For 2-4 players, ages 5 and up

Step-by-step instructions for beginners to intermediates. When the final level of play is reached, you're ready to play the original Rummikub game with the rest of the family!
 

Object: Collect star tokens by using your tiles to make, and add to, sets.  Contents: gameboard  4 racks  star tokens  54 game tiles       (40 tiles with animals and numbers, 3 joker tiles, 11 surprise tiles)

ORIENTATION GAME

Set Up:
For this game, use just one complete set of animal tiles only (do not use the extra set). The four different sets of animal tiles are: Moe the Monkey (red), Ellen the Elephant (blue), Ralph the Rabbit (black) and Clara the Cat (green). These tiles are numbered 1 through 5. The beginner's game does not use jokers or surprise tiles.
 

Place the board in the center of the table. Turn the tiles that you are using face down and mix them. An adult or the oldest player leads the game.

Playing & Winning: One at a time, the leader turns over a tile and calls out the animal's name, color and number.

 The other players try to find the matching space on the gameboard.  The first one to find it takes the tile,  places it on the board and wins a star token.  Play continues until the entire board is filled. The player with  the most stars wins. 

BEGINNER'S GAME Set Up:

Use one complete set of animal tiles only (do not use the extra set), all the surprise tiles and two joker tiles. 

Place the board in the center of the table. Turn the tiles that you are using face down and mix them. Each player takes arack and places five tiles on his rack so that no one else can see them. The remaining tiles  form the "bank." 

Playing:
The youngest player starts by trying to place a set on the board (see "Making Sets" below). If he is unable  to do so he can play a surprise tile or take a tile from the bank and place it on his rack. Play continues with the player to the left. Players who place sets of tiles onto the pictures on the board win a star token.  After your turn, take tiles from the bank so that there are at least 5 tiles on your rack. 

Making Sets:

You need at least 3 tiles to make a set. There are two ways to make a set: 

1. Numbers that follow each other of the same animal.  For example, tiles 2, 3 and 4 of Moe the Monkey.

2. Same numbers of 3 different animals in a row on the board. For example, 

• tile number 5 of Ellen the Elephant (blue)  • tile number 5 of Clara the Cat (green)  • tile number 5 of Ralph the Rabbit (black)

If you have the number 5 tiles of Moe the Monkey, Clara the Cat and Ellen the Elephant they do not form a set since they are not next to each other on the board. 

After a set is placed on the board, a tile can be added to it (this also wins a star token). During a turn, you can either make a new set, add to a set or use a surprise tile. 

Winning Star Tokens:

A star token is won for every set either placed or completed on the board. A tile which connects two sets wins two stars.  Tiles which connect more than two sets win stars equal to the amount of sets they connect.

Using the Joker: The joker can be used instead of any tile when making a set. To free the joker (wins one star), replace it with the tile it represents and use it in a new set (win another star). This is the only time that you may make two moves on the same turn.

Surprise Tiles: There are three different types of surprise tiles:  Take a Tile From Another Player: Without looking, take a tile from any player's rack.  There are 4 of these tiles. If a player uses this tile on you, do not fill your rack until after your next turn.

Take Two Tiles From The Bank: There are 4 of these tiles. It's a good idea to use this tile early in the game because towards the end, the bank will be empty.

Take Another Turn:       There are 3 of these tiles.

Once a surprise tile has been used, it cannot be played again. Place used tiles off to the side. 

Ending and Winning the Game:

If the bank is empty continue playing until the board is full. The game ends when the board is full even if there are still tiles on players' racks. The player with the most star tokens when the board is full wins the game. 

INTERMEDIATE GAME

Set Up:

Use all the tiles in this version. Place the tiles face down on the table and mix them. Each  player takes 6 tiles and places them on his rack so that no one else can see them. The remaining tiles form the bank.The game is played on a table without the gameboard. 

Playing:

The youngest player starts by trying to place a set on the board (see "Making Sets"). If he is unable to do so, a tile is taken from the bank unless a surprise tile is used. Play continues with the player onthe left. 

Players who place sets of tiles onto the table win a star token for each new set made.  During a turn, you can use a surprise tile or make one or all of the following moves: 

• make a new set or sets; win a star token for each new set 

• add to a set or sets; win a star token for each set you complete 

• split a set or sets to make other new sets; win a star token for each new set 

After your turn, fill your rack so that there are six tiles. 

Jokers and surprise tiles are used the same as in the beginner game. 

Ending and Winning the Game:

The game ends when the bank is empty and the first player clears his rack. That player then calls out  "Rummikub" and wins a star token. The game also ends when the bank is empty and only surprise tiles  are left on any player's rack.In this case, the player does not win a star token. The player with the most  star tokens at the end of the game wins.