How to Play Jacks

True classics never die, and this childhood game doesn't require much to keep it thriving: a little bouncy ball, at least 10 jacks, and a hard, level playing surface.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Jacks
• Small Rubber Balls

1. Sit on the ground (blacktop, sidewalk or floor) unless you're playing on a table, in which case standing is usually better than sitting on a chair.

2. 

   Toss the 10 jacks gently out onto the playing surface.

3. 

   Toss the ball into the air with your throwing hand.

4. While the ball is in the air, pick up 1 jack using only your throwing hand.

5. Catch the ball in your throwing hand before the ball hits the ground.

6. 

   Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5 until you've picked up all 10 jacks.

7. Toss the 10 jacks out onto the playing surface again.

8. Toss the ball into the air, and now pick up 2 jacks each time and catch the ball before it hits the ground.

9. 

   Continue tossing the ball, picking up jacks and catching the ball - increasing the number of jacks you pick up when the ball is in the air until you pick up all 10 at one time.

10. It's the other player's turn when you don't pick up the correct number of jacks or you miss the ball.

11. Begin where you left off when it's your turn again. If you were picking up 3 jacks at a time, toss the 10 jacks onto the playing surface and pick up 3 each time.

12. Declare a winner if you want to when you or your friend succeeds at 'onesies' through 'tensies' (1 jack through 10 jacks).

Tips & Warnings

• Another way to play is to bounce the ball on the playing surface rather than throw it in the air, and try to pick up as many jacks as you can before the ball bounces again.
• There are ways to make the game more difficult, such as not touching jacks you don't pick up and placing the jacks you do pick up in your other hand before catching the ball.
• Keep the jacks and ball away from small children and pets - the small pieces could cause choking.

[ksulz]

on 9/7/2009 Let's see: We played "Eggs in the Basket" (cup the catch hand as a "basket" and as you scoop up the jack, place it in the basket); "Poison Hand" (one hand remains behind your back, outlawed from use; bounce the ball, pick up the jack, and catch the ball, all in the free hand. It gets harder because you keep the caught jacks in your free hand for each successive move); "No-Bounce" (toss the ball in the air, pick up the jack, and catch the ball before it bounces a first time); "Strike a Match" (bounce the ball, drag the jack across the concrete (NOT in the HOUSE) as if you were striking a wooden match, and catch the ball before the second bounce); "Around the World" (bounce the ball, pick up the jack, circle the ball, and catch the ball before the second bounce). I KNOW we played more, but I can't think of them!
13 minutes ago · Delete

[jaxbug]

on 7/30/2009 When I was about 8 or 9 my girlfiend and I would play jacks on her front porch in Norfolk VA, for hours. When we moved to Florida I thought my Jacks were gone forever until my parents passed away and were we cleaning out the garage. My Dad saved my original Jacks and rubber ball in the box I stored them in. I now have my Jacks, which are now 50 years old. They are stored in my cedar chest.

[weisl]

on 7/16/2009 Does anyone know all the other "jack" games? Like, chicken in the coop or over the fence, etc. and how to play them. I guess chicken in the coop and pigs in the pen are the same where you scoot the jacks into a hand that has made a cave and you do this from 1 to 10 jacks at a time. Thanks! Nice to know we can still relive the past.

[sinceren]

on 12/15/2008 I do not have a comment but I have a question I played jacks as a child and was very happy to play it on the computer as an adult. My old computer was destroyed years ago and I lost all my games. Could anyone tell me how I can get it back on my computer? I would be very grateful.

[camplouiseluvr]

on 9/30/2008 we play Jack be nimble by ptting all ten jacks in a horizontal line it requires 4 throws
1. you say, "Jack be nimble" while tapping the side of the line closest to you with your finger
2. you say, "jack be quick" while tapping the other side of the line
3. you say, "jack jump over" while touching both sides, one after another
4. then you say, "candlestick" while sweeping up the whole line of jacks