Content

• Method 2 of 3: Traditional play
• Method 3 of 3: Game Variations
• Warnings

1 Collect the items you need. All you need is a small resilient ball and a set of jacks, which are made up of six-pointed metal pieces. The number of sockets depends on the type of game: for a simple game, you will need only five, while for a complex one, you will need up to 15 pieces.

• Jax's set, which includes a small ball, a set of jacks and a bag to store them, can be found at any toy store.
• The ancient form of Jax's game was called the grandma game, because the bones of sheep or goats were used instead of modern metal nests.

2 Play on a hard surface. To play Jax, you need a hard, flat, smooth surface so that the ball can safely bounce.

• If you are playing outside, a wooden porch or hard surface such as tarmac or sidewalk is great.
• If you are playing indoors, wood or linoleum flooring will also work.
• It is possible to play on the table, but it is better to stand than to sit, as this gives you more mobility.

3 Determine the number of participants. Jax can be played in a group, together or alone.

4 Decide who walks first. Here are some traditional ways of deciding who goes first:

• The most traditional way is to toss up the nests. Take the jacks in both palms and squeeze them. Then toss in the air and catch as many as you can. Next, mix the nests in the palm of your hand and toss again into the air. Catch as much as possible. The player who catches more jacks will go first.
• It will be easier to catch the nests if your fingers are slightly spread out.
• The toss can be done using only one hand.
• Use a simple method like rock-paper-scissors or a coin.

Method 2 of 3: Traditional play

1. 1 Scatter the nests over the surface. Throw them straight in front of you, but try to throw them not too close to each other, but not too far.
2. 2 Throw the ball into the air. Throw it straight and high enough to give you time to pick up the jacks, but not too hard to keep the ball within reach.
3. 3 Take one socket. Take it in your hand until the moment the ball bounces off.
4. 4 Let the ball bounce once. The ball can bounce once - if you have it bounced several times, then you missed your move.
5. 5 Take the ball until it bounces off again. Do this with the same hand that you used to take the nests.
   • The jacks should remain in your hand until you pick up the ball.
   • After grabbing the ball, move the jacks to your left hand. Continue shifting the jacks to your left hand.
6. 6 Continue to collect nests like this. Collect the nests one at a time. This first round is called the "initial" round.
7. 7 Continue to the next levels. Scatter the nests again and this time collect two nests. This level is called "second". Then pick up three nests, then four, five, and so on up to 10.
8. 8 After a failure, the turn goes to the next player.Once you make a mistake, the turn moves to the next player counterclockwise. There are many different errors:
   • Have missed the ball or hit it more than once
   • We did not find the required number of nests.
   • Found the wrong number of nests.
   • We picked up the nest that we had already taken.
   • Accidentally moved a nest to the playing field (this is called a "tip").
9. 9 Start where you left off.If you made a mistake, and your turn came up again, start the game where you finished before the mistake.
10. 10 Keep playing until you win. The winner can be the first person to complete the tenth level, or the first person to reach the 10th level and return to the first.

Method 3 of 3: Game Variations

1. 1 Play without bounce. Play the traditional way, but without the ball bounce: collect the jacks until the ball bounces.
2. 2 Play with a double bounce. Collect the jacks until the ball bounces twice.
3. 3 Add complications to the levels. Clap your hands before picking up the nest.
4. 4 Change your hands. Use a hand other than the one normally thrown.
5. 5 Play black widow. You must progress from level one to ten without error. If you are wrong, then you go back to the first level.
6. 6 Play with a circle in the air. After tossing the ball, make a circle with your hands in the air until it lands.
7. 7 Use different materials. Try using a wooden ball, as was done in the earlier form of the game, or a set of small stones instead of metal sockets.

Warnings

• The nests are small and therefore present a suffocation hazard. They are also painful to step on, so remove them immediately after completing the game.