Section 2: Components
Tiles
A standard Rummikub set contains 106 tiles. There are 104 numbered tiles: two identical copies of each number from 1 through 13 in each of four colors. The particular colors vary between editions, but black, blue, red, and orange are common. The remaining two tiles are jokers.
Numbered tiles carry their printed point values. A 3 is worth 3 points, a 10 is worth 10 points, and so on. A joker has no fixed value while it is in a combination; it represents the exact number and color needed at its position. A joker left on a player’s rack at the end of a round carries a 30-point penalty.
Racks
Each player requires a rack that conceals their tiles from the other players while keeping the faces visible to the owner. Players should keep all unplayed tiles on their own racks and should not reveal, exchange, or deliberately signal them.
Tile Pool and Playing Area
The unused tiles form a face-down pool within reach of all players. Although no special board is required, the shared playing area must provide enough room to arrange, split, and rebuild several groups and runs. Keep completed combinations separated clearly so every player can verify them.
Checking the Set
Before play, confirm that the set has all 106 tiles and enough racks for every player. Missing numbered tiles alter the available combinations, while a missing joker changes both strategy and scoring. If using an incomplete set for casual play, disclose the missing pieces before the game begins.