<p>The official <a href="http://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/Jenga.PDF" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Jenga rules</a> from 2000, which are printed on Hasbro's website, have this to say about setup:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>SETUP</strong></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>Empty the blocks onto a flat surface</p></li>
  <li><p>One person uses this loading tray to build up the tower by placing layers of three wooden blocks at right angles to each other. (See photo on package back.) When you finish, you'll have a solid, 18-story tower that can more than double during play!</p></li>
  <li><p>Carefully stand the loading tray upright, then remove it so the tower stands by itself.</p></li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p>The rules indicate that you should lay the loading tray on its side, with one of the long sides resting against the table. Fill the loading tray, then tip the tower upright so the free end is on the table.</p>

<p>A picture was included in the <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/image/2901112/jenga" rel="nofollow noreferrer">1986 edition rules</a> (the insert in that version was transparent plastic):</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/gkOxf.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/gkOxf.png" alt="1986 Rules Setup Diagram"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-04T19:49:40.067Z
2016-04-13T01:54:56.453Z
2016-04-13T01:54:56.453Z
SocioMatt
<ol>
<li><p>You make the stack (without using the insert).</p></li>
<li><p>You put the cardboard insert over the stack, with the horizontal bit on top, and push all the blocks into the insert to make sure they're all straight.</p></li>
<li><p>You take the insert off and start playing.</p></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-04T11:34:37.090Z
How on earth would you play with the insert on?
Nuclear Hoagie
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-04T11:53:26.183Z
@Matt - That confused me too. I thought that was what the OP meant when he said *"If you use the horizontal side is on the top, **it gets in the way of placing blocks**"*. But re-reading, I see that he knew you have to "*get it out when it's time to play*". So it would appear that the OP was trying to create the stack inside the insert, rather than creating the stack freely before using the insert to straighten it. Answer revised to reflect this.
AndyT
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-04T18:04:18.860Z
I did mean that it gets in the way of placing blocks. I've clarified the question.
Thunderforge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-03T12:59:28.850Z
2016-02-04T11:50:10.947Z
2016-02-04T11:50:10.947Z
AndyT
<p>Simple, you set the guide on its side and fill it with blocks. Afterwards, it's just a simple matter of lifting one side so that it's right-side up. I base this answer on the fact that the guide is placed as such in all the JENGA boxes that I have ever played with.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-04T18:02:01.097Z
2016-02-04T18:02:01.097Z
Areadbhair
<p>I always build it upside down. So you put the cardboard retainer at the bottom, then build the tower. Finally, you slowly flip the tower using the retainer to keep everything in place.</p>

<p>This doesn't work well for everyone, but it's how I learned to do it as a kid.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-03T13:25:23.360Z
2016-02-03T22:03:41.287Z
2016-02-03T22:03:41.287Z
freekvd
<p>I've always been rather confused about how to set up a Jenga tower. There is a cardboard piece that comes with it that covers two sides and either the top and bottom of a completed tower. It's clear to me that this is supposed to help in setup, since doing it free hand leads to a less stable tower.</p>

<p>But how do you actually use this insert? If you use the horizontal side is on the top, it gets in the way of placing blocks and doesn't help much with stability (you would obviously take it off before playing).</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/yvnXC.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/yvnXC.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>If it's on the bottom, it's more stable, but you can't get it out when it's time to play.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/BPFkj.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/BPFkj.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>So how do you properly set up a Jenga tower with the cardboard piece?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-31T12:39:39.907Z
I'd always assumed that was just to make getting the set back in the box easier...
Matthew
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-03T13:28:46.867Z
If you don't get a satisfying answer here, I recommend asking again at Lifehack SE.
freekvd
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-03T16:14:47.580Z
@Matthew The instructions do say "To set up the game, use the included loading tray to create the initial tower."
Cascabel
<jenga>
What is the proper way to set up a Jenga tower?
Thunderforge
# What is the proper way to set up a Jenga tower?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-30)

I've always been rather confused about how to set up a Jenga tower. There is a cardboard piece that comes with it that covers two sides and either the top and bottom of a completed tower. It's clear to me that this is supposed to help in setup, since doing it free hand leads to a less stable tower.

But how do you actually use this insert? If you use the horizontal side is on the top, it gets in the way of placing blocks and doesn't help much with stability (you would obviously take it off before playing).

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/yvnXC.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/yvnXC.jpg)

If it's on the bottom, it's more stable, but you can't get it out when it's time to play.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/BPFkj.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/BPFkj.jpg)

So how do you properly set up a Jenga tower with the cardboard piece?

**Tags:** jenga

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I'd always assumed that was just to make getting the set back in the box easier...  
> **username_2**: If you don't get a satisfying answer here, I recommend asking again at Lifehack SE.  
> **username_3**: @username_1 The instructions do say "To set up the game, use the included loading tray to create the initial tower."  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-02-04. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

The official [Jenga rules](http://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/Jenga.PDF) from 2000, which are printed on Hasbro's website, have this to say about setup:

> **SETUP**
>
> * Empty the blocks onto a flat surface
> * One person uses this loading tray to build up the tower by placing layers of three wooden blocks at right angles to each other. (See photo on package back.) When you finish, you'll have a solid, 18-story tower that can more than double during play!
> * Carefully stand the loading tray upright, then remove it so the tower stands by itself.

The rules indicate that you should lay the loading tray on its side, with one of the long sides resting against the table. Fill the loading tray, then tip the tower upright so the free end is on the table.

A picture was included in the [1986 edition rules](https://boardgamegeek.com/image/2901112/jenga) (the insert in that version was transparent plastic):

[![1986 Rules Setup Diagram](https://i.sstatic.net/gkOxf.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/gkOxf.png)


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2016-02-03. Score: 13

1. You make the stack (without using the insert).
2. You put the cardboard insert over the stack, with the horizontal bit on top, and push all the blocks into the insert to make sure they're all straight.
3. You take the insert off and start playing.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: How on earth would you play with the insert on?  
> **username_5**: @Matt - That confused me too. I thought that was what the OP meant when he said *"If you use the horizontal side is on the top, **it gets in the way of placing blocks**"*. But re-reading, I see that he knew you have to "*get it out when it's time to play*". So it would appear that the OP was trying to create the stack inside the insert, rather than creating the stack freely before using the insert to straighten it. Answer revised to reflect this.  
> **username_0**: I did mean that it gets in the way of placing blocks. I've clarified the question.  

---

### Answer by username_7 on 2016-02-04. Score: 4

Simple, you set the guide on its side and fill it with blocks. Afterwards, it's just a simple matter of lifting one side so that it's right-side up. I base this answer on the fact that the guide is placed as such in all the JENGA boxes that I have ever played with.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-02-03. Score: 4

I always build it upside down. So you put the cardboard retainer at the bottom, then build the tower. Finally, you slowly flip the tower using the retainer to keep everything in place.

This doesn't work well for everyone, but it's how I learned to do it as a kid.


---

