Jacks Open pinball rules and strategy
The Strategy
Jacks Open and Lucky Hand reward different drop-target plans. In Jacks Open, collect exactly three suits so each standing drop scores 4,000, then clear non-required targets before finishing the displayed poker hand. In Lucky Hand, complete each hand quickly; after Royal Flush, repeat its five lit targets for 50,000-point Wows.
The goal
Build exactly three suits so every standing drop scores 4,000, clear the non-required cards first, and complete the displayed hand only after banking the available target value.
Plunge an uncollected center suit. The center lanes are harder to reach during play.
On Jacks Open, build exactly three of the four suits before attacking the drop targets.
- Four stored top-rollover states. Each completed suit adds 1,000 to every standing drop target.: Four stored top-rollover states. Each completed suit adds 1,000 to every standing drop target.
- At three suits, each standing drop scores 4,000.
- The fourth suit scores 5,000, resets the suits and drop value, advances the hand, and usually resets the bank.
On Jacks Open, knock down every non-required target first and save the required hand targets for last.
- The lit card targets show the required hand. Completing it scores 5,000, resets the bank, and advances the next hand.: The lit card targets show the required hand. Completing it scores 5,000, resets the bank, and advances the next hand.
- A full nine-target standing bank at three suits scores 36,000 before the 5,000 hand award.
Save the center Queen and other dangerous required targets for last, then use the edition-specific payoff until the ball drains.
Alternative route: Take the safer hand progress
Use this plan when center-drop rebounds are not controlled.
- On Jacks Open, hold at two suits if the third-suit plunge is unavailable; standing drops are still worth 3,000.
- Shoot outside drops first. Avoid exposed bare rubber behind a down target.
- Save the center Queen until the hand requires it. Hit one edge, not the center.
- On Jacks Open, complete the fourth suit if the last required target is worse than accepting a reset.
Need to know
- Suit lanes
- An uncollected suit scores 5,000, and each completed suit raises every standing drop target by 1,000.
- Jacks Open
- Stop at three suits for 4,000-point drops, then clear non-required targets before completing the lit hand.
- Flipper guides
- A held flipper can let an inbound ball roll through the outer guide gap, so test catches and bounces before relying on them.
Sources and references14 references14 source links and outbound references.
- Bob's Guide
- Jacks Open playfield image
- Jacks Open rules
- Silverball Rules Lucky Hand guide
- INDISC 2022 Jacks Open playoff with top players
- Primary Jacks Open 3-ball and 5-ball score cards
- PinRepair Jacks Open rules and hand sequence
- MAACA Jacks Open strategy review
- Andrew Rosa II at Free Play Florida 2019 Classics — Semifinals
- INDISC 2022 Classics I Jacks Open tiebreaker
- Center-suit skill plunge technique reference
- Backhand technique reference
- Center-Queen edge shot technique reference
- Physical caution reference