Rules of Burako

Players

Two or four (two pairs).

Tiles

Eleven tiles are dealt to each player, in addition to the dead pots placed on the table.

Goal

To score the most points (the sum of melds and melded tiles for each player or pair).

Melds / Gameplay

Arrange three or more tiles in sequence of the same color, or three or more tiles of the same number. The "one" (1) can be placed before the "two" (2) or after the "fourteen" (14). To meld for the first time, at least three tiles must be laid down; after that, additional tiles can be added throughout the game.

Wildcards

The "twos" (2s) and the Joker are used as wildcards and can substitute for any tile.

Going Out

This occurs when a player runs out of tiles in their hand. To go out and end the game, the player must have picked up and used the dead pot beforehand.

Ways to Go Out

• Indirectly: The player empties their hand by discarding a tile, then picks up the dead pot. They can only play on their next turn.
• Final: The player ends the game after having already used the dead pot. To do this, the player/team must have at least one dirty meld.

Dead Pot

There are two dead pots. Each pair can pick up only one of them. In a two-player game, each player is entitled to take one dead pot.

Meld

A sequence of seven or more tiles of the same color or the same number. There are four types of melds:

• Clean Meld: Without wildcards.
• Dirty Meld: With wildcards.
• Royal Meld: Run of 13 tiles (a clean sequence running from 1 to 14, or 2 to 1, without wildcards).
• 1 to 1 Meld: Run of 14 tiles (a clean sequence from 1 to 1, without wildcards).

The Gameplay

Each player receives eleven tiles, and the two dead pots are placed on the table. The first player draws a tile from the stock pile, makes any possible combinations to lay down melds, and then discards a tile into the discard pile. Turn then passes to the next player.

On subsequent turns, players may draw from either the discard pile or the stock pile. The player who goes out by playing their initial eleven tiles takes the eleven tiles of the dead pot, and play continues. In team games, each pair may take only one dead pot. If a player takes the dead pot and goes out again, the game ends. To execute the final going out, the player must have at least one dirty meld.

Scoring

At the end of the round, points are calculated. The player or pair with the highest score wins, calculated as follows:

• Add up the point values of all tiles melded on the table.
• Add the score value for completed melds.
• Add 100 bonus points for going out.
• Subtract the value of tiles remaining in the hands of the player and their partner.
• Deduct 100 points if the opposing player or pair failed to pick up their dead pot.

Note: In the event of an Indirect Going Out where an opponent goes out on the very next turn—preventing the player from playing their dead pot—the value of the dead pot is deducted as if it was never picked up. (This will be implemented in future versions).

Point Values

• Clean Meld: 200 points
• Dirty Meld: 100 points
• Royal Meld: 500 points
• 1 to 1 Meld: 1000 points
• Final Going Out: 100 points
• 2 (Wildcard): 10 points
• Joker: 50 points
• 8 to 14: 10 points per tile
• 3 to 7: 5 points per tile
• 1: 15 points