My First Rummikub
My First Rummikub Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Objective
Collect star tokens by laying down or adding to sets!
Box Contents
- Game board
- 4 card holders
- Star tokens
- 54 game cards (40 cards with animal and number patterns, 3 jokers, 11 surprise cards)
Placement Game
For 2-4 players, ages 5 and up. Guide from beginner to advanced. Once you've reached the highest level, you're ready to play the original Rummikub with the rest of the family!
Preparation
For this version, only the animal cards are needed (put the rest back in the box). The four different animal card sets are as follows: Marci the monkey (red), Elemér the elephant (blue), Norbi the rabbit (black), and Maris the cat (green). These are marked with numbers 1-5. During the initial game, do not use additional cards or jokers.
Place the board in the center of the playing area. Shuffle the game cards and place them next to the board with the picture side down!
Gameplay
An adult or the eldest player should assist with the game. The other players try to find matching fields on the board. The first to find one picks it up from their cards and places it on the appropriate spot on the board. This earns them a star token. The game continues until the board is filled. The player with the most star tokens wins.
Beginner's Game
Preparation
Prepare a set of animal cards (put the second set back in the box), the surprise cards, and the two jokers!
Place the board in the center of the playing area! Place the cards face down and shuffle them!
Each player takes a card holder and secretly takes five animal cards! The remaining cards become the "bank."
Gameplay
The youngest player starts. They try to lay down a set on the board (see "Set Building" below). If they can't, they can play a surprise card or draw a card from the bank and place it on their holder. The game then continues with the player to the left. The player who successfully lays down a set on the board receives a star token. After your turn, replenish your holder to have at least 5 cards.
Set Building
You need at least 3 cards to build a set. Sets can be built in two ways:
- Using consecutive numbers of the same animal. Example: cards 2, 3, and 4 of Marci the monkey.
- Using three different animals in the same row on the board. For example:
- card number 5 of Elemér the elephant (blue)
- card number 5 of Maris the cat (green)
- card number 5 of Norbi the rabbit (black)
If you have cards 5 of Marci the monkey, Maris the cat, and Elemér the elephant, it doesn't count as a set because they're not next to each other on the board.
When a set is placed on the board, it can be expanded (earning a star token). In one turn, you can build a new set, expand an existing one, or use a surprise card.
Collecting Star Tokens
A star token is earned for every set, whether new or expanded. If a card expands two sets at once, two star tokens are earned. For cards that expand more than two sets, you receive a star token for each set it expands.
Using Jokers
During set building, a joker can be used in place of any animal card. To use a joker (in exchange for a star token), place the animal card it represents, then use it in a new set (in exchange for another star token). This is the only situation where you can take two turns in one round.
Surprise Cards
There are three types of surprise cards in the game:
- Steal from another player: Take a card from another player's holder without looking at their cards! There are four of these cards in the game. If another player uses one against you, skip your next turn!
- Take two cards from the bank: There are four of these cards in the game. It's wise to use them early in the game, as the bank may empty towards the end.
- Change turn order: There are three of these cards in the game.
Once a surprise card is used, it cannot be used again! Set aside the used cards!
Game End, Victory
If the bank runs out, continue playing until the board is full. The game ends when the board is full, even if players still have cards in their holders. The winner is the player with the most star tokens when the board is full.
Intermediate Game
Preparation
In this version, all cards are used. Place them face down in the center of the board and shuffle! Give each player 6 cards and place them on their holders without showing others! The remaining cards form the bank. The game is played without the game board, directly on the table.
Gameplay
The youngest player starts. They try to lay down a set (see "Set Building" section). If they can't, they can draw a card from the bank or use a surprise card. The game continues with the player to the left.
Players who lay down new sets earn star tokens for each set placed. In one round, you can use a surprise card, or perform one of the following actions:
- lay down new sets; one star token per new set
- expand one or more sets; earn one star token per expanded set
- split a set or sets to build new ones; one star token per new set
After your turn, replenish your holder to have six cards!
Jokers and surprise cards are used according to the rules of the beginner's game.
Game End, Victory
The game ends when the first player uses their last card and the bank is empty. At this point, the player calls "Rummikub" and earns a star token. The game also ends if the bank is empty and players only have surprise cards left in their holders. In this case, the player does not earn a star token. At the end of the game, the player with the most star tokens wins.