Jacks Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Equipment
• Object of the Game
• Setting Up the Game
• Beginning Play
• Loopholes (Optional House Rules)
• Ending a Turn
  • Penalty (House Rule)
• Playing the Game
• Types of Rounds
  • Basic Round
  • Double Bounce
  • No Bounce
  • Two Handed
  • Cherries in a Basket or Eggs in a Basket
  • Crack the Eggs
  • Ups & Downs
  • Pigs in the Pen
  • Over the Fence
  • Sweeps
  • Scrubs
  • Thread the Needle
  • Catching Flies

Equipment

Exactly 10 jacks (metal ones are preferred), and a 1-inch diameter high-bounce ball. A smooth flat surface to play on, preferably on the floor.

Object of the Game

Be the first to complete a set going from "onesies" to "tensies". Move up a level by doing the next round. Be the first to finish 10 rounds!

Setting Up the Game

One person goes or plays at a time while the rest watch. Who goes first: Toss the jacks to back of hands and then toss into cupped hands. Whoever misses catching the most jacks goes last. Whoever doesn't drop any jacks goes first.

Beginning Play

Begin with "SCATTERS." Meaning scattering or throwing your jacks onto the ground in front of you. Try and make the jacks land not too far apart or too close together.

Loopholes (Optional House Rules)

The source presents these as loopholes, which are house rules or options rather than part of the basic rules.

• Kissies or Kissing Cousins: when jacks touch, pick up and re-drop just those jacks.
• Bread and Butter: Instead of picking up the odd jacks last, they can be picked up anytime as long as the player announces, "Bread and Butter". Foursies have 2 sets of 4 and one set of 2. The 2 jacks are considered "bread and butter", and must be picked up together.

Ending a Turn

Your turn continues until you Foul:

• Dropping a jack(s) or the ball.
• Grabbing the wrong number of jacks.
• Touching, bump, or moving other jacks is called TIPPING.
• Letting the ball hit another jack (or your body).
• Catching the ball at the wrong time.
• Catching the ball with both hands.
• Not catching the ball at all.
• Using the wrong hand to catch the ball or grab a jack(s).

Penalty (House Rule)

The source labels this a "House Rules" option, not a basic rule.

Not only do you lose your turn, but you must start at Onesies of the same round on your next turn. OR Your turn is then over and the next person goes. When it is your turn again, you begin at the round where you ended.

Playing the Game

Once you've mastered the Basics. Pick 10 rounds, always beginning with the Basic Round and end with 'Round the World.

Types of Rounds

REMEMBER: Before doing any of the steps you must "scatter" the jacks on the ground in front of yourself. Start off with Onesies and continue on with Twosies, Threesies, Foursies, etc.; all the way up to Tensies for each round.

Basic Round

The basic rules for Playing Jacks. Also known as Normal Round, One-Handed, or Single-Bounce. All other rounds are but mere variations and deviations. After "scattering" jacks on the floor and fixing any "kissies;" begin with "onesies!"

• Toss the ball (under-handed, or "upward") with the right hand. (unless you're left-handed. Then switch do everything with the opposite hand in these instructions)
• Now, grab a jack with the right hand, while allowing the ball to bounce once.
• Catch the ball with the right hand, while still holding onto the jack.
• Transfer the jack to the left hand, while still holding onto the ball with the right.
• ...Repeat the steps until all jacks are captured.

Continue on with Twosies: Same as Onesies, scatter jacks and repeat actions except now you must grab (and hold and transfer) 2 jacks at a time, ETC. Thru Tensies.

Double Bounce

Let ball bounce twice.

No Bounce

Self-explanatory.

Two Handed

This round can be easy but tricky. You use one hand (the left) to toss and catch the ball, while using the other hand (the right) to grab and hold the jacks. However, this round must be maintained in perfect sequence. Remember: you must grab the jack(s) after tossing the ball and before catching the ball. Executing two operations at the same time qualifies as a foul.

Cherries in a Basket or Eggs in a Basket

Cup one hand. Then after throwing ball with the other hand. You then place the jacks in your cupped hand - one through tens.

Crack the Eggs

Grab the jack(s) with the right hand, and then rap your right knuckles on the ground, while allowing the ball to bounce.

Ups & Downs

Toss the ball (upward) with the right hand. Now, grab the jack(s) with the right hand, while allowing the ball to bounce once. Catch the ball (with jacks in hand), using the right hand. Toss the ball again, (with jacks still in hand), using the right hand. Transfer the jack(s) to the left hand, while allowing the ball to bounce once again. Catch the ball with the right hand; captured jacks remain in the left.

Pigs in the Pen

Cup your left hand, with the side of your hand resting on the ground, forming a "cave" (or "pen"). Note: the pen must be to the left of the scattered jacks. Sweep or slide the jack(s) all the way inside the pen, while allowing the ball to bounce.

Over the Fence

Place your left hand upright against the ground, forming a "fence". Using the right hand, pick up the jack(s) and carry them over to the other side of the fence, while allowing the ball to bounce. Do not drop the jacks, you must place them!

Sweeps

"Sweep" the jacks(s). To sweep a jack, you quickly drag the jack all the way towards yourself with your fingertips. Like sweeping it towards yourself, with a broom.

Scrubs

"Scrub" the jacks(s). To scrub a jack, you pick up the jack(s) with your fingertips and scrub them gently back and forth on the ground. Like scrubbing with a scrub brush. Another way to scrub a jack(s) is to capture the needed jack(s) in the right-hand and scrub with the side of the hand that is holding the jack(s). Decide what you want for your House Rules.

Thread the Needle

Played by dropping the jack(s) through a circle made by the index finger and thumb of your other hand. Some players rest the hand on the ground, and others hold it about 5-10 inches off the ground.

Catching Flies

Played the same way as Basic round 1, but the ball must be caught using a quick downward snatching movement, instead of landing in the palm of your hand.

'Round the World

The source notes this tends to be the big finale, and so most games end with this round.

Grab the jack(s) with the right hand, while allowing the ball to bounce. Whirl your right fist in a large, circular motion around the ball, while it is still up in the air. (translation: "Make a circle around the ball"). Your fist should start and end at the bottom of the circle, in order to the catch the ball. Catch the ball with the right hand, while still holding onto the jack(s) before it bounces a second time.