The Rules of Rummikub -
How To Play Rummikub
Rummikub® is a rummy game played
with numbered tiles, created over 70 years ago in 1940 by Jewish Israeli
Ephraim Hertzano and is similar to the Turkish Rummy game that goes by the
name "Okey". Rummikub® utilizes many rules of the game of Rummy, but with
tiles, instead of cards, and is played with 2, 3 or 4 people. The introduction
of tiles is said to be due to the certain religious prohibitions in some
countries with card games and gambling. Rummikub®, however, provides just as
much fun and excitement as any card game and can be played by folks of all
ages. It blends elements of Dominoes, Mahjong and Rummy, making it an
endeavour of both luck and skill.
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Did you know that Rummikub®
is Irael's #1 export game with over 40 million games sold in over 52
countries across 5 continents and printed in 25 languages. It won the
Spiel des Jahres award (German Game of the Year) in 1980 and the Spel
van het Jaar award (the Dutch Game of the Year) in 1983.
If you could place all the Rummikub®
tiles manufactured end to end, they would make a line that would circle
the Earth two and a half times. Rummikub® is one the most popular tile
games ever sold. |
The game has 106 tiles, coloured black, red,
blue and orange, numbered 1-13, and 2 jokers. The goal is to be the first
player who has gotten rid of all their tiles. A person designated to “deal”
mixes the tiles as they lay face on the table, and players choose one each to
see who gets the highest numbered tile to go first. After this, all players
pick 14 additional tiles.
To get rid of the tiles, a player must make
lay down tiles worth 50 points in one or more “runs” or
“groups” , which are referred to as “melds.” Each tile is worth the number of
points shown. (A joker may be substituted for any tile.)
A “run” consists of at least 3
tiles of the same colour, such as #4, #5 and #6 in blue, and a “group” consists
of at least 3 tiles of the same number, such as #7 in orange, red and black.
Once a player has placed the initial 50 points’ worth of tiles on the table,
then can then manipulate other player’s melds.
If it is impossible to add
onto any runs or groups, a tile from the table is chosen and the player must
await their next turn. Tiles continue to be chosen until the player can add
to an existing meld.
Reaching this point is what
makes the game of Rummikub® fast paced and intellectually challenging. This
is because opportunities abound to use one’s tiles in any number of creative
ways! For example, if there was a group of 3 tiles on the table with #6, a
player could add another #6 of a different colour. He or she can then make a
run using one of those #6’s and 3 tiles from their hand. Another example
would be seeing a #5-6-7 run in red on the table, and adding a red #4 or 8 to
it.
Rules require all runs or
groups to have at least 3 tiles, so if there are excess tiles in a run or
group, they can be the basis for a new group or run. An example would be a
table with a #2-3-4-5 run in red and a group of #5’s in various colours. A
player holding a #4 and #6 black may move the #5 red from the run to the
group, then take the #5 black (leaving still 3 tiles there) and add that
number #5 to his #4 and #6 for a new run.
Jokers can replace any tile or
be added to any meld, but no tiles may be removed from a group or run
containing a Joker. A player can replace a Joker with a tile of the same
value, but it must be used immediately with 2 more tiles for another meld.
Players are allowed two
minutes per turn, and if they exceed this, must withdraw a tile from the pool
on the table. Another penalty involves a player’s attempt to create a meld
but fails; he or she must return the tiles to their original position, take
back their tiles, and draw 3 more from the pool.
To determine scores, when a
player has used all his tiles, the others add the numerical values of their
remaining tiles, assigning 30 points to the Jokers. This is considered
“negative” to the individual losers. All of the losers add their points
together and the amount is credited to the winner as “positive”. After a few
games, players may have a combination of negative and positive scores, and the
person with the highest number wins. (Should all tiles on the table get used
while every players still has some, he or she with the lowest numerical value
wins that game. The others subtracts the winner’s score from their own, and
consider it a negative, but the winner tallies up all of the losers’ scores
for a positive.)
This is the most popularly
played version, referred to as “Sabra”. Another version (sometimes called the
“American” one) differs slightly by requiring the initial meld to be 21
points, and tiles are arranged in face-down stacks on the table, with one tile
left face-up. In this style of Rummikub®, players discard a tile after each
turn, which another player may choose instead of drawing from the face-down
stack. (That face-up tile on the table can be used only if it will help a
person win the game.) The game ends when one player has used all tiles but 1,
which would be their discard. Scoring and penalties are the same as in Sabra.
It is clear to see what makes
Rummikub®
such an exhilarating game! Manoeuvring tiles for the best optimization can
be a pleasant way to spend a few recreational hours!
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