When you come to Turkey, you can expect many surprises that you had no idea about before. One of them is that people spend several hours a day sitting in restaurants drinking tea and playing board games. There are two games called Tavla and Okey. It doesn’t matter how old you are, everyone here plays, it is quite common to see older men sitting for hours and playing these games. But it’s also common to see a lot of students on campus during break, waiting for classes to start and enjoying the moment by playing.
Both Tavla and Okey are classic social board games that originate from Turkey. The games are played with a set of tiles, with the goal being to remove all of one’s tiles from the board before one’s opponents. Although both games are quite similar, there are some key differences. For example, Tavla is typically played by two people, while Okey can be played by up to four players. Additionally, Tavla is a game of strategy, while Okey is more luck-based.
Tavla
Tavla, also known as backgammon, is a board game that is believed to have originated in Persia, and then spread to the rest of the world. The game is thought to have been played by the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt, and there are references to it in the Bible. Tavla is a game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and it is a great way to spend time with friends and family.
Tavla is the Turkish name for backgammon. The rules are very similar but there are some differences. If you want to learn more about Tavli, check out this page. In Iran, the same game is played under the name Takhteh.
Okey
Rummikub is a rummy game that can be played by 2-4 players. The game is played with a regular deck of 106 tiles. The aim of the game is to be the first player to eliminate all the tiles from your rack by forming them into sets of runs and groups. Try to keep a few points in your rack as possible.
The game is simple to learn but takes a while to master. The basic gameplay involves forming runs and sets using the tiles in your hand. You can either discard a card or put it into the pot. The player who gets rid of all their tiles first wins the game.
You can even learn how to play Okey online before coming on an Erasmus Internship. You can play Okey online and surprise your friends in later duels. The online gaming app has more than 50 million users. It’s the most popular social networking app in Turkey, and it’s starting to gain popularity in other parts of the world, too.
Okey is a bit like a cross between Mahjong and Poker. Players can connect with friends, family, and strangers online to play the game. There are different levels of difficulty, so players can choose how challenging they want the game to be.