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  eBurako rules
Extracted and translated from here.

Introduction:

This game has been derived from the well known game "Rummy". The "Rummy", initially played with cards, evolved to tiles and racks without changing the essence of the game. Later, the "Burako" has been created.

Players: 2, or 4 playing in couples (we will use 2 players in the eBurako version).
Contents: 104 numerical tiles, 2 jokers tiles and 4 racks.


Main objective:

The first to reach the 3000 points wins.

Start:

The tiles are laid face down, shuffle and arranged in 4 stacks of 10 tiles and 6 stacks of 11 tiles – still face down. One row of 10 tiles stacks is made and one row of 11 tiles stacks also is made. The players will alternate the start of the round during the game (to the right).

  • Two players game: the first player takes one stack, then, the second one takes one. They repeat the action for second time. They have to put the 22 tiles on their racks. Finally, the two stacks that were left, they will be the "dead" tiles.
  • Four players game: Each player takes one stack in turn, to the right. They arrange their stacks on their racks. The remaining stacks, will be took one for each couple.

The 10 tiles stacks will be used to take one tile before the turn of each player, if he wants. Generally, it is put on the middle of the table.

The play:

The starting player takes one tile from the 10 tiles stack. If he wants, he can left in his rack, or throw it to the discarded tiles and take a new one from the stack (this takes place only with the starting turn). Before throwing one tile, the player can put on the table all the arranged sets that he has on his rack. The next player turn will take place, after the player in turn discards one tile.

The player in turn can take all the discarded tiles or one of the 10 tiles stacks. The only exception takes place, when the sum of his tiles and those on the discarded group are less than five, in this case he can't take them. When a player is in turn, he can add his arranged sets on the table (all these sets belong to the couple) or add tiles to the already arranged sets of his group.

The "dead" tiles:

When a player goes without tiles on his rack and the "dead" tiles weren't pick up, so this player has to pick them up, and continue playing. There are two manners to do this action:

  • Directly: when the player run out of tiles on his rack as consequence of putting them on the table. Thus, he takes the "dead" tiles and continues playing.
  • Indirectly: when the player run out of tiles on his rack as consequence of discarding the last one on the table. Thus, he takes the "dead" tiles but the next player has the turn.

Possible sets:

All the sets are based on a minimal group of three tiles.

  • Runs: three or more tiles of the same color in numerical sequence. The "1" can be used as "1" or as "14" (after a "13" tile).
    (i.e. or )
  • Groups: three or more tiles of the same numerical value.
    (i.e. or )
  • Canasta: seven or more tiles arranged as a run or as a group. It can be "pure" when the canasta has no jokers, and "impure" when it has one joker.

A joker can be used in place of any tile, but only one per arranged set.

Jokers:

In addition to the commonly well known jokers, the tiles with the number "2" on it, also take work as a joker. The player can supplant one missing tile with a joker.

When a joker is in place, its place can be changed as explained:
· If the joker replaces one number on a run set, and suddenly appears that number on a tile, thus, this joker can be replaced with the numbered tile and it has to be put on one side of this run. The can change its side every time he wants.
· When a "2" tile is in the position of joker and is changed to the number "2" position and is from the same color of the run, in that case, the player can make a pure canasta.
· Important: the jokers can't be taken from an arranged set, but it can be moved.

Tile's value:

Tile Value
Number "1" 15 points
Number "2" 20 points
Numbers "3" to "7" 5 points
Numbers "8" to "13" 10 points
Jokers 50 points


End of the round:

To finalize the round, it's necessary that one player has made one canasta (pure or impure) and his "dead" tiles were picked up and all his tiles were exposed on the table.
The player that finishes the round will take to home 100 points extra, if it has at least one canasta. If it hasn't canastas, all its points will be subtracted.

End without canasta: the group has got at least one canasta, the points will be added normally without adding the 100 points for finalizing the round. Contrary, the couple or player without canasta, its points will be subtracted.

End of the 10 tiles stacks: the same as ending without canasta.

Counting the points of the round:

In one hand, the players have the points of the tiles on the table (if there is at least one canasta in that couple).

In the other hand they have to add:

For ending (with canasta) 100 points
For every impure canasta 100 points
For every pure canasta 200 points

Also they have to subtract the value of the tiles on their racks, 100 points if they haven't picked up the "dead" tiles.

The player at the right of the starting player of this round, will start the next round.

 

   
This site is (c) by Javier Turek for the eBurako project