Rummikub: Prague Edition - CZ/EN

Rummikub by Piatnik - the world-famous numbers game for families and parties - for 2 to 4 players. The aim of the game is to get rid of all the stones by forming groups or sequences of numbers. On the table you combine straight lines of numbers 1-13 or groups of the same numbers of different colours.
Whoever has the highest score at the end of the game wins.

Numbers. There are numbers everywhere. Stack, rearrange, form new groups. Numbers are great fun. If you don't believe, play Rummikub.
First, you create a top-up pile with all your chips, from which each player takes 14 stones to start. They then stack these in a two-tiered rack, out of sight of their opponents, and gradually unload them onto the table according to the rules. The task is simple - the first to get rid of all the numbers in the rack is the winner.

However, the numbers are not so easy to get rid of, because they have four different colors. The point value of the stones must exceed thirty to be the first to be placed on the table. Either a straight of the same colour can be laid out, or stones of the same value but of different colours (for example, a five of blue, red and black). The minimum number of chips laid out in this way is three. If a player does not have enough of the correct stones to unload, he can lick more from the top-up pile. As you can already see here, the principle is very similar to the classic card jokers, which we consider to be rather positive.

The funniest part of the whole rummikub's game is yet to come. This is because once the players have laid out the first groups of numbers on the table, they can add their numbers to any arbitrary group the moment it's their turn. There is no limit to the number of times a player can prove their numbers in a single turn. What gives the game a whole new dimension, however, is the ability to rearrange all the numbers on the table at will, letting only your combinatorial skills guide you. The only restriction is that at the end of your turn, all the groups on the table must conform to the rules, i.e. at least three of a kind, either identical numbers or straights.

If, however, a player is very unlucky with the incoming numbers, if he finds a smiley face chip - a joker - he can substitute any number for it. On the other hand, the opposing player can get it by placing the number it represents in the row behind it. Beware, however, that at the end of the game, the joker carries the danger of thirty penalty points for whoever has it left in the rack. It is therefore important to always use it quickly and as appropriately as possible.

This principle makes the game a real treat, yet simple to understand and play. The individual games are very fast and therefore Rummikub is played over several rounds with a point goal. The winner of the round gets points for the sum of the stones left on the opponents' stands.