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How to Play Rummy?

The rummy card game involves using two decks of cards, including two Jokers. The objective is to win by making a valid declaration, which requires picking and discarding cards from two different piles.

One pile is a closed deck, where players cannot see the card they are picking, while the other is an open deck consisting of cards discarded by players. To achieve victory in the rummy game, players must arrange their cards into valid sequences and sets.

Steps to Play Rummy Game

In a rummy game, each player is initially dealt 13 cards. If there are 2 to 4 players, two decks of 52 cards, totaling 104 cards, are used, along with 2 jokers as wild cards. If there are 5 to 6 players, three decks of 52 cards, totaling 156 cards, are used, along with 3 jokers. The players take turns dealing the cards in a clockwise order.

  • The first player to make a move is determined randomly by an online system. Each player is then dealt 13 cards face down. The game begins with a card from the deck being placed face-up on the table, starting the discard pile or open deck. The remaining cards are placed face down in the center of the table, forming the stock pile or closed deck.
  • During the game, a card is drawn from the stockpile and placed face up underneath it, making it visible. All cards of the same rank, regardless of the suit, can be used as additional jokers or wild cards.
  • The objective of the game is to create runs (sequences) and sets. When a player successfully forms the required runs and sets using all 13 cards, they declare their turn. A valid declaration must consist of at least two runs, with one of them being a pure run. The second run can be either pure or non-pure, but it must have three or more cards. Once the objective is met, the player can click on the “Declare” button.
  • After a valid declaration is made, the remaining players on the table must also form and declare their valid sets and sequences. For these players, any unmatched cards are counted. Each player must have a minimum of two sequences, otherwise, all 13 cards are considered unmatched and are counted against them. If all 13 cards are unmatched, the player loses 80 points.
  • If you choose to drop from the game without drawing a card from either the discard pile or the stockpile, you will face 20 penalty points. However, if you drop during a hand before any other player has made a valid declaration, you will face a penalty of 40 points.

Read More: Order of Cards in Rummy

Key Terms to Remember Before Knowing How to Play a Rummy Game

To learn how to play rummy, it is important to know a few important terms of the game like:

Deck

A deck used in rummy consists of 52 cards, including a printed Joker. The deck is divided into four sets, each containing 13 cards of different ranks (Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and cards from 2 to 10) and four suits (Clubs, Hearts, Spades, and Diamonds).

Jokers and Wild Cards

In addition to the regular deck, there is a printed Joker card included in the open deck. This Joker card, along with a randomly chosen wild card, can be used as replacement for any desired card to form sets and impure sequences. When the open Joker is a printed Joker, the Aces are considered as wild cards as well. These wild and Joker cards in rummy hold no point value at the end of the game.

Sorting

Sorting of cards is done by each player at the beginning of the game to arrange their cards in a specific order. This sorting aids in forming sets and sequences and prevents the mixing of cards. While you play online on Rummyprime, you have the sorting button that will automatically sort your cards.

Points

Each card in rummy carries a certain point value. Face cards such as Ace, King, Queen, and Jack are worth 10 points each, while the other cards hold points equivalent to their numerical value (e.g., a 7♦ carries 7 points).

Sequences

sequence in rummy consists of three or more cards of the same suit arranged in consecutive order. A sequence can be categorized as either pure or impure. A pure sequence is formed without the use of a Joker, although a wild card Joker of the same suit can be utilized to create a pure sequence. On the other hand, an impure sequence always contains a Joker card.

Sets

A set, on the other hand, consists of three or four cards of the same rank but different suits. A wild card or Joker can also be incorporated into a set.

Important Rules to Remember While Playing Rummy

Some of the key rules to know for playing rummy are:

  • A sequence in rummy can also include a Joker (wild card) as a substitute for any missing card. Such a sequence is referred to as an impure sequence. Jokers can be used freely in any set or sequence without any restrictions.
  • A set is formed by having 3 or 4 cards of the same rank but with different suits, or 2 (or 3) cards of the same rank along with a Joker.
  • Once the point calculation is done for all players at the end of the game, the winner receives the prize money.
  • Any unused Jokers in the game of rummy can be kept separate when declaring, and they carry no point value.
  • If the printed Joker card is used as the wild card Joker, all Aces are considered as additional wild card Jokers.

Know How to Play Rummy and Start Winning on Rummyprime

Rummy is the most popular card game played in India. It is played between 2-6 players with a standard deck. In an Indian rummy game, each player is dealt 13 cards and the objective is to make a valid declaration (one pure sequence/ pure/impure sequence or sets). The first player to make a valid declaration wins the game.

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Updated on November25th 2023

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