Wild Jack*


You will need:
A full pack of playing cards.

Number of players:
Two or more.

To prepare for play:
Take the kings, queens and jokers from the pack of cards.
Jacks are WILD CARDS.  You can use them anytime to represent a number from 1 to 10 (inclusive).


The goal:
To make up a sum to reach the TARGET NUMBER.
To be first to hit the score of 50.

To begin:
* Shuffle the pack and turn over the top two cards.
* If either of the cards is a Jack or a ten, put it at the bottom of the pack and turn over the next top card.
* The cards show your TARGET NUMBER, e.g. if you turn the 4 of hearts followed by the ace of clubs your TARGET NUMBER is 41.
* Deal 5 cards. 
* Try to reach the TARGET NUMBER using all 5 cards, using all or some of your cards.
* You may add, subtract, multiply or divide the numbers.
* For example, if you turned over cards that showed 4, 7, and ace (1), 5 and 2 and your TARGET NUMBER is 41, you could:  add 5 and 7 then subtract 2 giving a total of 10, then multiply by 4 and add 1 arriving at 41 as your answer.
(5+7 - 2) X 4 + 1 = 41

* Explain your calculations to the other players.
* If you are stuck, you can ask other players for help.

Scoring:

Making the TARGET NUMBER using all 5 cards, without help - 10 points
Making the TARGET NUMBER less than 5 cards, without help - 8 points
Make TARGET NUMBER with help - 6 points
Helping someone else to make their TARGET NUMBER - 8 points


Variations:

To make the game simpler, a hexagram board can be used.
To make the game more complex, the number of points on the star can be increased. Make sure that an even number is chosen. 
The two 'guard' markers for each player are always placed at the outside of the set of markers.










*Wild Jack is taken from Totally Mental Maths; Anywhere, Anytime, 

(PLEASE LINK TO JUNE STAFFROOM ARTICLE)

by Jennie Pennant, Michael Ray, Celia Richards and Fiona Sweet produced by the Department of Education and Leisure, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.