Comments on: How to Play Jacks

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

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.

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?

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

on 9/26/2006 From onesie to tensie as you pick up each jack or set you knock the floor: for scratches you pick up each jack or set and scratch the floor with your pointer finger on the pick up hand.

on 8/8/2006 We always played the second time through as double bounce. So each time you let the ball bounce 2 times before catching. The third round was cherries in a basket. First time you throw the ball and pick up the required number of jacks with one bounce. Without using your other hand (you keep the jacks in your hand with your fist closed as you catch the ball on your mostly closed hand, actually on your tips of your fingers and your nails), you toss the ball up a second time and transfer the jacks into your other hand before catching the ball after a bounce.

on 8/8/2006 There was also short pigs, where on the first throw of the ball you sweep the jack halfway to the pen and then on the second throw you sweep the jack into the pen. I also remember Stars; From onesies to tensies you pick up a jack catch the ball then with only your right hand you manuveur your jacks to the tip of your fingers with the ball in the palm of your hand then you throw up both the jack/jacks and the ball into the air catching the jacks with your left hand and the ball with the right.

on 6/30/2006 My mom taught me to play jacks the way she did with her best friend when they were young girls. There were multiple rounds:
1) Commons -- bounce the ball once as you pick up the required number.
2) Eggs
3) Ups -- throw the ball up and don't let it bounce while picking up the jacks.
4) Downs -- push the ball down from your down-turned hand and let it bounce while picking up jacks.
5) Double ups -- same as 3, but throw up the ball a second time and catch it.
6) Double downs -- same as 4, but push ball down a second time.
7) Cherries
8) Keys
I can't remember which was which, but there was one where you pick up the jacks as in commons, then throw the jacks up and catch them on the back of your hand and back again. Another one was sliding the jacks into your opposite hand which was on the floor making a little door between thumb and forefinger.

on 11/22/2005 Toss your jacks. Place your non-throwing hand or your arm next to your playing surface. With your ball throwing hand, toss the ball. While the ball is in the air, place one jack over the fence (or in this case your hand), and catch the ball after one bounce. Continue through tensies. You can re-toss the jacks to separate them and bring them back over the fence onesies through tensies.

on 11/22/2005 Throw the jacks as the usual; 1 through tensies. Throw the ball into the air, pick up a jack and circle your hand around the ball before your put the jack into your hand and catch the ball before it bounces. Do this with each jack all the way through the tensies. To make this harder try to do it without touching other jacks while picking up your set.

on 11/22/2005 With the game Airplanes, the ball is tossed up and caught before it bounces.

on 11/22/2005 Another variation on regular jacks is played like regular jacks except that you put each jack into your other hand, held in the air, as you pick it up after throwing the ball. Continue with 2 jacks at a time and so on through tensies.

on 11/22/2005 After you've finished regular jacks 1-10, you can go on to variations, one of which is Pigs in a poke. Throw the jacks as usual for onesies, twosies, etc. Throw the ball up, position your hand in a C-shape on the ground next to the jacks, with the little-finger side down, and scoop one jack into your hand. Keep your hand stationery, throw the ball again, scoop one more jack into your hand. Continue for onesies to scoop one jack for each throw of the ball, for twosies, scoop 2 at a time, and so forth to tensies. You're out if you miss the hand with your jack, as well as if you bump the wrong jack.

on 11/22/2005 This may seem dumb, but this actually works most of the time. It's easy to pick up the jacks and take all the jacks in your hands. For example, we'll say you're on twosies. Take 2 jacks and hold them inbetween your index finger and your middle finger. Then throw all the jacks down. This will work.

on 11/22/2005 When you're on onesies, you want the jacks to be far apart, so throw them so that they're scattered. But, when you're on a higher number, you want the jacks to be clumped together, so throw with less force.