Jenga
Jenga is a stacking game played with wooden blocks. Players take turns removing one block from the tower and placing it on top. The tower gets taller and less steady as the game goes on. The player who makes the tower fall loses; the last player to finish a turn before the fall wins.
The blocks
A classic Jenga set has 54 blocks. Each level of the tower has three blocks laid side by side. The next level is turned at a right angle, so the direction alternates as the tower rises.
Setup
Build the tower with all 54 blocks. Make 18 levels of three blocks, turning each new level across the one below it. Put the tower on a flat, steady surface. The player who built the tower takes the first turn.
How to play
- Choose one block. Take a block from below the top part of the tower. You may tap blocks first to find one that moves easily.
- Use one hand at a time. You may switch hands, but only one hand may touch the tower at any moment.
- Place the block on top. Put the block on the highest level, in the same direction as the other blocks on that level. Start a new level only after the current top level has three blocks.
- Let the tower settle. Your turn is finished when the next player touches the tower, or after ten seconds if nobody has touched it.
- Keep playing until it falls. If the tower falls on your turn, you lose the round.
Which blocks can you take?
You cannot take a block from the top level being built. If that top level is not complete yet, do not take from the complete level directly underneath it either. Look lower down the tower for a loose block.
| Action | Allowed? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tap blocks to test them | Yes | Loose blocks are safer to remove |
| Use two hands at once | No | Only one hand may touch the tower at a time |
| Take from the top level being built | No | The top is for placing blocks, not removing them |
| Put the removed block back if it is unsafe | Yes | Return moved blocks unless that would topple the tower |
Strategy
- Start by testing gently. A block that slides with little pressure is usually safer than one that feels wedged in.
- Watch the lean. If the tower is leaning left, avoid removing a block that supports the left side near the lower half.
- Keep the top balanced. Place your block neatly on top so the next level is flat and centred.
- Do not rush the release. After placing a block, move your hand away carefully and give the tower time to settle.
History
Jenga was created by Leslie Scott from a wooden block stacking game played by her family in Ghana. The name comes from a Swahili word meaning to build.