
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,298
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Great Western Trail: El Paso
- 1–4 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2025

2018
Rules assistance for Black Jacky
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Black Jacky is a board game released in 2018 for 2–6 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Johannes Krenner.
As you might guess from the name, Black Jacky has its origins in blackjack, with players trying to get as close to 21 as possible, but they can do more than take a card or stand. At the start of play, everyone receives two of the extra-large mice cards at random, with these cards being valued 1-8. Players can use these cards for the special powers on them, perhaps forcing another player to hand over one card or having two players swap a card with one another face down. Whoever goes over 21 loses a heart, and if you lose all your hearts, you're eliminated. Whoever last has hearts wins!
Black Jacky supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Black Jacky is 20 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Black Jacky for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Black Jacky has a complexity rating of 1.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Black Jacky belongs to these categories: Card Game, Animals, and American West. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Black Jacky and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Black Jacky are: Johannes Krenner. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Black Jacky as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.