Jenga

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Jenga is a game of physical skill created by Leslie Scott and currently marketed by Hasbro. Players take turns removing one block at a time from a tower constructed of 54 blocks. Each block removed is then placed on top of the tower, creating a progressively taller and more unstable structure. The game continues until the tower collapses.

History

Jenga was developed by Leslie Scott, a British board game designer, based on a game that evolved within her family in the early 1970s using children's wooden building blocks. The name "Jenga" is derived from a Swahili word meaning "to build."

Gameplay

The game consists of 54 wooden blocks, each block three times as long as it is wide, and one fifth as thick as its length. To set up the game, the blocks are stacked in a tower formation, with each level consisting of three blocks placed adjacent to each other along their long sides and perpendicular to the previous level. Once the tower is built, the person who built the tower gets the first move.

Players take turns removing a single block from any level of the tower (except the one below an incomplete top level) and placing it on the topmost level to complete it. Only one hand can be used at a time when taking blocks from the tower. The game ends when the tower collapses, and the player who made the tower fall loses.

Strategy

Successful Jenga players often employ strategies such as removing blocks from the center of the tower to maintain balance, or tapping blocks to find loose ones. Advanced players may also use psychological tactics to unnerve their opponents.

Variations

Several variations of Jenga have been developed, including:

• Jenga Truth or Dare
• Jenga XXL
• Jenga Boom
• Jenga Quake

Cultural Impact

Jenga has become a popular game worldwide, often used in social gatherings and as a tool for teaching concepts of balance and physics. It has also been featured in various media and pop culture references.

See Also

• Board game
• Hasbro
• Leslie Scott