Top 10 Tips to Play Jenga
If you’ve been on the internet a lot these past few months, then there is a high chance that you’ve come across the video of a man who accomplished what, to many, seemed like an impossible feat. Here’s the scene: a stack of Jenga blocks is sitting on top of a single block, and the man karate-chopped the single block seamlessly without the stack collapsing on itself. It truly was an incredible move, something that could have taken a turn for the worst real fast. But he succeeded, and he deserves a lifetime’s worth of bragging rights for that.
However, if you want to be the best and most consistent Jenga player there is, then perhaps relying on those one-in-a-million tricks won’t do you any good. To be a good Jenga player, you need to be patient, steady, and precise. But of course, there are many more tips other than those. Here is a list of the top ten tips that you should keep in mind for the next time you find yourself facing off with someone over a game of Jenga.
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What is Jenga?
What is this game anyway and how did it get to be so popular?Did you know that this game is actually of East African origins when inventor and game designer Leslie Scott took inspiration from a game that she and her family used to play back in their hometown? It consisted of stacking wooden blocks together, hoping to create the tallest one without the stack falling. Taking this idea to England during the 1980s, she quickly began manufacturing, advertising the game, and eventually trademarking the game’s title: Jenga. The name actually comes from the Swahili word “kujenga” which means to build.
Nowadays, Jenga has made quite a name for itself. It is currently being sold in 117 countries and is loved by adults and kids alike—even establishments, such as restaurants and pubs love carrying this game! Truly a classic game that everyone should know about.
For those who aren’t too aware of the game, there really are only two rules: take any block starting from the third row down and then place it at the top of the tower. The goal is to build the tallest tower without having it fall. With its two rules and simple objective, it seems easy enough to play right? Well, not really. Though it only has a few rules, there are a ton of tips that one must keep in mind if they want to build the tallest Jenga tower there is.
1.Always push
One of the reasons why you have to always push the block you’re trying to remove rather than pulling it has something to do with physics. A gravitational downward force is acting on each block. When you pull on the block instead of pushing it, you are putting even more friction on the block which will then disturb the balance of the tower. This, as opposed to pushing, or more accurately, tapping on each block which adds lesser friction on the building, makes the tower more prone to falling. The next time it’s your turn, remember to always push, not pull, to ensure that you’re doing your very best to keep the foundation stable.
2. Lightly tap each block
Have you ever noticed some players who lightly tap on each block but never end up actually removing them? Well, there’s actually a reason for that move. What they’re doing is checking to see if there are any loose blocks that they could easily remove from the tower. Lightly tapping checks each block in the tower to see if it is either loose or “locked”. Each Jenga block is unique in size, therefore, one can be smaller than the other. Alongside Tip #1, lightly tapping and pushing the block forward helps you take a block without disturbing the tower.
3. Removing the middle and bottom first
At the end of the day, your goal is still to win, which means that you must also do whatever it takes to not only ensure that you pass your turn safely, but also that you put your opponents at a disadvantage. This next tip is quite a double-edged sword since itcan jeopardize you as well, but hey, if you’re keen on winning then do everything in your power to make that happen right? Removing the bottom or middle portions is the safest way to weaken the foundation of the structure. Weakening the tower’s structure may sound bad to the player’s turn, though it is one of many strategies that can be used against your opponents. Causing them to lessen possible blocks to take since you have used your turn to “safely” weaken the foundation.
4. Remove center blocks
Alongside tip #3, you could also take blocks from the middle of the row instead of the ones on the sides. By taking blocks from the center instead of the sides, the balance of the tower remains. Removing blocks from the sides might cause the tower’s structure to weaken which will make it more wobbly and unstable. Take as many blocks from the center as you can to force your opponents to take pieces on the sides. It’s the simplest no-brainer strategy that anyone can think of.
5. Test the tower
Before you start your turn and start removing blocks left and right, it’s best to keep in mind to always test the tower before choosing which block to take. Using Tip #2, tap each block to check which is loose or tight. Take the loose ones first then leave the stubborn blocks in place as these are more likely to disturb the balance of the tower. You needn’t even touch the tower at all to check for stability. Sometimes, all you need is a good eye to see how the tower is fairing. This should help you know which blocks to remove or what sides to remove them from.
6. Maintain the foundation
Maintaining a good foundation is essential to almost anything that’s being built, be it a building or a Jenga tower. Maintaining the tower's foundation keeps the structure in place. Once you disturb the tower's foundation and cause it to fall, you lose the game. In order to always maintain the foundation, be weary of removing blocks from the bottom portion of the tower.
7. Practice hand-eye coordination
Jenga is a good activity to exercise your hand-eye coordination. Focus on which blocks you plan to remove and precisely place your hand on the exact block you chose. Practicing hand-eye coordination is necessary and gives you a slight advantage over your opponents.
8. Stable and sturdy does the trick
There is no time constraint or limit when playing Jenga, so take as much time as you need to plan your next move wisely. With tip #7 covered, being slow and steady does the trick and keeps the tower sturdy, effectively giving you another block to slowly take the win. Do not take too long, however, as you do not want to give your opponent too much time to strategize for their next move.
9. Opposite Sides
When you remove a block from the right, place it on top of the tower to the left. The same goes when removing from the left and vice versa. Doing this is key to keeping the structure intact and the balance of the tower in equilibrium.
10. Easy does it
Combining tips #7 & #8, going easy is the way to go. Don’t stress yourself too much on strategizing and planning for your next move. Be calm, relaxed, and just watch the hours go by as you enjoy this simple game with your friends.
To wrap everything up, while having a steady hand and the patience of a rock is important while playing Jenga, there are also a ton of tips out there that you can apply the next time you play this game with your friends.But aside from the temptation of winning, Jenga is meant to be played with friends, family, or colleagues as an opportunity to bond and strengthen relationships. So while these tips may bring out the competitive side in you, it’s also important to remember that this is not everything the game’s about.
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