101 FAQ

What is the difference between okey and 101?

Both use the same 106 tiles, but the rules are very different. Okey is simpler: form pers on your rack and finish. 101 adds opening thresholds, committing tiles to the table and a detailed penalty system. 101 is also played over 11 rounds, making it a longer and more strategic game.

What does opening mean in 101?

Opening means laying down your first valid pers on the table. Your opening must total at least 101 points, or you can open with 5 or more pairs instead. After opening, you can commit tiles to any pers on the table, not just your own.

What is committing?

After you have opened, you can add tiles from your rack to existing pers on the table. These can be your pers or another player's. You can commit up to 3 tiles per turn to a single per. Committing helps you reduce your rack and avoid penalties.

Can I take the discarded tile?

Only if you can open your hand immediately after taking it. If you cannot open, you cannot take the discard. You may test it on your rack and return it without penalty. This is different from okey, where you can freely take discards.

What happens if I open with a wrong hand?

You receive 101 penalty points. Your tiles go back to your rack, and you continue playing normally. This is why it is important to double-check your pers and count your total before committing to an opening.

Is 12-13-1 valid in 101?

No. Unlike okey, the sequence 12-13-1 is not valid in 101. Runs must be strictly consecutive without wrapping around. This catches some players off guard when switching between the two game modes.

How do I retrieve an okey from the table?

If a per on the table contains an okey and you have the real tile it represents, you can swap them. For sets, you must complete all 4 colors first before the swap is allowed. The player who originally opened that okey gets 101 penalty points when it is retrieved.

What is a direct finish?

If nobody has opened yet and you open and finish in one move, every other player gets 404 penalty points. If your last discarded tile is an okey, the penalty doubles to 808. It is the strongest play in 101 and can change the outcome of an entire game.

How does scoring work in 101?

Penalty points add up and reward points subtract. After 11 rounds, the player with the lowest total score wins. Different actions carry different point values. See the scoring page for the full breakdown.

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