TallynightHow to keep score in Rummikub
Rummikub is scored every time someone empties their rack. Everyone else adds up the tiles they're still holding and takes that off their score, and the winner adds the whole amount to theirs. A joker left on your rack costs 30.
- Players
- 2 to 4, or up to 6 with the larger set
- Who wins
- Most games won, then the highest score
- Tiles
- Worth their number, 1 to 13. Joker 30
- First meld
- At least 30 points from your own rack
How a game is scored
When a player plays their last tile and calls Rummikub, the game stops. Everyone else counts the tiles left on their rack.
| What | Points |
|---|---|
| Each tile left on your rack | Minus its number (a 7 is −7) |
| A joker left on your rack | −30 |
| Tiles you played on the table | 0 |
| Playing your last tile | Plus everyone else's tiles added together |
Every game adds up to zero: the winner's points equal everyone else's minus points put together. Check it before you write the scores down.
When the pool runs out
If the pool is empty and nobody can play, the game ends without anyone going out. The player with the lowest total on their rack wins it.
Everyone else works out how much more they hold than the winner and takes that off their score. The winner scores all those differences added together.
Say the racks hold 6, 15 and 22. The player with 6 wins. The others lose 9 and 16, and the winner scores 25.
Winning over several games
A round has one game for each player: four games with four players, three with three, two with two. Agree how many rounds to play before you start.
The official rules count games won: after the last round, whoever won the most games is the winner, and the higher score breaks a tie. Some tables play for the highest total score instead. Either way, keep the scores and mark who won each game.
Things people get wrong
- The first meld: your first play must add up to at least 30 using tiles from your own rack, like a 9, 10 and 11 of one colour. A joker in it counts as the tile it stands for.
- A 1 is worth 1. It's always the lowest tile and can't follow a 13.
- Only racks count. Tiles on the table score nothing at the end of a game.
- Two players score the same way: the winner takes the other player's total, and the other player loses it.
A scoring example
Four players, three games. Each row is one game: the winner's plus and everyone else's minus.
| Game | Ana | Ben | Cleo | Dev |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 55 | −12 | −35 | −8 |
| 2 | −20 | −4 | 40 | −16 |
| 3 | −7 | 61 | −23 | −31 |
| Total | 28 | 45 | −18 | −55 |
In game 1, Cleo was caught with a joker and a 5: 30 + 5 = 35. Every row adds up to zero, and so do the totals.
One more game finishes the round of four. So far Ana, Cleo and Ben have won a game each, and Ben has the highest score.
Keep score for Rummikub in Tallynight
Rummikub isn't one of Tallynight's built-in games yet, but it takes a minute to set up. Choose Something else, then Rounds, with the highest score winning. Each game is a round: type the winner's points and everyone else's with a minus sign.
Add it to your favourites and it's ready next time. When you've played the rounds you agreed, tap End game.
- Type each game's scores on one keypad, minus signs included
- The table keeps the totals and who's in front
- Tap any game to fix a miscount
- A winner card and a race chart at the end
A Rummikub score sheet to print
Playing on paper tonight? Print a free Rummikub score sheet, or save it as a PDF.
Questions
How do you keep score in Rummikub?
After each game, every player with tiles left takes their total off their score, and the winner adds everyone else's totals to theirs. A joker left on a rack counts 30.
How much is the joker worth in Rummikub?
30 points against you if it's still on your rack when someone goes out. In a meld, it counts as the tile it stands for.
How do you get 30 points in Rummikub?
Your first meld must add up to at least 30 from tiles on your own rack. Add the numbers on the tiles: a 9, 10 and 11 of one colour make 30.
How do you score Rummikub with 2 players?
The same way as with more: the player who goes out scores the other player's tiles, and the other player loses them. A round is two games.
What happens when the Rummikub pool runs out?
Play on until nobody can move. The lowest rack wins, everyone else loses the difference between their rack and the winner's, and the winner scores those differences.
Who wins a game of Rummikub?
In the official rules, the player who won the most games after the agreed rounds, with the higher score breaking a tie. Some tables play for the highest total.