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.

[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

[kathysw6]

on 7/22/2008 After tensies, we had a whole written list of moves. I wish I had that list now. I know we had Pigs in a Pen, Around the Corner, Over the Fence, and many more. My friend and I would play on my front step for hours at a time, stopping only to open the screen door to hurry in to get more Koolaid or penny candy that we'd bought after riding our bicycles up the gravelly street to the little house/store in our neighborhood. We'd be playing jacks while the boys played kickball in the empty lot next door. It was fun being a kid back then.

[TraceyCat]

on 6/28/2007 There were two additional games we played in the 70's but I can't remember it all - 1. Sweep the parlor, the rhyme was (sweep the parlor, move the chair, pick it up and put it their) while the ball was in the air make a sweeping motion on the floor with your fingers and picking up a Jack (chair)move it to one side to create a pile. 2. was Jack be nimble (the rhyme was Jack be nimble, jack be quick,etc.)where you lined up the jacks in a horizontal row and then a vertical up the middle(candlestick) you had to jump the jacks over the "candlestick" but I know there were other moves to accomplish this, does anyone remember either of these?

[mamajeannie]

on 5/5/2007 isn't easier rather than harder if you put the jacks into the other hand? mama jeannie