Rummy card game rules

General Rules of Rummy

How do you play Rummy? Let’s start with the general rules:

1. Rummy is normally played with 2 to 4 players.
2. You play with a standard deck of 52 cards (without jokers).
3. The objective of the game is to score as many points as possible and to get rid of all your cards.

Like most card games, the player to the dealer’s left begins the game

Dealing

1. In a 2-player game, each player receives 10 cards. In a game with 3 or 4 players, each player receives 7 cards.
2. Cards that are not dealt form the draw pile. One card from the draw pile is placed face-up, starting the discard pile.

Gameplay

• The player to the dealer’s left starts. You can draw a card either from the draw pile or from the discard pile, adding it to your hand.
• If possible, you may play cards:
  • You can play a run, which is a sequence of at least 3 consecutive cards of the same suit, for example, 7♥ 8♥ 9♥. An Ace can be used as either the lowest card (below 2) or the highest card (above the King).
  • You can play a set, which is at least 3 cards of the same rank, for example, 10♥ 10♦ 10♣.
  • You may also add cards to existing sets and runs.
  • Playing cards is optional.
• At the end of your turn, you must discard one card onto the discard pile. You cannot discard the card you just picked from the discard pile in the same turn.
• If the draw pile runs out, the discard pile is shuffled, turned face-down, and becomes the new draw pile.
• The first player to play all their cards wins the round. You don’t necessarily need to discard a card onto the discard pile to end the round.

Scoring in Rummy

Rummy scoring works as follows:

• Each losing player pays the winning player the total points of the cards left in their hand. Points per card are:
  • King, Queen, Jack: 10 points each
  • Ace: 1 point
  • Cards 2 to 10: Face value (a 5 is worth 5 points)
• If a player has not yet played any cards and manages to play all their cards in one turn, they receive a bonus. This is called ‘going rummy’, and all points scored are doubled.
• If a situation arises where no player can discard all their cards, the round ends with no points awarded.
• Often, the game continues until a player reaches a predetermined score, such as 100 or 500 points.

Rummy Variations

Rummy has many variants worldwide. Here are a few well-known ones:

• In some variants, you may only lay down one set or run per turn.
• In some variants, the Ace can only be used as the lowest card.
• In some variants, you must discard a card onto the discard pile to completely go out and end the round.
• In some variants, your initial meld must total at least 50 points.
• In some variants, jokers are used and can substitute for other cards.

Rummy also shares similarities with other card games such as Gin Rummy and the more complex game Canasta.