You can open in 101 Okey by laying down five pairs instead of reaching 101 points with melds.

Five pairs is an alternative opening route: instead of totalling 101 in runs and sets, you show five matching pairs of tiles. This gives players a second path onto the table when their hand builds pairs faster than high-value melds. After opening this way, you continue toward finishing. Choosing between the points route and the five-pairs route depends on which tiles you draw early in the hand.