Before any strategy comes a starting routine that confuses most new players: how are the tiles dealt, who gets 15 tiles, which way does play rotate and who throws the first tile? This guide clarifies the start of a hand step by step. If you also want the overall flow of play, our how to play Okey guide is a good companion.

The Table and Seating

Okey is played by 4 players seated around the four sides of a square table. While players sitting opposite each other are treated as partners at physical tables, in Düz Okey everyone plays for themselves (the partners variant is separate). Online, the system sets the seating; any empty seats are filled by bots so the table starts instantly.

Shuffling the Tiles

The game uses a total of 106 tiles: in 4 colours (red, yellow, blue, black) the numbers 1 to 13 appear twice each (104 tiles), plus 2 false jokers. At the start of each hand all tiles are shuffled face down. In online Okey this shuffle happens on the server; Game Finale uses a provably-fair shuffle that mathematically proves no one could know the order in advance.

The Deal: Who Gets 15, Who Gets 14?

The dealer starts handing out tiles. The key rule: the player to the dealer's right receives 15 tiles, while the other three players receive 14 each. The player with 15 tiles has one extra tile, which makes them the one to make the first move — they throw the first tile and the game begins without them needing to draw.

  • 15 tiles: the player to the dealer's right (the first to play).
  • 14 tiles: the remaining three players.

Thanks to this small asymmetry the game flows in balance: the first player starts by discarding a tile without drawing, and everyone after that draws first, then discards.

Setting the Indicator and the Okey Tile

After the deal, one of the remaining tiles is turned face up; this is the indicator (gösterge). The indicator decides which tile is the okey (wild) for that hand: the okey is the tile one higher in the same colour as the indicator. For example, if the indicator is a blue 5, then blue 6 is the okey for that hand. The false jokers also act as that okey tile. You'll find the full logic of the indicator in our okey tiles and the indicator guide.

Which Way Does Play Rotate?

In Okey, turns move counter-clockwise. On their turn, each player does three things:

  • Draw: take a tile from the centre stock or from the tile thrown by the player on your left.
  • Arrange: review your hand into runs and sets (or pairs).
  • Discard: throw one tile to the player on your right so the turn passes to them.

This is why the tile you throw to your right is critical — it can directly help that opponent. We detail this nuance in our which tile to discard guide.

Who Throws the First Tile?

In short: the player to the dealer's right (who received 15 tiles) throws the first tile. That player starts the game by shedding their extra tile without needing to draw. After that the turn rotates counter-clockwise and each player repeats the draw-arrange-discard cycle. The hand continues until someone splits all their tiles into valid combinations and finishes by going out.

The Next Hand: How the Dealer Changes

After a hand ends, the deal usually passes to the next player, so over time everyone both deals and gets to be first to play. This rotation spreads the advantage fairly around the table. How many hands a match lasts and how the total score is tracked depends on the variant; you'll find the details in our how scoring works guide.

The Most-Confused Points

Here are the details new players trip over most with the deal and turn order:

  • The "everyone gets 14 tiles" myth: no. Three players get 14, and the first to play gets 15. That extra tile is exactly what enables the first move.
  • The "the first player draws too" myth: the first player doesn't draw; with 15 tiles already, they begin by simply discarding. The full draw-then-discard cycle starts from the second player onward.
  • The "the indicator is the okey" myth: the indicator itself is not the okey; the okey is the tile one higher in the same colour. The indicator only determines the okey.
  • Direction confusion: you draw from your left (or the stock) and discard to your right. That's why the tile you hand to your right is critical.

When you play online, the system handles all of these steps automatically; who has 15 tiles, what the indicator is and whose turn it is are all shown clearly on screen, making it impossible to break a rule by mistake.

Try It Right Now

You'll learn the deal and turn order fastest by playing a real hand. Play Game Finale free in your browser and you'll see who gets 15 tiles and how the first move works within seconds. For more rules, browse our full Okey Guides hub.