<p>According to the official rules, your house rule (which I also used to play) IS currently official:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Once a player replaces a joker, they must use it in the same turn as part of a set.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Although it specifically contradicts your other house rule about manipulating sets containing  a Joker:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Sets containing jokers can be split and manipulated like regular sets.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>FWIW, I used to play that Jokers didn't have to be replayed in NEW sets, but could alternatively be played in existing sets (e.g. I replace a Joker, and then add it to a 6-7-8 run as a 5 to allow me to play a 4). I infer from your question that your house rules require Jokers be replayed into new sets, but I may be misunderstanding your explanation.</p>

<p>Source: <a href="http://www.rummikub.com/info/Rules.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.rummikub.com/info/Rules.aspx</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-19T10:22:17.390Z
Also of interest might be this discussion on Boardgamegeek http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/371138/old-rules-new-rules (although I confess I didn't fully read it)
Johno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-21T17:34:10.010Z
That link is useful, basically confirming that the official rules have changed a lot over the years.
Gregor Thomas
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-26T07:30:16.817Z
Also, you did understand my explanation. We play where at least two tiles played with the Joker must be new from your hand.
Gregor Thomas
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-19T10:19:08.347Z
2012-04-19T10:19:08.347Z
Johno
<p>I don't have the paper rules here as a reference, but I grew up playing Rummikub with the rule that, if you replaced a joker on the table you must immediately replay the joker in a run or set with at least 2 tiles from your hand. This rule could make the endgame particularly interesting. We also played that the joker froze whatever group of tiles it was in--they couldn't be manipulated without replacing the joker. However, I just looked up the <a href="http://www.rummikub.com/Themes/rummikub/info/Rummikub_Static_Pages/Rules.aspx">rules online</a> to settle a dispute about making the initial meld, and noticed that both of these special joker rules are missing.</p>

<p>I'm pretty sure that way back when they were official, not house rules; were they? If so, when (and for bonus points, why) were they changed?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-16T19:24:52.527Z
My family played by those rules as well and I was confused when I played with another group of friends and we checked the joker rules.
Bryan Rosander
<history><rummikub>
Do you have to play a (replaced) joker immediately with 2 tiles from your hand?
Gregor Thomas
# Do you have to play a (replaced) joker immediately with 2 tiles from your hand?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-04-16)

I don't have the paper rules here as a reference, but I grew up playing Rummikub with the rule that, if you replaced a joker on the table you must immediately replay the joker in a run or set with at least 2 tiles from your hand. This rule could make the endgame particularly interesting. We also played that the joker froze whatever group of tiles it was in--they couldn't be manipulated without replacing the joker. However, I just looked up the [rules online](http://www.rummikub.com/Themes/rummikub/info/Rummikub_Static_Pages/Rules.aspx) to settle a dispute about making the initial meld, and noticed that both of these special joker rules are missing.

I'm pretty sure that way back when they were official, not house rules; were they? If so, when (and for bonus points, why) were they changed?

**Tags:** history, rummikub

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: My family played by those rules as well and I was confused when I played with another group of friends and we checked the joker rules.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2012-04-19. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

According to the official rules, your house rule (which I also used to play) IS currently official:

> Once a player replaces a joker, they must use it in the same turn as part of a set.

Although it specifically contradicts your other house rule about manipulating sets containing a Joker:

> Sets containing jokers can be split and manipulated like regular sets.

FWIW, I used to play that Jokers didn't have to be replayed in NEW sets, but could alternatively be played in existing sets (e.g. I replace a Joker, and then add it to a 6-7-8 run as a 5 to allow me to play a 4). I infer from your question that your house rules require Jokers be replayed into new sets, but I may be misunderstanding your explanation.

Source: <http://www.rummikub.com/info/Rules.aspx>

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Also of interest might be this discussion on Boardgamegeek http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/371138/old-rules-new-rules (although I confess I didn't fully read it)  
> **username_0**: That link is useful, basically confirming that the official rules have changed a lot over the years.  
> **username_0**: Also, you did understand my explanation. We play where at least two tiles played with the Joker must be new from your hand.  

---

