How to Play Jacks Game - Rules, Directions and Instructions
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Learn How to Play the Game of Jacks - Rules, Instructions and More Fun!
If it has been awhile since you were a youngster, you may have forgotten the rules, directions and instructions for how to play jacks. If so, this article is just what you need.
Whether you are a novice, need to be reminded of some of the facts, or just want a stroll down memory lane, this is the place you want to be! After reading this article, you will know everything you need to know about how to play the game of jacks! You will learn the basic concept, what equipment is needed, the best places to play, the rules, directions and instructions for the simplest games, strategies and hints to improve your playing experience, the fun way to decide who goes first, what constitutes a foul, and many variations of the game of jacks.
Special Note: For parents, teachers, and therapists of children with Autism Spectrum or Sensory Processing Disorders, playing the game of jacks has been reputed to help in the development of fine motor skills. Included below is a highly-recommended book of games that can be an excellent resource for you.
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Undisputed Queen of Jacks!
Once upon a time in the "bootheel" of Missouri...
As a child, growing up in the "bootheel" of Missouri where sources of entertainment were scarce, I was the undisputed Queen of jacks in my circle. I have always been blessed with good hand-eye coordination and that is a big plus in the game of jacks. I am also a die-hard introvert, so I spent many hours happily playing by myself with my little jacks and ball set. Those hours definitely paid off when I played with others. In the game of jacks, practice is definitely a plus!The game of jacks is a truly unique activity that has withstood the test of time, entertaining children and adults alike for centuries. This old-fashioned game is regaining popularity again as parents seek ways to engage their children in more physical activities, especially those that are less expensive and more environmentally friendly than electronic gadgets. Many are turning back to the classic vintage retro toys and games of their own childhoods. The game of jacks requires little in the way of equipment, needs only a smooth, flat, level surface on which to play, and will keep all who play giggling for hours. It is a game that can be played alone or with several people in a group, and the rules, directions, and instructions can be learned quickly by even young children.
Many variations of the game of jacks have developed over the years (see below), but the basic rules, directions, instructions (or whatever you want to call them) are the same. For the most part, the traditional variations of the game of jacks differ only in the number of jacks used in the game.
The game of jacks is highly entertaining and physically beneficial for your children, so grab a jacks and ball set and let the fun begin!
Original Photo of Author's Granddaughter - ©guardianstar77, 2012 - All Rights Reserved
Table of Contents
Undisputed Queen of Jacks!
The Jacks Game Concept
Equipment Needed to Play Jacks Game
Gift Giving During Economic Crisis
Old Fashioned Jacks - Just the Right Size!
Different Types of Jacks
Ideal Surfaces for Jacks Games
Who Goes First When Playing Jacks?
Rules for the Simplest of the Jacks Games
Moving on Up! Next Come the Twosies
Hints for How to Play Jacks
Kisses aka Kissing Cousins
Fouling Out and Losing Your Turn
Have a Retro Party and Play Jacks
Variations of the Game of Jacks
Playing Jacks Is Still a Lot of Fun for the Family
Playing Jacks Around the World
Games and Activities for Autistic Children
Let Your Inner Child Speak Freely
Meet Guardianstar77 - The Professional Hermit Crab
The Jacks Game Concept
What is the object of the game of jacks?

Young Couple Playing Jacks Game on Table
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/divemasterking2000/4255860296/
Equipment Needed to Play Jacks Game
Skip that expensive coffee just ONE morning!
Equipment Needed for How to Play Jacks
Photo Courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/chefranden/69346580/
- You need a bouncy ball.
- You need some jacks.
Most jacks and ball come in a set consisting of one small bouncy ball and 10 jacks. This is the ideal number for all the most common games that are played with jacks. Some people choose to play with only 5 jacks as this makes the game faster and easier for younger children. Others prefer using 15 jacks. However, if smaller children are involved in the play, their little hands will not be able to hold all the jacks and catch the ball if more than 8 or 10 are used.
All jacks look similar to the ones in the picture. A jack resembles a six-pointed star, with rounded heads on the ends of four points with the remaining two left somewhat pointed. All jacks, however, are not created equal.
The metal ones (the only ones available when I was a child) can sometimes be a bit tough on the hands. Today, there are smaller jacks as well as larger-than-standard, colored, plastic, and even rubber jacks. I have always preferred the metal ones because they are heavier and seem to me to be easier to control. The choice is up to you. The good news is that they are inexpensive enough to just try two or more to see which you prefer.
WARNING! Both the small ball and the jacks are potential choking hazards for children under the age of 3 or 4 who may still put objects in their mouths. In addition, especially with metal jacks, they can hurt if stepped on. Consider purchasing a secure pouch or box to hold the jacks and ball when not in use or buy those that have a pouch or other container included.
Gift Giving During Economic Crisis
An Ideal Solution - Jacks!
A great Christian concept is that it is more blessed to give than to receive. However, in the current economic crisis, many of us are finding it harder and harder to afford the same level of gift giving. Jacks is an ideal choice to help with this issue. Children and parents alike will love your choice when you give jacks. Here are some of the reasons why:- Jacks, in themselves, are very inexpensive.
- They require virtually no storage space and create little clutter even when in use.
- All that is required are the jacks and ball. There are no additional purchases required as there always are with electronic toys, such as video games.
- Parents will never have to replace very expensive batteries to keep the toy "active".
- Most of all, the children will enjoy countless hours of fun-filled activity, reducing the need to buy even more toys to fill the children's entertainment needs.
Old Fashioned Jacks - Just the Right Size!
The jacks in this featured item are just like the ones I played with as a child. They are metal so remember the caution about putting them away so no one steps on them. The carrying pouch and a traditional red rubber ball are also included.
Read the testimonials in the item description below relating the experiences of other jacks players. Not only is jacks a great game, it also has medicinal and educational uses!
Metal Jacks and Rubber Ball Set
Amazon Price: $4.79 (as of 06/01/2012)![]()
In the product reviews for this item, I found a testimonial from a senior citizen who had suffered a head injury that affected her motor skills. She was so pleased to have found these particular jacks because they are just like the ones she played with as a child. She recommends jacks for "all types of neuro-muscular development".
A mother from New Jersey bought several of these to share with her son's after-school program, and a teacher in Madrid uses them to teach her students about American games!
Ideal Surfaces for Jacks Games
Ideal Floor for Playing Jacks Game
Photo Courtesy of PhotoRack
All flat, hard, smooth surfaces are acceptable as playing areas for jacks. The best surfaces are: hardwood, linoleum, finished concrete and tile. With tiled floors, be aware that some such floors have grooves that may interfere with the trajectory of the ball, making it more difficult to catch after it bounces.Outside surfaces such as decks and concrete sidewalks can also be used as a playing area. In the case of decks, care should be taken to assure that little fingers will not catch splinters. With concrete, the rough texture of the surface may cause irritation of the skin.
Any large table may also be used for the jacks game. If this is the chosen surface, play will go more smoothly when standing than when seated. This increases the amount of physical exertion required to play and, therefore, promotes better physical health. However, it will also exhaust the players more quickly, reducing the total playing time.
In summary, just about any hard, smooth, level surface will work for playing jacks. One just needs to be aware of the different effects each will have on the players, the ease of separating the jacks, and the trajectory of the ball.
Who Goes First When Playing Jacks?
© guardianstar77, 2012
Version 1: Each player in turn places his/her hands together in front of the body, with the palms facing downward, thumbs folded under, and index fingers fitted together. Another player will lay all the jacks onto the cradled hands. The player tosses all the jacks into the air, pulls one hand away, turns the other hand palm-side up and catches as many of the jacks as possible before they hit the floor. The player who catches the most jacks goes first.
Version 2: For this version of flipping, the player uses one or both hands to throw all of the jacks into the air and then immediately folds his/her hands as described above: palms down, thumbs under, and index fingers touching. Using the joined hands, the player catches as many of the jacks as possible without separating his/her hands. Players can presumably catch more jacks with both hands, but this variation is slightly more challenging since the hands must be positioned after the jacks have been thrown into the air. The player who catches the most jacks begins the game.
© guardianstar77, 2012
Flipping to see who goes first can be as much fun as the game itself since doing this is not as easy as it sounds and each version gets more complicated.
Of course, any number of other commonly used methods may be used to decide who goes first. Drawing straws, flipping coins, rock-paper-scissors, etc. are all perfectly acceptable ways to get the game off to a good start.
After the determination of who is to go first, play will proceed in a clockwise manner around the group.
Rules for the Simplest of the Jacks Games
Instructions for Playing Onesies
© guardianstar77, 2012
- Player #1 is Sierra.
- Sierra tosses all of the jacks onto the playing surface.
- She then tosses the ball into the air and picks up a single jack.
- Keeping the jack in her hand, Sierra catches the ball in the same hand after it has bounced once, but before it bounces a second time.
- Sierra lays the collected jack aside and repeats this process until all ten jacks have been collected.
- If all ten jacks are collected without "fouling out", Sierra will continue to her "twosies".
Caution! It can be quite stressful to beginners in the game of jacks if they are playing with much more advanced players. More skilled players can often play through several sets of jacks (onesies, twosies, threesies, etc.) before losing a turn. This may cause agitation among the less skilled who think they are never going to get to play. Remember, small children have short attention spans. If this situation exists among your children, it might be wise to make an upfront rule that play passes to the next player after the current player completes a set. For example, if Sierra collects all ten jacks in her onesies, she will pass the ball and jacks to the next player and wait until each has had a chance to play before beginning her twosies.
Always consider the age and skill level of players.
Fair play is fun play!
Hints for How to Play Jacks
Instructions that will help beginners.
Hint #1: It takes practice to learn how to throw the jacks onto the playing surface. It seems like a easy thing, but....
If jacks are thrown too softly, they may bunch together or even stack on top of each other. While this may be a good thing when you are in the upper sets, it is definitely not a good thing when you must pick up just one or two.If they are thrown too widely, it might be a good thing for the lower sets where jacks are picked up one at a time or in sets of two or three. However, it will definitely not be a good thing when the sets advance into the higher numbers. Scooping up ten jacks that are scattered all over the floor and catching the ball before it bounces more than once can be very difficult. Even with onesies and twosies, this can be a problem if the jacks are too widely spread.

Bouncing Ball: Modified image courtesy of iClipart
Hint #2: Practice throwing the ball. Sounds sort of silly, doesn't it? Everyone knows how to bounce a ball. However, bouncing a ball to just the right height to allow a player to catch it before it bounces a second time can be very difficult.
The higher the ball is thrown, the higher it will bounce after the first impact with the playing surface. This would seem like a good thing, right? Usually not. The longer the ball is in the air, the greater the possibility that it will veer off course, causing it to land somewhere you didn't think it would. After landing, that "off course" motion may make it impossible to catch the ball at all.The opposite of throwing the ball too hard, of course, is throwing it too softly. If the ball does not reach a great enough height, it will drop immediately back to the playing surface and not bounce very high after hitting. Too often this action allows the player insufficient time to collect the jacks before the ball bounces again.
Kisses aka Kissing Cousins
Not all kisses are so sweet.
As mentioned before, sometimes a player will throw the jacks in such a manner that they are bunched up or stacked on top of each other, making it very difficult to pick up the specified number of jacks without fouling out. Because of this, many people play by the kisses rule, otherwise known as Kissing Cousins.At the time the jacks are thrown, the player may call "kisses" and tap the jacks apart or pick them up and drop them again. The children with whom I played never allowed this as it was part of the great challenge to learn to throw the jacks in just the right manner. It also brought a high level of hilarity to the game as players watched one another trying to deal with those awful stacked or bunched jacks.
However, Kisses is an old, established rule of the game of jacks and may, therefore, be used with a perfectly clear conscience if desired.
Our group did have Kisses, but it was a variation of, not a maneuver in, the basic game.
Original Photo - ©guardianstar77, 2012 - All Rights Reserved
Fouling Out and Losing Your Turn
Rules are rules after all!

©guardianstar77 - 2012
I have mentioned fouling out several times. What constitutes fouling out and how does it affect the game?
A foul occurs when the player:
- fails to pick up the required number of jacks for the set
- drops one or more of the jacks
- does not catch the ball
- lets the ball bounce more than once
- either picks up the jacks or catches the ball with the hand not in play
- picks up the wrong number of jacks
- touches another jack while picking up a group
When a player commits any of the above fouls, that player's turn ends and play passes to the next person (clockwise). When play comes back around to the one who has fouled out, that player must begin again at the level on which they fouled. For example, if the player was doing twosies when the foul occurred, he/she must begin again with the twosies.
Variations of the Game of Jacks
Same objectives - different strategies and rules
http://www.flickr.com/photos/80522246@N00/441580330
There are lots of different ways to play jacks besides the simple, basic way described here. Although the basic concept of sets still applies (onesies, twosies, etc.), the variations are many and the rules are different. For some games, even the rules for fouling out are different.
Variations involve differences in the use of hands, manner of catching the ball, and movement of the jacks.
Some of the more common variations are:
- No Bounce
- Double Bounce
- Pigs in a Pen
- Eggs in a Basket
- Kisses
- Around the World
- Over the Fence
- Under the Arch
- Crack the Eggs
- Flying Dutchmen
- Poison Hand
- Opposite Hand
- Sweeps
- Jacks on a Rooftop
IT'S HERE! To find out about all the variations of the jacks games listed above, check out my new lens: Variations of the Game of Jacks - Rules, Instructions and Directions.
Moving on Up! Next Come the Twosies
Followed by Threesies and Foursies and....

For the simplest game of jacks, a set is completed when all ten jacks have been picked up without fouling out. As explained above, the first set is completed when a player has successfully picked up all ten jacks, one at a time.
The next set is twosies. In this set, play is exactly as before except the player must pick up the jacks two at a time and catch the ball before it bounces more than once.
Threesies are the same, with one small difference. With a set of 10 jacks, when 9 have been picked up in groups of three, there will be one jack remaining. The groups of three jacks may be picked up first and then the remaining jack collected. However, it is sometimes advantageous to pick up the remainder jack before picking up the groups. In this case, the player will call "cart before the horse". Doing so informs the other players that the intention is to pick up the single jack before picking up the groups of three.
This rule will apply during most sets, as the only numbers that divide evenly into ten are 1, 2, 5, and 10. For foursies, a player may call "cart before the horse" and pick up a group of two jacks before collecting the groups of four jacks. This rule may be applied during any set that will have remainder jacks.
Play continues with the number of jacks picked up increasing with each set played. So, we have foursies, fivesies, etc., all the way up to tensies, at which point the entire group of ten jacks must be picked up all at once and the ball caught before it bounces twice.
The first person to complete the tensies set is the winner of the game.
To continue play, the order of the sets may be reversed. In this case, the first player would collect tensies, then ninesies, etc. The first person to complete all sets, both up and down, wins the game.
Original Image - ©guardianstar77, 2012 - All Rights Reserved
Playing Jacks Around the World
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mckaysavage/2556188242/
Children from all over the world play the game of jacks. This sweet little girl from India is playing jackstones, one of the most widely known forms of the game. Jackstones is also known as 5-stones in some countries. The game is very similar to the traditional game of jacks, except the children use small, smooth stones, throwing a stone into the air to catch, rather than a ball. In a future lens, I will share more about the various games of jacks being played in other countries, the different materials used, and the differences in play.
Designing with the Stars
The 6-Pointed Kind Called JACKS

Original Graphic Designs - ©guardianstar77, 2012 - All Rights Reserved
Games and Activities for Autistic Children
For Parents and Teachers with Special Needs Children
Read the comment below from Ida Zelaya, who is the President of Sensory Street, Inc.
Early Intervention Games: Fun, Joyful Ways to Develop Social and Motor Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum or Sensory Processing Disorders
Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 06/01/2012)![]()
Ida Zelaya, President of Sensory Street, Inc. says: "Once again, Barbara Sher gifted us with a jam-packed collection of games for hours of purposeful fun, this time for children with social skills challenges. In this collection, each game is thoughtfully and lovingly designed to bring out the beautiful and often hidden side of our children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder).
Whether used at home, in the classroom, in the therapy clinic or at camp, these games offer adults wonderful ways to help these children overcome social obstacles and build confidence from a very early age.
"Early Intervention Games: Fun, Joyful Ways to Develop Social and Motor Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum or Sensory Processing Disorders" is a WINNER."
More Great Books about Children's Games and Raising a Healthy Child
See the Amazon selections in the side panel on the right.
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Let Your Inner Child Speak Freely

Do you have questions about how to play jacks or just need more information about some aspect of the game? Did you play some variation of the game that is not listed above? Were you a queen (or king) of the game of jacks? Do you bring out the jacks and ball set for family gatherings, holidays, after-school events, or other occasions? Share your thoughts, ideas, opinions, questions or comments with us. Inquiring minds want to know!
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Ale Morales
May 10, 2012 @ 6:05 pm | delete
- THANK YOU FOR ALL THIS INFORMATION! i loved to play jacks when I was a kid.
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getmoreinfo
May 9, 2012 @ 12:23 am | delete
- When I was young I had several jacks the metal ones and the colored plastic jacks, so much fun.
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Wyveta
Apr 16, 2012 @ 2:55 pm | delete
- I also grew up in the Missouri Bootheel playing jacks. What a joy to read this. I'm now teaching my grandchildren to play and searched for a list of the variations. Some of these are new to me. We also played double ups, where you pitched the ball up, grabbed the jacks, caught the ball before it bounced, then pitched it up again to let it bounce while transferring the jacks to the other hand.
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Big_Joe Apr 15, 2012 @ 1:24 pm | delete
- Very nice lens, I see how it won a purple star. Congrats and liked and blessed.
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Healda
Mar 26, 2012 @ 6:38 am | delete
- I would love to have this as a downloadable PDF!
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guardianstar77
Apr 13, 2012 @ 9:24 am | delete
- Healda, I'm sorry that I can't offer this information in your desired format. However, you can download an application called pdfRedirect that allows you to "print" to that program and it will create a PDF document for you. The application is free (open source) and is excellent. I use it all the time. So you could then just use the print button in your browser window and select pdfRedirect as your printer. Thanks for visiting my lens.
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shsucannonmom
Feb 8, 2012 @ 10:24 pm | delete
- I would like to see an explanation of each of the different "sets" Onsies etc I get. What were kisses other than two jacks touching when thrown? What was Around the World and Flying dutchmen? How are they executed?
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guardianstar77
Apr 13, 2012 @ 9:16 am | delete
- You will find the answers to your questions in my lens called Variations of the Game of Jacks. See the link above.
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MarisaAngelis
Jan 27, 2012 @ 1:37 pm | delete
- I enjoyed this lens because it well explained the game and you went further to help people realise the importance of playing a recreational game other than 'electronics'. Your lens was informative beyond the game and the layout of the lens makes for clear understanding! Best wishes :)
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guardianstar77
Apr 13, 2012 @ 9:17 am | delete
- Thank you, Marisa. I am so glad you enjoyed it.
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Meet the Author of How to Play Jacks

guardianstar77 is a writer, graphics design artist, nature enthusiast and lover of everything that resembles a horse. She lives in Central Arkansas and shares her life with a husband of over 40 years, 2 sons, and 5 fabulous grandchildren. guardianstar77 is not domesticated, finding that spending time doing almost anything else beats doing housework. Her passions include recycling, frugal living, feeding the hungry, old-fashioned vintage everything, nature, reading, writing, flea markets and yard sales, Christmas, mystical creatures, carousels, and artwork filled with glorious earthy colors.
guardianstar77 is a devout Christian, a staunch conservative, a passionate American, and a defender of capitalism. Although she is, by her own definition, somewhat of a "professional hermit crab", guardianstar77 is deeply loyal to her family and those she chooses to have as friends. When not pursuing writing and artistic goals, she spends her time deepening those relationships.
Being born in the state of Missouri and having recently discovered a passion for the Missouri state animal— the mule—guardianstar77 developed yet another persona—that of a mule, specifically a Missouri Mule .
guardianstar77 is a long-standing member of Squidoo, and she shares her royalties with many Squidoo charities. View all my lenses!
Retro Parenting - New Ideas about Raising Children
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Outdoor Fun for Kids Equals Exercise!
by guardianstar77
As a former "Queen of Jacks", I am sharing with you all the rules, directions and instructions for how to play the game of jacks!
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