About Jacks

Game Rules

• The game of jacks has many variations, but some parts remain the same over very long periods. By far, the aspect of the game providing the most continuity is the tossing of small objects to be picked up in succession.

  Game rules are quite simple and require 10 jacks (sets might also include five, 12 or more metal jacks) and a rubber ball. A flat surface is required for game play. A player tosses the jacks to scatter the pieces on the ground. Each player must pick up the jacks with one hand, beginning with one at a time, in succession with one bounce of the ball.

Winning and Strategy

• The winner of the game is the player who picks up the most jacks in succession without letting the ball hit the floor (or bounce more than once). Strategy does enter into jack game play. When scattering the jacks, players need to space the pieces evenly to allow for easy pickup. If tossed too far apart, the player can't pick them up fast enough before the ball hits. If spaced too closely or on top of each other, it's just as difficult to pick up one at a time.

Variations in Game Play

• One variation of the game allows players to pick up jacks with no bounces of the ball. Players work their way up by picking up one jack on up to 10. Then, they go backwards in succession. The winner is the player to pick up the most jacks in succession while still catching the ball.

  Variations abound in the game of jacks--as do the ways for determining who takes the first turn. Flipping, a common way for deciding who goes first, involves holding all of the jacks in your hands and tossing them into the air while flipping your hands over to catch the jacks on the backs of your hands. Whoever catches the most jacks goes first.

History

• It's hard to believe that the Romans and Egyptians played the game of jacks. Children in these ancient times needed to entertain themselves with whatever objects they had available. They frequently used sheep knucklebones as their playing stones.

  The game was typically called fivestones. As the name states, children used five knucklebones instead of the typical 10 jacks used for play now. The name "jacks" comes from the word "chackstones," which means stones to be tossed.

  Children also used smaller objects such as beans or stones to play the game, while tossing a larger stone into the air to catch. Wooden balls were used in the 19th century.

Size

• Jacks tend to be roughly between 1/2 inch and 1 inch in size. These small, metal, six-pointed stars come in sets of five, 10 or more--with a rubber ball. Some sets are made of plastic. Larger jacks sets are also available for younger children to aid them in playing the game by picking up bigger pieces.