How do you play Okey? At a glance
Okey is played with numbered tiles in four colours, which you arrange into groups of the same number or runs in the same colour, much like Rummikub. Players take turns drawing and discarding a tile. The aim is to arrange the 14 tiles on your tile rack into valid melds and discard your 15th tile to finish the round. The Okey (wild tile) can stand in for any missing tile. When a player finishes the round, the other players lose points.
How many tiles are in Okey, and how are they dealt?
Okey is played with 106 tiles in total: two of each number from 1 to 13 in four different colours, plus two false jokers.
In the deal, the player to the dealer's right receives 15 tiles, and everyone else receives 14. The player with 15 tiles starts the game by discarding the first tile.
What are the indicator tile, Okey and false joker?
The indicator tile is turned face up at the start of the game. The tile one number higher in the same colour becomes the Okey (wild tile). If the indicator tile is a 13, the 1 of that colour is Okey. Okey can stand in for any missing tile on your tile rack.
The false joker isn't wild. It only stands for the number and colour of the Okey tile for that round, and cannot be used in place of any other tile.
okey
How do turns work in Okey?
Play moves anticlockwise. On your turn, you can either take the tile discarded by the previous player or draw a new tile from the draw pile.
You then discard one tile from your tile rack, and the turn passes to the next player.
What is a meld in Okey? How do you make runs and groups?
A meld is a valid arrangement of tiles in Okey. There are two types of melds: groups and runs.
A group consists of three or four tiles of the same number in different colours.
A run consists of at least three consecutive tiles of the same colour.
A 12-13-1 run is valid, but 13-1-2 is not.
How do you finish a round in Okey?
For a normal finish, all 14 tiles on your tile rack must be arranged into valid melds. You finish the round by discarding your 15th tile.
How do you finish with pairs in Okey?
A pairs finish requires seven pairs of tiles that match in both number and colour. Each pair consists of two identical tiles. Once all seven pairs are complete, you discard your last tile to finish the round.
How does scoring work in Okey?
In the most common scoring system, every player starts the game with 20 points. When a player finishes a round, the other players lose points depending on how the round was won.
| Result | Points deducted from each other player |
|---|---|
| Normal finish | 2 |
| Finishing by discarding Okey | 4 |
| Finishing with seven pairs | 4 |
| Showing the indicator tile | 1 |
To show the indicator tile, you must hold the matching copy of the face-up indicator tile on your tile rack. The game ends when any player's score drops to zero or below. You can keep score on the Okey score sheet.
Do Okey rules vary from table to table?
Yes. Scoring and team-play rules can vary from table to table. At some tables, finishing with all of your tiles in a single colour counts double. Agree on which scoring system you are using before the game begins.
Frequently asked questions
How many tiles are in Okey?
There are 106 tiles in total: two copies of each number from 1 to 13 in four colours, plus two false jokers.
Can you make a 12-13-1 run in Okey?
Yes. A 12-13-1 run in the same colour is valid, but a 13-1-2 arrangement is not.
Can a false joker replace any tile?
No. The false joker isn't wild. It only stands for the number and colour of the Okey tile determined by the indicator tile.
How many pairs do you need to finish in Okey?
You finish with seven pairs. Both tiles in each pair must share the exact same number and colour.
When does an Okey game end?
In the common 20-point scoring system, the game ends when any player's score drops to zero or below. Scoring can vary from table to table.