ground in front of you. Try and make the jacks land not too far apart or too close together.
Rules for Playing Jacks
The basic way to play the game of Jacks. You then throw the ball into the air … pick up one jack … then catch the ball after it bounces one time. Continue picking up the jacks one at a time. When you have collected all the jacks, throw them again and start picking the jacks up two at a time (twosies). When you get to threesies you have to pick up the three sets of three first, then pick up the left over jack. Continue on until you are at tensies. You can then declare the winner as the first one to tens, or go back down again to onesies.
Your turn continues until you either: miss the ball, fail to pick up the jacks, move a jack, or drop a jack that you have picked up. Your turn is then over and the next person goes.
Kissies
If after you throw the jacks and two (or more) jacks are touching you can either leave them, or pick up the jacks and drop them to spread them out.
Who goes first
Throw the jacks up in the air and trying to catch as many as possible with both hands together ( your palms have to be face down - thumb to thumb). Whoever catches the most jacks goes first.
Variations for the game of Jacks
Black Widow
You have to play from ones to tens without missing. If you miss then you have to start again at ones.
No bouncies
Go from one to tens without letting the ball bounce before you pick up the jacks.
Go from one to tens without letting the ball bounce before you pick up the jacks.
Double bouncies
Pick up the jacks and then catch the ball after it bounces twice.
Pick up the jacks and then catch the ball after it bounces twice.
Jacks Game Rules
Cherries in a basket
Cup your hand and throw the ball with the opposite hand. You have to then place the jacks in your cupped hand - one through tens.
Cup your hand and throw the ball with the opposite hand. You have to then place the jacks in your cupped hand - one through tens.
Pigs in a Pen
Place your hand slightly cupped on the ground with the side of your hand resting on the ground. Then throw the ball with the opposite hand and slide the jacks into the “pig pen” ones through tens.
Place your hand slightly cupped on the ground with the side of your hand resting on the ground. Then throw the ball with the opposite hand and slide the jacks into the “pig pen” ones through tens.
Over the fence
Place you hand on the ground straight and you have to place the jacks on the other side of the “fence” - ones through tens.
Place you hand on the ground straight and you have to place the jacks on the other side of the “fence” - ones through tens.
Around the world
After you throw the ball you have to make a circle in the air around the ball before it bounces - one to tens.
After you throw the ball you have to make a circle in the air around the ball before it bounces - one to tens.
High Low Jack Game Rules
Left handed
Switch the hand you normally throw the ball with.
Switch the hand you normally throw the ball with.
Rules Of Jacks Game
Whether called Iguni, Abhadho, Cincos Marias, or Huripapa, jacks is one of the oldest and most widespread games in the world. All jacks games share a strategy: toss a ball in the air and scoop up pieces before the ball bounces. In this game of skill, almost any collection of small objects will work—beans, rocks, stones, and even bones. Throughout history, kids in virtually every culture on the globe have sat cross-legged and played some version of the game. Cro-Magnon parents may have encouraged their children to play jacks on cave floors, to increase the eye-hand coordination vital to later success at hunting. Kids in ancient Egypt played “knucklebones” with sheep toe bones. The game of knucklebones led to dice games for boys, and jacks, usually played with a wooden ball, for girls. In modern times, kids followed a bouncing rubber ball. The game inspired popular children’s songs such as “This Old Man” (he played one, he played two, and so on). Classic American versions of jacks include Eggs in the Basket, Pigs in the Pen, Jacks on the Rooftop, Five Finger, and Challenge.