Pegs and Jokers Board Game

THE BOARD: We discovered this fast moving game while camping. We played with friends at the campground and had so much fun, we decided to invest in our own game board. They directed us to the wood craftsman who provided us with an eight board game, colorful pegs, rules (which vary with every player it seems..lol), and a cloth bag to hold everything. We eventually gave games to family members for Christmas. It has become a family favorite for sure.

This game, so far, has not been commercialized, so you cannot find the game boards in retail stores. The boards are handmade of wood or even corian. Check the eBay module to discover who is selling the boards.

Games are played with four to eight players, so set up one board per each player. The boards are held together with pegs in a hole at each corner, or rubber bands, or even magnets. It's easy to add the boards to add more players. They break down to easily store in a camper or your home's storage areas.

Five pegs of one color are placed in the Home area on the board. One deck of cards per couple PLUS an extra deck, so four players would play with three decks of cards. Cards are shuffled, then the dealer deals five cards to each player. The deck is placed in the middle of the of the boards.

First, I want you to know that every part of the USA and Canada play a little differently. I will give you the rules we play with, but they are not set in stone. Just be sure to establish the rules before you begin to play, if possible.

The object of the game: Get all five pegs from Home to the Safe area by going clockwise around the board.

Decide if you are playing in teams of two or three or individually. I will give you team play rules since that is the preferred way of playing.

Draw the top card from the deck before you play. That way you will have six cards to choose from instead of five. (Variation: Draw after you play.) Place the card you are playing face up in front of you, then move your peg(s),

First play begins by using a King, Queen, Jack or Ace to move a peg from any of the five HOME positions to the COME OUT position. Your next turn will allow you to move the peg either forward (clockwise) or backward (counter-clockwise):

Ace moves forward one hole
2 moves forward two holes
3 moves forward three holes
4 moves forward four holes
5 moves forward five holes
6 moves forward six holes
7 moves forward seven holes, but can be split between two pegs e.g. move one peg three holes and the second peg four holes
8 moves BACKWARD eight holes--no backing into SAFE area
9 moves forward nine holes
10 moves forward ten holes
Jack moves forward ten hole
Queen moves forward ten holes
King moves forward ten holes

Joker is a wild card and replaces any other peg in play with your own peg. If you replace your partner's peg, he goes to his IN SPOT (hole on the board in front of SAFE area.). If you replace an opponent's peg, he returns to his HOME position.

Anytime, your peg lands on your partner's peg, you send him to his IN SPOT.
If your peg lands on your opponent's peg, he goes back to his HOME position.

Once a peg is in the SAFE position, it is safe and cannot be removed.
You cannot back into the SAFE position.
When entering the SAFE position, if your only move is for more holes in the SAFE position than you need, you cannot enter the SAFE position, e.g. you need a 5 card to get all the way in, so you could play an Ace, 2, 3, 4, or 5, but not 6 or more. Just discard a card for that turn. (Some players rules require the peg to go on beyond the IN hole and start another trip around the board. This lengthens the game but does change strategy.)
You cannot pass, or land on, your own peg. This is true even when you are in the SAFE position. Variation: Playing an 8 allows you to backup over your own peg.
You must move if you have a play.
You must use the full count of the card played; i.e. a four card requires four moves, even into the SAFE position.
Each player must play his own pegs until all five pegs are in the SAFE position. Then he can help his teammates. When playing with four to six players, you will help the teammate player to your left, if he still has playable pegs. Once all of his five pegs are in his SAFE position, then you can help the remaining teammate.

Hints for good play: avoid, if possible, positioning your peg....... 1) at any of the corners 2)in the opponents COME OUT spot 3)in the opponents IN SPOT

These variations add a lot of fun and even more challenges to experienced players. Choose one or all of them to change up the many strategies in this game.

2 is WILD. Swap places with your peg. Can be used anytime on the board. Before game play starts, establish if the 2 can also be used to move 2 holes.

9 moves ahead OR splits forward then backward with two pegs e.g.move four holes ahead with one peg and five holes backward with second peg--

If you can't get into the SAFE area and have no other moves, then the peg must be moved past the IN hole and travel around the board again.

Jack moves 11, Queen moves 12, King moves 13

Three Card Game: Instead of five cards, deal only three. Draw AFTER you play. Partners help each other ALL the time working together to get each other in SAFE position. This is a lively version of the game and keeps you on your toes.