How to Play Jackaroo
Game Objective
Jackaroo is a strategic board game for two or four players. It is similar to Ludo but uses a standard deck of cards instead of dice to move marbles.
The goal is to be the first player or team to move all four marbles from the Graveyard to the Base.
Board Elements
- Graveyard: The starting area for your four marbles.
- Home (Safe Zone): The spot where a marble enters the board from the graveyard.
- Path: The track where marbles move clockwise.
- Base: The final four colored points that only your marbles can enter.
- Deck Zone: The center area for played and discarded cards.
Setup and Flow
- 2v2 Mode: Partners sit opposite each other (Red/Yellow vs. Green/Blue).
- 1v1 Mode: Two players sit opposite each other.
- Turn Direction: Players take turns counterclockwise.
- Dealing: Cards are dealt until the 52-card deck is empty.
- Actions: You must play a card to move or discard if no move is possible.
Movement and Killing Rules
- Entry: Use an Ace or King to move a marble from the graveyard to Home.
- Killing: Landing on a spot occupied by another marble sends it back to the graveyard. You can kill your own or a teammate’s marble.
- Blocking: A marble in its Home spot cannot be passed, killed, or swapped.
- Team Play: Once your marbles are in the base, you use your turns to move your partner’s marbles.
Card Rules (Classic Mode)
- Ace: Move from graveyard to home, or move 1 or 11 steps forward.
- King: Move a marble from graveyard to home.
- Queen: Move 12 steps forward.
- Jack: Swap your marble with any marble on the path (not in home, graveyard, or base).
- 10, 9, 8, 6, 5, 3, 2: Move forward by the card’s number.
- 7: Move 7 steps total, which can be split between two marbles.
- 4: Move 4 steps backwards.
Card Rules (Complex Mode)
- Ace: Same as Classic mode.
- King: Move from graveyard to home OR move 13 steps forward, killing every marble it passes.
- Red Queen: Move 12 steps.
- Black Queen: Force the next player to discard a card of your choice.
- Red Jack: Move 11 steps.
- Black Jack: Swap positions with another marble.
- 10: Move 10 steps OR force the next player to end their turn immediately.
- 5: Move ANY marble on the board 5 steps (including partners or opponents).