The House That Jack Built is a combination reading game and trading game. Players collect small 'counter' cards during the play. A chosen 'reader' reads the story of the House That Jack Built (printed in the instructions) and players take turns trying to supply the item that the reader asks for. For example, first he asks for "malt," and next "a rat." Players must play other, humorous cards and pay the house a counter card if they cannot supply what is asked for. The game must be humorous to play, given the rhymes of the story and the nonsensical other things the players can supply to the house.