Q&A for How to Play Rummikub

Yes, the game is designed for 2 to 4 players. I've played it with six, too, but I admit that was a bit squeezed.

If you pick up a tile that's already in a run on the table, a so-called harvested tile, then you must play that harvested tile in that same turn. Your initial 'meld' must be at least 30 points, so for your first move you're not allowed to play any tiles unless their total is 30 or more. If you are able to play tiles, you are allowed to choose to wait, i.e. you're not obligated to play the tiles you can play, but you'd have to take a tile from the pile and risk one of the others winning.

Setting up a game of Rummikub isn't as tricky as you may think. Start by having each player choose a tile from the bag. The person with the highest tile goes first. If there's a tie for first place, those players can draw again. Empty the bag of tiles and turn them over so they're all face-down. Then, use your hands to stir them up so they're in random order. Make the stacks as small or as tall as you want, though keep in mind that stacks that are too tall will fall over. Place the stacks in the middle of the table where everyone can reach them. Give every player a tile rack and 14 tiles to begin with. They can be randomly selected from the tile bag or the stacks on the table. Once everyone has their tiles, you're ready to begin the game!

The goal of Rummikub is to have the best score when the game ends. The game ends whenever 1 player runs out of tiles and says "Rummikub!" Any tiles left on a players' rack contribute negatively to their score. If you're playing multiple rounds, keep track of these numbers. Then, add up all the other players' scores to get the winning player's score. Combine the negative scores of all the players. Take the negative away to create the winning player's positive score. For instance, if the combined negative scores of the other players is -53, then the winner earns 53 points. Usually, you'll play multiple rounds of Rummikub. How many rounds you play is up to you, but you can keep track of scores across rounds to declare an ultimate winner for the game!

Not necessarily. In Rummikub, you only have to draw a tile if you can't play any. Whenever it's your turn, you can draw a tile or play tiles. To play tiles, lay down a run or a group from your hand or play off other tiles on the table. However, you can only play tiles after you've made your initial meld. The initial meld is the first time you lay down tiles on the board. You must have at least 30 points across one or multiple sets to make your initial meld. You can make groups, runs, or both for your initial meld. You also have a 2-minute time limit for your turn. If you don't complete your turn in this time, you must return the tiles to their original positions, and take a tile from the pool for your turn. That's part of what makes Rummikub such a fast-paced, action-packed game. Choose quickly!