How to Play

Jokeren is the popular Dutch rummy-family game played with two decks plus 4 jokers (108 cards). Each player holds 13 cards and races to meld them all into sets and runs, with jokers as wild cards that can be reclaimed by their natural replacement.

Jokeren is the most popular rummy-family card game in the Netherlands, played with two standard decks and 4 jokers (108 cards). Each player holds 13 cards and races to be first to lay down sets (same rank) and runs (consecutive same suit) on the table, with jokers acting as wild cards that can be reclaimed when replaced by their natural counterpart. Penalty points for cards left in hand are tallied at round end; jokers stuck in hand cost a hefty 25. Played as a series of rounds to a target score (typically 250 or 500 penalty points eliminates a player), it is a Dutch family-evening staple alongside Klaverjas.

Players

Jokeren is best for 3 or 4 players and supports 2-4 players comfortably. Two-player Jokeren is more cutthroat (more cards per player); four-player is the family favourite. This guide describes the 4-player game.

Card Deck

• Use two complete 52-card decks shuffled together, plus all 4 jokers (2 from each deck), for a total of 108 cards.
• Card rank within a suit, high to low: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. The Ace can also start a low run as 1 (A-2-3) but cannot wrap around (no Q-K-A-2).A♠K♠Q♠J♠
• Jokers are wild and may substitute for any single missing card in any set or run.
• Card values for end-of-round penalty: 2-9 = face value; 10, J, Q, K = 10 each; Ace = 15; Joker = 25.10♠J♠Q♠K♠

Objective

Be the first player to get rid of all 13 cards in a single round by melding them onto the table (going out). Other players score penalty points equal to the cards left in hand. Across multiple rounds, the player with the lowest cumulative penalty score wins; in elimination variants, players who cross 250 (short) or 500 (long) penalty points are out.

Setup and Deal

1. Cut for first dealer; the deal then passes to the left after each round.
2. Shuffle the 108-card pack thoroughly and deal 13 cards face-down to each player.
3. Place the remaining cards face-down as a stock pile in the centre.
4. Turn the top card of the stock face-up next to it to start the discard pile.
5. The player to the dealer's left plays first.

Gameplay

1. Draw one card from either (a) the top of the stock OR (b) the top of the discard pile.
2. Optional first meld requirement: In many house rules, your FIRST melds in a round must total at least 30 points (face values; Jokers count for the card they replace). After this opening 30, subsequent melds can be any size. Skip this rule for casual family play; it is the standard tournament rule.
3. Lay down sets: 3 or 4 cards of the same rank (suits irrelevant). Example: 7♠ 7♦ 7♥. Up to 4 cards (with both decks, you might have two 7♠ in play; that is allowed).7♠7♦7♥
4. Lay down runs: 3 or more consecutive cards in the same suit. Example: 4♠ 5♠ 6♠ 7♠. Aces are low only.4♠5♠6♠7♠
5. Use jokers: A joker substitutes for any single missing card in a set or run. Announce which card the joker represents when you lay it.
6. Reclaim a joker: On any future turn, you may pick up a joker from a meld on the table by REPLACING it with the natural card it represents (taken from your hand). The joker returns to your hand to be reused. Example: a meld of 4♠ Joker 6♠ has the joker as 5♠; if you draw the 5♠, you may replace the joker and take it into your hand.4♠6♠5♠
7. Extend melds: Add cards from your hand to ANY meld already on the table (yours or an opponent's). Example: add a 7♣ to a set of 7s; add a 3♠ to a run of 4-5-6 of Spades. You score by getting cards out of your hand.6♠7♣3♠
8. Discard one card face-up to end your turn. You may NOT discard the joker (some house rules allow it; agree before play).
9. Going out: When your final card is laid down or discarded, the round ends. Other players reveal their hands.

Scoring

• Player who goes out: 0 penalty points.
• Other players: Sum of their hand cards by face value (2-9 face, 10/J/Q/K = 10, Ace = 15, Joker = 25). Each player adds this total to their running penalty score.
• End of match: In the standard elimination format, players reaching 250 (short match) or 500 (long match) penalty points are eliminated; the last player not eliminated wins. In the score-only format, the lowest cumulative penalty after a fixed number of rounds wins.
• Bonus for going out without melding (cutting in one): If a player never melds in a round and goes out by discarding their last card to a single move (laying all 13 cards in one go), they sometimes earn a bonus that subtracts 25 from their score; agree before play.

Winning

In the elimination format, the last player not yet over the penalty threshold (250 or 500) wins. In the score format, the lowest total after the agreed number of rounds wins. Both formats use the same per-round mechanics; only the match endpoint differs.

Common Variations

• Mexican Jokeren: Adds the rule that on your first meld of the round, you must lay down at least 51 points (instead of 30); a higher entry bar.
• Rummikub-style Jokeren: Allows rearranging melds on the table (split runs, recombine sets) using cards from hand, as in Rummikub. A more flexible play style.
• Contract Jokeren: Each round assigns a specific meld requirement (e.g. round 1: two sets; round 2: one set + one run; round 3: two runs). Players cannot meld until they hold the contract.
• Turbo Jokeren: Players may draw up to 3 cards per turn from the stock if they cannot meld immediately; speeds the game up dramatically.
• Open Jokeren: Hands are played face-up; a teaching variant.

Tips and Strategy

• Save jokers for the going-out play. A joker locked in an early set is a wasted resource; one that completes a 13-card going-out chain is the highest value card in the deck.
• Reclaim jokers aggressively. The moment you draw a card that replaces a joker on the table, swap it; you now have the wild card back for your own use, which is functionally a free card.
• Watch what opponents draw from the discard pile. A draw from the discard tells you exactly what they need; never feed them more of that suit or rank.
• Hoard low cards if you fall behind. If an opponent looks set to go out, dump high-value cards (Aces, Kings) onto existing melds and keep low-cost penalty cards in hand.
• Open with a chunky 30+ meld. If your house plays the 30-point opening rule, the right time to bid for the lay-down is when you can drop two melds at once that comfortably exceed 30; a single meld of three Jacks (30 exactly) wastes any extras.
• Track the second deck. With two of every card in play, a discarded 7♠ does not mean the other 7♠ is gone; opponents may still be holding it.7♠

Glossary

• Set: Three or four cards of the same rank (any suits).
• Run: Three or more consecutive cards in the same suit; Aces are low only.A♠3♠
• Joker: Wild card; substitutes for any missing card in a set or run; worth 25 penalty points if left in hand.
• Reclaim: Pick up a joker from a table meld by replacing it with the natural card from your hand.
• Going out: Playing or discarding your last card; ends the round and gives you 0 penalty.
• First-meld requirement: In some house rules, your first melds in a round must total at least 30 points before you may meld further.