Levant · Rummy · 2 to 4 players or partners
Konkan: rules and how to play
كونكان
Konkan is the rummy of the Levant and the Gulf: two decks, two jokers, and a first lay-down that has to reach 51 points. Once you are open you can add cards to any meld on the table, yours or not, which turns every turn into a puzzle. Empty your hand first, keep your score low, and don't be the one who reaches 101.
At a glance
- Players
- 2 to 4, or 4 in two teams
- Deck
- 2 decks + 2 jokers (106 cards)
- Goal
- Go out first and stay under 101
- A game
- Rounds until one player is left (or 3, 5 or 7 rounds)
01
How to play in one minute
- Deal 14 cards each; the dealer takes 15 and starts by discarding one.
- On your turn draw from the stock, or take the top discard if you can meld it at once.
- Lay down sets (3 or 4 of a rank, all different suits) and runs (3 or more in a row of one suit). A joker stands in for any card.
- Your first lay-down must total at least 51 points. After that you can add cards to any meld on the table.
- Discard to end your turn. Go out by discarding your last card; the others count what is left. Reach 101 and you are out.
02
The rules
The deal
Two decks and two jokers, 106 cards, for 2 to 4 players. Each player gets 14 cards; the dealer gets 15 and starts by discarding one card without drawing. The rest is the stock; the discard pile starts empty.
Your turn
Draw the top card of the stock, or take the top discard: with the default rules you may take it only if you lay it down at once in a new meld. Then lay down melds if you can, and end your turn by discarding one card.
- Set: 3 or 4 cards of one rank, all in different suits.
- Run: 3 or more cards in a row of one suit. The ace is low (A-2-3) or high (Q-K-A), never both.
- A joker stands in for any card; every meld needs at least one real card.
Opening and adding
Your first lay-down, in one go, must total at least 51 points: ace 11, J, Q and K 10, other cards their face value, a joker the card it replaces. Once open you may lay down more melds, add cards to any meld on the table whoever laid it (tarkeeb), and swap a joker on the table for the exact card it stands for. Always keep one card back: you go out by discarding your last card.
Scoring
- Going out scores 0. Laying down your whole hand in one turn without having opened before is a Konkan: -10.
- The others count the cards left in hand: joker 25, ace 11, J, Q and K 10, other cards face value. A player who never opened scores a flat 100.
- Knock-out: reach 101 and you are out; the last player left wins. Or play 3, 5 or 7 rounds and the lowest total wins.
You go out (0); a rival holding an ace, a queen and a joker adds 11 + 10 + 25 = 46.
03
Tips from the table
- Don't rush to open with your best melds: every card on the table is one your rivals can build on.
- Count the jokers. There are only two in 106 cards, so when one sits in a meld and you hold its card, swap it out.
- Watch the discard: taking it shows your hand, so only do it when the meld is worth it.
- Near 101, dump your aces and court cards first: they cost the most when someone goes out.
Qahwa · قهوة
Play it in Qahwa
Switch the house rules before you deal:
- Knock-out at 101, or 3, 5 or 7 rounds
- Konkan bonus: your whole hand in one turn scores -10
- The discard must be melded at once
- Swap a joker on the table for its card
- Konkan Partners: two teams, partners sit opposite
Online, every computer player is labelled and the deal can be checked. How we keep it fair
04
Questions
How many points do you need to open in Konkan?
51. Your first lay-down, in one turn, must add up to at least 51 points; after that any meld counts.
What is a Konkan?
Going out by laying down your whole hand in one turn, before you had opened. In Qahwa it scores -10, which takes points off your total.
Is Konkan the same as Hand?
They are close cousins: both are two-deck rummy games with jokers and a 51-point opening. In Konkan you add to anyone's melds and play knock-out to 101; Hand plays a fixed number of rounds. Qahwa has both, with Hand Saudi and Hand Partners.
Play it free: Konkan
Coming to Google Play soon. Join the Android beta and play first.