How to play rummy?
Introduction
2 – 6 Players
13 Cards per player
Players & Deck – Rummy is played between 2 to 6 players and each player is dealt cards depending on the variant of rummy. For example in indian rummy – 13 cards are dealt using one or two standard card decks that include printed jokers.
What’s the objective
According to rummy game rules, the goal of the game is to arrange all 13 cards into valid sequences and or sets
Valid declaration
A valid declaration is the one in which you have at least two sequences (one of which has to be a pure sequence). The rest of the cards can be arranged in either sequences or sets.
A Valid Declaration
Pure Sequence
Sequence
Set
Set
A Invalid Declaration
Pure Sequence
Invalid
Set
Set
Gameplay
Dealer
A dealer is selected at random. Subsequently, each player takes turns distributing the cards
Deal
The deck is shuffled and each player is dealt 13 cards, one at a time.
Open card
Once the cards are dealt, the top card is opened for the game to begin. The open card may or may not be used by the person who starts the game
Joker
The dealer then selects a random card from the deck, this card is accepted to be the wild joker card for the game. If the selected card comes as a printed joker, then according to rummy game rules, all aces are considered to be a joker in the game.
Drawing & discarding
Each player on his/her turn draws a card either from the closed deck or the open card on top. The player must then discard a card, any card, which he/she is holding. There should only be 13 cards with each player at the end of every turn.
Declaring the game
All cards must be arranged into valid sets and sequences (with at least one pure sequence). The 14th card should be discarded in the finish slot. This concludes one round of the game.
Important Terms / Concepts Used in Rummy
Sequences
A sequence is a group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit. There are two types of sequences :
A pure sequence is a group of three or more cards of the same suit, placed in consecutive order.
An impure sequence is a group of three or more cards of the same suit with one or more Joker cards used.
Sets
A set is a group of three or more cards of the same value but of different suits.
Jokers
A joker is a card that functions as a substitute for any card. There are two types of Jokers used in the game :
Printed JokerAs the name suggests, printed jokers are those cards that form the pack by depicting a funny and clownish figure on them
Wild JokerThe wild joker is randomly picked at the beginning of the game. Just like the printed joker, the wild joker card can also be used as a substitute for any missing card and helps form an impure sequence or a set.
A few more rummy game rules on joker
- Printed joker and wild card jokers can be used to complete any impure sequence or a set.
- If the opponent player discards the joker by mistake, then other players at the table cannot pick it up.
- A joker can be picked from the open deck provided it is the first turn of the game.
- A joker can be picked from the closed deck by the player at any time as long as it is that player’s turn to pick.
- A joker card carries no points
Drop
When a player decides to leave the game table at the start or middle of the rummy game, it is a drop. Additionally in all variants, if a player misses three turns in a row, they will get dropped from the game automatically.
You will lose some points when you drop out of a game.
Deal/Round
In rummy, a deal/round begins with the dealing of cards and ends when a player successfully declares their hand.
Sorting
The sorting of cards is done at the beginning of the game. Simply click on the “Sort” button and your cards will be automatically arranged into sequences
Dealing
At the beginning of a rummy game, cards are distributed to each player randomly. This is known as dealing.
Example of random 13 cards dealt to a player at the begining of game
Invalid Declaration
An invalid declaration happens in a rummy card game when the player presses the declaration button, but the cards are not into valid sequences and sets. Therefore, the player will lose the game and the competitor will automatically be declared as the winner. In the case of a 6-player game, the player will be eliminated.
Example of an invalid declaration
Pure Sequence
Set
Set
Invalid
Melding
When cards have been dealt, players have to arrange their cards in sequences, or sequences and sets. The act of arranging cards into valid groups is known as melding.
Before Melding
After Melding
Invalid
Pure Sequence
Declare
Immediately after you finish a game by discarding one of your cards to the “Finish” slot, you have to show your cards to your opponents. This is called declaring your hand.
Discarding the 14th card to finish slot
Pure Sequence
Sequence
Invalid (16)
Sequence
Calculation of points
Different variants of rummy have different scoring rules. However, the following is how the scoring happens in Indian rummy :
Cards
Points
Ace, King, Queen, Jack
10
Joker and Printed Joker
0
Numerical Cards
The numerical cards incur the points as their numerical value.
Example showing points associated with different types of cards
10 pts
10 pts
10 pts
10 pts
0 pts
0 pts
8 pts
9 pts
10 pts
Drop
Game Type
First Drop Points
Middle Drop Points
Points Rummy
20
40
Pool 101 Rummy
20
40
Pool 201 Rummy
25
50
Deals Rummy (Best of 2)
Drop not allowed
Drop not allowed
Deals Rummy (Best of 3)
Drop not allowed
Drop not allowed
Points Rummy
Cards
Points
20 Points
40 Points
Pool 101 Rummy
Cards
Points
20 Points
40 Points
Pool 201 Rummy
Cards
Points
25 Points
50 Points
Deals Rummy – Best of 2
Cards
Points
Not Allowed
Not Allowed
Deals Rummy – Best of 3
Cards
Points
Not Allowed
Not Allowed
Invalid Declaration | 80 Points
If a player declares the game with an invalid hand, he/she gets 80 points.
Consecutive Misses | 40 Points
If A player misses three consecutive turns, he will be automatically dropped out of the game. It will be considered a middle drop i.e 40 Points.
Losing Players with a Valid Hand | 2 Points
Players who declare their combinations second and have a valid hand get 2 points. So, if you win a game against players who also have a valid hand, the losing player with valid hands loses by two points.
Deal Show
The game declared as “Deal Show” means that if the losing player has not had his first turn before the opponent made a valid declaration, then :
- The losing player gets points equal to half of his/her hand score. For example, if the hand score for a losing player is 60 points, then the player gets 30 points as his score
- The minimum number of points a losing player can get in this case is 2 (for scores 2, 3, 4, & 5)
- The maximum number of points for a losing player, in this case, is 40 (for scores 80 or more)
