How to Play Gonggi, the Korean Jacks Game Squid Game Made Famous
Five little pieces, one hand and a lot of quick reflexes. Gonggi (공기) is a traditional Korean game that kids have played for generations, and it's often called Korean jacks. Then the Netflix® series Squid Game put it in front of millions of viewers around the world, and suddenly everyone wanted to learn how to play. Here's everything you need: the history, the rules, tips, and ideas for game night.
What is gonggi?
Gonggi is played with five small pieces called gonggi-dol. They were once pebbles picked up from the ground. You toss one piece into the air, grab pieces off the table or floor, and catch the tossed piece before it lands. It's a lot like jacks, but without a ball. All you need is one hand and a flat surface.
Gonggi and Squid Game
Season 2 of Squid Game brought gonggi into the spotlight as one of the childhood games the players had to win, played under pressure with everything on the line. Fans around the world searched for how to play it, and gonggi sets took off. The circle, triangle and square shapes on our set are a nod to the look fans know from the show.
How to play gonggi: the basic rules
Rules vary from place to place, but this is the most common way to play. Players take turns. If you drop a piece or miss a catch, your turn ends, and next time you pick up where you left off.
Stage 1: Ones
Scatter all five pieces. Pick one to be your tosser. Toss it up, grab one piece off the surface, and catch the tosser in the same hand. Repeat until you've picked up all four.
Stage 2: Twos
Scatter four pieces again. Toss, grab two at a time, and catch. Do it twice.
Stage 3: Threes
Toss and grab three, then toss again and grab the last one.
Stage 4: Fours
Toss your tosser, set all four pieces down on the surface, and catch. Then toss again and scoop up all four before you catch.
Stage 5: The catch (kkeokgi)
Toss all five pieces from your palm, flip your hand, and catch as many as you can on the back of your hand. Then toss them up from the back of your hand and catch them in your palm. The number you catch is your score. Players often call the points "years."
Play as many rounds as you like, and agree on a winning score before you start.
Tips for getting better at gonggi
- Toss straight up, about as high as your face. Higher gives you more time but makes the catch harder.
- Don't scatter too wide. Pieces close together are easier to grab.
- Use your fingertips to sweep pieces into your palm.
- Practice stage 5 on its own. The back-of-the-hand catch is where games are won.
- Play on a table or smooth floor. Soft rugs make pieces hard to grab.
Gonggi party and game night ideas
- Watch party tournament: set up a bracket and play between episodes.
- Sudden death: everyone plays stage 5 only. Highest catch wins.
- Office or dorm challenge: a gonggi set fits in a desk drawer. Keep a running leaderboard.
- Classroom culture lesson: teach gonggi alongside other traditional Korean games.
- Family game night: little kids play stages 1 and 2 while older players go for the full game.
- Travel game: it needs no batteries, no board and almost no space.
Our weighted gonggi dice set
Light, hollow pieces bounce and scatter unpredictably. Our weighted gonggi dice set is made to actually play:
- 5 solid, weighted gonggi dice, about 5.1 grams each, for a consistent toss and feel
- Raised shapes on top and flat bottoms
- A twist-lock case: twist left to open, right to lock, so the pieces never spill in a bag
- A carbon fiber look on the top and bottom of the case
Pick your set
- Classic: blue, yellow, red, purple and green dice, with a matte dark brown case
- Workers: magenta with black shapes
- Game Master: black with charcoal shapes
- Contestant: green with white shapes
- Elite: gold sparkle with black shapes
You choose the dice and the case separately, so you can mix styles, like Elite dice in a Game Master case. Every set is $14.95.
A gift that's actually fun
- Christmas stocking stuffer for teens and adults
- Secret Santa and white elephant gifts under $15
- Cosplay props and themed displays
- Collectors of traditional games
Frequently asked questions
Is gonggi hard to learn?
The first stages take a minute to learn. Stage 5 takes practice, which is what makes it fun.
What age is gonggi good for?
School-age kids through adults. The pieces are small, so keep them away from young children who put things in their mouths.
Are the dice for display or for playing?
Both. They're solid all the way through, so they play well and look great on a shelf.
Netflix® and Squid Game™ are trademarks of Netflix, Inc. This gonggi set is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by Netflix.