Rummikub: A Number Puzzle Game

Let me introduce you to a fun numbers game that most of your family can play. This would be a great family Christmas gift.

Once the children can put numbers in order from 1 to 13, they can play this game (though I think the box says ages 8 and up). It can be played by just two players, but is much more fun with three or four (or combine two games and play with up to eight players!).

First, obtain the most beat up table you can find and spread out the tiles. Turn them all upside down.

Everyone draws fourteen tiles and arranges them in their tray in which ever way makes sense to them. Everyone does this differently. Once your child learns the game, don't mess with the way they arrange their tiles. My best player doesn't arrange her tiles at all, but then, she has always been way smarter than me.

Now it's time to play. Each player takes turns laying down as many tiles as she can. The first person to be out of tiles, wins. If you can't go, you must draw a tile from the pile.

You play by laying down a run (at least three consecutive numbers of the same color):

They can be any three consecutive numbers of any same color: Or, play a set (at least three tiles of the same number, but different colors):That's it. It is easy to learn, but the play becomes a great puzzle as more and more tiles are played. Runs can be as long as thirteen tiles (1 through 13) and sets can have one of each color (red, black, orange, and blue), but neither can have less than three tiles.

Sometimes you can rearrange the entire board, just to get rid of one tile.

It is always fun to see the synapses firing--and I'm referring to Mom and Dad, here.

Have fun with yet another way to play with numbers.