The goal is to be the first player to use all the tiles in your rack by creating sets on the table. Each set must have at least 3 tiles. Sets can be in groups (at least 3 of the same number in different colours) or runs (3 or more tiles with consecutive numbers in the same colour).

To begin the game, you must place tiles from your rack into sets that total at least 30 points. If you cannot play tiles from your rack, you must draw a tile from the pool, ending your turn.

After the initial meld, you can now manipulate any tiles on the board to help you become the winning player!

Applying strategy in manipulating tiles is an exciting part of playing Rummikub. Using at least one tile from their own rack, players try to lay as many tiles as possible on the table by forming new sets and rearranging or adding on to existing sets. Existing sets can be manipulated in many ways but must follow the rules for groups and runs.

Jokers can be used as any colour and number to complete a set. On future turns, a Joker can be retrieved from a set on the table by a player who can replace it with a tile of the same number and colour the Joker represents.

When a player retrieves a Joker, the Joker will once again have any value or colour. The player must use the Joker immediately to make a new set and must also use at least one tile from his/her rack, as on any other turn.

The first player to clear his/her rack of all tiles wins!

Other players then add up the value of the tiles they are holding as a negative figure and the winner of the game receives a positive score equal to the total of all the other player’s points. Play wisely – the penalty for having a Joker on your rack is 30 points.