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Can you use two hands in Jenga?

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In Jenga, players take turns removing blocks from the tower. Once a block has been removed, it is placed on the top of the tower.

A player uses their hands to remove blocks in Jenga, replace or fix a loose block and place the removed block back on top of the tower. A player also uses a hand to tap blocks to check for any loose blocks that are easier to remove and also fix any loose block that may cause the tower to fall.

So, can a player use two hands in Jenga? No, according to official Jenga rules a player can only use one hand at a time, but they can switch hands at any point during their turn. A player cannot use two hands simultaneously to either remove or replace a block in Jenga. 

In addition, a player is not even allowed to use the second hand to support the tower while using the other hand to remove, replace or fix a loose block. Again, even when the tower trembles down, the player cannot use a second hand to prevent the tower from falling. 

However, Giant Jenga allows the player to use two hands to remove an 18-inch-long block.

Official rules state that a player can use only one hand at a time in the Jenga game to remove, replace or fix a loose block. A player can switch hands, but only use one hand at a time. 

This article explores using two hand in the game Jenga. Answered below are frequently asked questions about using both hand in Jenga, and why one hand at a time is part of the official rules.

Are you allowed to use two hands in Jenga?

In classic Jenga, a player is allowed to use two hands, but only one hand at a time. A player can switch hands anytime they want to, but not two hands simultaneously. 

Any action in a player’s turn is always executed using one hand. For instance, a player can tap a block using one hand to find out whether a block is loose or not. 

If a player finds a loose block, they should push it back in place to stabilize the tower. However, a player cannot use the second hand to try and support the tower while removing or replacing the block with the other hand. 

However, in Jenga giant a player can use two hands when moving an 18-inch-long block. A player uses the handheld platform, which they use to remove a block. Once they are done with their turn, they pass over the handheld platform to the next player. 

How many hands can you use in Jenga?

According to Jenga rules, a player can use both hands, but a player is allowed only to use one hand at a time. The player uses their hands to tap, remove, or remove any block in a Jenga layer. 

The Jenga rules allow a player to use only one hand at any time during the game. A player can switch hands whenever they like in classic Jenga, but only touch the block tower with one hand at a time. 

While a player is removing, replacing, or pulling a block back with one hand, a player cannot use the other hand to hold the tower steady so that the tower doesn’t fall. Again, if the tower tumbles down, a player cannot use the second hand to stop it from falling.

In Jenga Giant, the Jenga rules change a little bit because a player may use two hands when removing an 18 inch long block. 

The Jenga giant uses the Jenga Pass challenge principle, which uses the handheld platform that allows the player to remove the block. Once the player removes the block, they pass over the handheld platform to the next player.

Can you use two hands in giant Jenga?

Yes, a player can use two hands in giant Jenga. Playing rules for giant Jenga are similar to that of classic Jenga, apart from using two hands in gameplay.

In classic Jenga, a player can use only one hand at a time, but in Jenga giant, a player can use both two hands to remove a block. All blocks in Jenga Giant that are 18 inches long, making it necessary to remove from a layer with both hands. 

The Jenga giant uses the Jenga pass challenge, which comes along with a handheld platform. Players use the handheld platform to remove the block while holding it firm to prevent the tower from falling. 

Once their turn is done, they have to pass the platform to the next player.

What are the rules of playing Jenga?

  • The game has 54 blocks build in layers of three blocks that are laid perpendicular to the previous row. 
  • The player who builds the tower starts the game.
  • During a turn, a player is required to remove one block from a layer below a complete top level.
  • A player must place the removed block on the topmost layer of the tower.
  • A player’s turn ends when the next player touches any block in the game, or when 10 seconds elapses after the previous move, whichever comes first, then the turn is over.
  • When a player removes a block and fails to play it, they must replace it before touching another block in the game.
  • Only one hand can be used at a time, even though switching hands is allowed.
  • The game ends when the tower collapses, and the last player to remove a block loses the game.
Using two hands in Jenga

Two Hands in Jenga: Conclusion 

Although two hands are allowed to be used in the game Jenga, a player can only use one hand at a time. A player can use either hand, but one at a time is the official rule to remove, replace, or touch a block to find out which one is loose. 

Players are allowed to switch hands to use the other hand at any point during their turn, but the other hand cannot be used to hold a tower firm while removing or fixing a block. Again, if the tower begins falling, a player cannot use both hands to stop it. 

In Jenga giant, the blocks are 18 inches long and require two hands for gameplay. 

To remove giant Jenga blocks, a player uses the handheld platform to remove a block from the layer while holding the platform firm to prevent the tower from falling. Once the player turns end, they pass over the platform to the next player.

Both hands are allowed in the Jenga game, but only one hand at a time is used to remove, replace, or fix a loose block.

There exist different variations in the Jenga game depending on the game version. For instance, Jenga with dice, or giant Jenga that uses two hands to move a block. 

Furthermore, some follow specific house rules that may state that players have to use their opposite hand, so if you are a righty then you only use your lefthand for the game. Therefore, the playing rules of Jenga are not fixed, but quite a number are shared across all the game versions. 

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