Okey - The Turkish Version Of Rummy

By Author: Josie
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Okey is a game meant for small social get-togethers and is best played by 4 players. Although very interesting and simple, the dealing process of Okey may seem to be confusing for most new comers. However, if you like rummy, okey is worth learning as it presents your favorite game in a very different way.

Okey is played with colored tiles. A total of 106 tiles, 104 of which are numbered 1 to 13 of which each number has 8 tiles. Among these 8 tiles of each number, 2 are yellow, 2 are red, 2 are green and 2 are black. The 2 remaining unnumbered tiles are called the ‘false jokers'. The game proceeds in anti-clockwise direction at all times. Each player is dealt a hand of 14 tiles, from which he/she has to make the winning hand.

Now that we know the set-up for the game, let's have a look at the process:

1-All the tiles are mixed and placed face down. 21 stacks of 5 tiles each are made. 5 stacks are given to each player and the dealer himself keeps 6. This is a usual practice and is not a rule.

2-The dice is rolled ...
... once. The number on the dice determines the number of stack of the dealer which is to be used for the next step (counting from left).

3-The dice is rolled again. The resulting number this time determines the position of the exact tile which is to be used for the next step (counting from bottom). For instance, if the result is 4, then the 4th tile from the bottom will be used. This selected tile is then extracted. If it turns out to be a false joker, it is placed back and the dice is rolled again. In any other case, the tile is extracted and is laid face up on the table. The number and the color of this tile determine the real joker for the game. The real joker to be used in the game will be of the same color as this tile, but of a number greater by 1 than the number of the extracted tile.

4-The dealer then deals the tiles to the players, starting from the one on his immediate right. This player gets 15 tiles and all the others get 14 tiles. The first player gets the first stack on the right to stack chosen before. The second player takes the second stack and so on. The tiles which remain are put in the center of the players.

5-Players arrange their tiles on rack, in a way that they are erect. In this way, players can see only their tiles. In case any player has a tile identical to the face up tile chosen before, an extra point is given to him. All the players who don't have such a tile loose one point.

6-The game proceeds in the manner of normal rummy from here, with all the players trying to make their hand. Each player has to either make a combination of sets with runs or make 7 pairs. A set, in this game is a group of 3-4 tiles of same number and different color. A run, in this game is a group of 3-4 tiles of the same color and consecutive numbers. A pair is formed when a player has 2 identical tiles.

The player who makes the required hand first, wins the game. So, as we can see in the process of the game, the proceedings are very similar to normal rummy. The start of the game however, is very different. So, now that you know the game, go ahead and try it. Be a winner at Okey Rummy.

David Swonson has a lot of experience with rummy 500 game, Okey game and rummikub game. More over in rummy games like Gin Rummy, Rummy, Oklahoma, Kalooki-51 and more.