Jenga

Overview

A tower of wooden blocks. Take turns pulling one out and stacking it on top. Bring the tower down and you're out.

Checked against Hasbro's Classic Jenga instructions (A2120, ©2019). Jenga is a trademark of Pokonobe Associates, used under licence by Hasbro.

1. Setup

The set has 54 hardwood blocks and a stacking sleeve. Build the tower three blocks to a layer, turning each layer the other way from the one below. Use the sleeve if you need to. Fifty-four blocks at three a layer makes 18 layers.

2. A turn

1. Using one hand, take a block from anywhere below the highest completed layer.
2. Place it on top of the tower.

You may touch blocks to find loose ones.

Always complete a layer before starting a new one. So the top layer, while it is incomplete, and the completed layer just below it are both off limits.

Your turn ends five seconds after you stack your block, or as soon as the next player touches a block, whichever comes first.

3. Winning

If the tower falls on your turn, you're out. The winner is the last player to stack a block without bringing the tower down.

Solo: Hasbro's sheet says Jenga can be played alone, trying to beat your own highest tower.

4. Strategy

These are suggestions, not rules.

• Test before you commit. A block that slides under light pressure isn't carrying much weight.
• Watch the lean, and place your block to correct it.

Commonly argued

• One hand. The sheet says to remove a block using one hand.
• You may touch blocks to find loose ones.
• Never take from the highest completed layer, or the one being built above it.
• Finish a layer before starting a new one.
• The turn ends after five seconds, or when the next player touches a block.
• The instructions don't say you must put back a block you've moved. That's a common house rule.