A game that is never the same (Rummikub)

Member Name: F1Princess

Product:	Rummikub
Date:	16/09/08 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great fun

Disadvantages: sounds more complicated than it is

Rummikub is a game of numbers and strategy which constantly keeps your brain working and is fun along the way.
I actually have a different style box to the one pictured above. Mine is green overall with the tiles laid out as if they were on a table during play

*+* BOX CONTENTS *+*

· 104 number tiles
· 2 Joker Tiles
· 4 Racks to hold tiles
· The Instructions

*+* OBJECT OF THE GAME *+*

The object of Rummikub is to be the first player to lay all of the tiles from their rack on to the table.

*+* THE TILES *+*

The number tiles are separated in to 4 colours Blue, Black, Orange and Red. Each colour has the numbers 1-13 twice. The joker tiles are smiley faces these can be used in place of any colour and any number throughout the game.

*+* HOW TO PLAY *+*

· All tiles are placed face down on the table or as we do it in an opaque bag.
· Each player starts by drawing one tile from the bag, the highest number gets to go first and play moves round clockwise.
· Each player begins with randomly picking 14 tiles from the bag and placing them on their rack.
· To lay tiles you must have a run of the same colour and at least three tiles e.g. 1, 2, 3 or three of a kind in different colours. (e.g. Red5, Black 5 and Blue 5)
· The first time you lay onto the table the tile numbers must add to an amount higher than 30.
· If a player cannot go they must take a tile from the bag with play then moving on to the next player.
· There is a time limit on moves of one minute and the official rules say that if a player hasn't completed their move once the minute is up they must put the board back and take 3 tiles as a penalty. (We have found that when playing with younger children or people just starting to learn the game it is best to ignore this rule.)
· Once a player has laid their starting 30 points there is no rule as to the amount of points laid each turn.
· When taking a turn players can continue a run (say adding a 4 to a run of 1, 2, and 3), add a fourth colour to a set of colours, or start a new run or set.

THIS IS WHERE IT GETS A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED!!!!!
· As well as adding you can rearrange the board taking tiles that help you create runs etc. from the board. Tiles must not leave the board but can be rearranged as you please as long as when you finish all tiles are in groups of at least 3 and there are no tiles left on their own.
· There is also the use of the Joker tiles there are 2 of these and as previously stated they can be laid in the place of any tile which you do not have or cannot free up from the table.
· A joker can be replaced at any point by the tile it is representing and the player who replaces it must then lay the joker straight away somewhere else on the table.

*+* THE WINNER *+*
The winner of the game is the first player to empty their rack and shout "RUMMIKUB" play then stops.

*+* HOW TO SCORE*+*
Once the game is over and a winner declared scoring takes place. Players add up the total of the tiles remaining on their racks. If someone has a joker they must add 30 points.
Losing players scores go against them and are therefore a negative number. The winner adds the other player's scores together and collectively this is the winners score.
The next round can now begin.

*+* MY OPINION *+*
I really like this game it really uses your mind. Granted I have probably made it sound really confusing and I truly believe that the only way to learn the game is to have a go. The best part about the game is that it is never the same it goes different ways every time of playing.
There are some great strategies that you can attempt, keeping tiles back instead of laying a long run and then there is always the risk of holding on to a joker something which if you time it right can help you go out but there is a thin line between keeping it to go out and being stuck with it when someone else goes out.
The age on the box says aged 8 and up and that is completely understandable due to the complex adding and moving of the tiles.
I think this would be great for children of 12 and older to more on basic maths and problem solving skills and its fun along the way.

To me this is the sort of game you can get out either with friends or family and have a laugh with them as you try as hard as you can to be the first to shout Rummikub!

Summary: With this game always being different it never grow old