Jacks to Open

Jacks to Open is a 1984 remake of Gottlieb's 1977 EM game Jacks Open, released by Mylstar Electronics (operating under the Gottlieb trade name) as a solid-state 4-player title designed by Ed Krynski with artwork by David Moore. Notably, it served as the test platform for pinball's first alphanumeric displays: ten complete units were built with an alphanumeric display and a redesigned backglass, though the feature would not appear in a full production run until Premier's 1985 Chicago Cubs "Triple Play."

The gameplay is centered around a Poker theme, with a 9-bank of drop targets and three pop bumpers creating a dynamic experience; the order in which the drop targets stand differs from the original Jacks Open. The absence of slingshots and the presence of open-elbow inlanes allow smooth ball flow between inlane and outlane, adding to the machine's challenge.

Jacks to Open stands out for its relatively compact, lightweight construction (229 lbs including legs), and with 2,350 confirmed units produced, it remains a notable piece of mid-1980s Gottlieb/Mylstar history, particularly for its role in pioneering alphanumeric scoring displays.