Texas Skip Jack

It's gratifying to know that there are other "skipjackers" out there.  We few, we proud, we lovers of obscure games.

I have a home-made Skip Jack board that we now use.  Admittedly crude and unfinished, but it works.

The board is 27 inches square with 1/2 inch holes spaced 3/4 inch apart.  This is very close to the dimensions of the original board.  From the GREEN to the WHITE hole, there are EIGHT holes.  From the GREEN to the GREEN holes, there are FIVE holes.

Like the original manufacturer, I think the "official" rules have been lost to antiquity, but to the best of my memory, here's how it is played.

Players:  2 to 4.  If there are 2 or 3 players, each player plays individually.  If there are 4 players, the players ACROSS from each other are PARTNERS and both players must coordinate their moves together.

Object:   to get ALL your marbles completely lined up in your HOME (the 5 vertical holes immediately to the right of your RED "COME OUT" hole), while knocking off as many of the opponents marbles as you can .  All marbles must be positioned fully to the top of the HOME slots with no spaces remaining between marbles.  The first TEAM (or individual) getting ALL their marbles completely HOME is the WINNER and deserving of undying emulation and adoration from the losers.  LOSERS are subject to ridicule and derision.  (And perhaps another shot at knocking you off in the next game.)

Dice:  each player uses ONE dice (die?): I can never figure out the plural or singular to that word.

Each player selects 4 marbles of the same color and places their marbles at the "START" position (the diagonal holes in each of the 4 quadrants to the left of your RED COME OUT hole.

Play moves clockwise.  Each player rolls their dice and the player with the HIGHEST number starts the game.

In order for a player to "COME OUT", you must roll either a ONE or a SIX.  Once you come out, the player places his/her marble in their RED hole.  If the player rolls a SIX to come out, the player gets another roll and advances the marble in a clockwise direction according to the number rolled.  Each SIX rolled, grants the player ONE additional roll.  As long as a player rolls SIXES, they continue to roll and advance their marbles.  If you roll a SIX and have no legal moves (e.g. your partner is a few holes in front of you), may roll again to see if any legal moves are available.

As long as a player rolls a SIX, the player continues rolling and continues to advance his/her marble(s) in a clockwise direction. Once a player rolls a number other than a six and/or lands in a hole other than green, his/her turn ceases and play passes to the next player clockwise.

The GREEN holes give a player a free roll (just like a SIX).  The WHITE holes are SAFE; no opponent can "bump you off" if you are in the SAFE holes.

You CANNOT pass your partner.  You CANNOT pass your own marble.  If you land on a hole which is occupied by your opponents marble, the opponents marble must go back HOME and start over.  (I recommend hopping up and down on the opponent's marble while smirking and making suitable disparaging comments.)  It is MOST gratifying when you can "bop off" just before they are able to go into their HOME position (when they are on the same axis as the GREEN/RED holes, but not yet in HOME). You cannot COME OUT (to the RED hole) if your own marble is occupying the COME OUT slot.  If an opponent's marble lands on your COME OUT hole, and if you roll a ONE or a SIX, you can send your opponent home with suitable fanfare.  If you have no moves after a roll (e.g. your partner is immediately in front of you and you have no room to move) you lose the turn and the play passes clockwise.

If your opponent occupies the SAFE (White) holes (inside 4 corners on the board), and if your roll lands you on the opponent with no other moves available, you must take your marble  back to your own COME OUT position.  Your opponent may then gloat, smirk and make disparaging remarks about you.

Once a marble enters any of the HOME positions, they are SAFE and cannot be touched by an opponent.

Once your hand leaves a marble, after a move, it must STAY.  No "do-overs" or "oopsies."  If a dice lands on a corner, it is deemed a "COCKED" dice and the player must roll again.  If a dice is rolled off the table and onto the floor (or out the door or into the next county if you are Aunt Leona), the dice must be recovered rolled again.

Strategy:  Try not to come out right in front of your partner as you will limit their movement.  Try not to keep all your marbles bunched together; spread them out over the board.  Once you have successfully lined up all your 4 marbles in HOME, you now roll (in turn) to advance your partner's marbles.

Enjoy!

Caution:  may be habit-forming.
Camel cigarettes:  optional.
Sugar cookies and coffee:  recommended.