The game of rummy is played by two to six players using one or two standard decks of cards plus jokers. Each player is dealt 13 cards, which they need to arrange in sequences, or sequences and sets.
On each turn, a player has to draw a card from the open deck or the closed deck, kept in the center of the table, and then discard a card to the open deck. The player who makes a valid declaration first, following all rummy game rules, wins the game.
The cards in each suit from lowest to highest are ranked as follows:
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K and A. {A (ace) can also be the lowest card and be used to form a sequence like A-2-3.}
The face cards K, Q and J, as well as A (ace), are worth 10 points each, whereas the number cards are worth their face value.
In a rummy card game, points have a negative value. The winner gets zero points and a losing player can get a maximum of 80 penalty points in a points rummy game.
Objective of the Rummy Card Game-
- The objective of the game of rummy is to arrange all the 13 cards in your hand in required combinations (either all sequences, or sequences and sets) and make a valid declaration before your opponents.
- You have to create sequences or sequences and sets to make a valid declaration. Here are some valid declarations that you can make:
- 2 sequences + 2 sets
- 3 sequences + 1 set
- All cards arranged in sequences.
- According to rummy rules, you must create at least two sequences for a valid hand or valid declaration. And out of the two sequences, at least one must be a pure sequence.
- If you declare without a pure sequence in your hand, you will not only lose but lose by a big margin as the points of all the cards in your hand will be added up to calculate your penalty points.
What Are Rummy Rules?
Rummy game rules are simple and easy to learn. Let’s take a look at them and learn how to play rummy:
- Indian rummy is played by two to six players using one or two standard decks of 52 cards in each plus jokers. At the beginning of a game, every player is dealt 13 cards.
- The remaining cards form a closed deck, which is kept in the center of the table. The cards in the closed deck are not revealed to the players but kept face down. The top card from the closed deck is picked up and placed face up on the table. That forms the open deck to which players have to discard cards.
- A random card is selected as the wild joker. All the remaining cards of the same rank/value in other suits also become wild jokers for the game.
- On each turn, you need to pick a card from the closed deck or the open deck and discard a card to the open deck.
- To win a rummy game, you have to arrange all the cards in your hand in sequences, or sequences and sets. There should be at least two sequences, out of which at least one must be a pure sequence, for a valid declaration. The player who makes a valid declaration first wins the game.
Rummy Rules for Making a Valid Declaration-
Valid Declaration
To make a valid declaration, you have to arrange all 13 cards in your hand in sequences, or in sequences and sets. This should be done following all rummy game rules.
After arranging your cards, you have to finish the game by discarding the last unwanted card into the “Finish” slot and declare your hand. The player who makes a valid declaration first wins the game and gets zero points.
For a valid declaration, you need to fulfill the following three conditions:
Pure sequence: Making at least one pure sequence is mandatory to win a rummy game. A pure sequence consists of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit.
Please note that a printed joker cannot be used as a substitute for any card in a pure sequence. However, a wild joker can be used to create a pure sequence as long as it is a part of the suit. Any declaration made without a pure sequence is invalid and the player loses by a margin equal to the total of the values of all the cards in his/her hand.
Second sequence: Rummy rules make it mandatory to make at least two sequences to make a valid declaration in the game. So in addition to a pure sequence, you need to form a second sequence. It can be either a pure sequence or an impure one, depending on the cards you have.
As explained above, an impure sequence includes a joker acting as a substitute for any other card in an impure sequence. You can create more than two sequences too.
All your cards should be arranged: All the remaining cards that are not a part of the two sequences should be arranged in either sequences or sets. Forming a set is optional but all the cards must be a part of a valid combination.
As mentioned above, a set is a combination of three or four cards of the same rank but different suits. Look at an example of a valid declaration below.
Example 1 (without Wild Joker)-
This is an example of 2 Sequences + 2 Sets
4♠-5♠-6♠-7♠
It is a pure sequence that has four consecutive cards of the same suit.
Q♦-K♦-PJ
This is an impure sequence as a printed joker has been used to replace J♦.
2♠-2♥-2♣
This is a set containing three 2s from different suits.
9♠-9♥-PJ
This is also a set. Here a printed joker has been used to replace 9♣ or 9♦.
Example 2 (With Wild Joker)
7♥-8♥(WJ)-9♥-10♥ | J♣-Q♣-K♣ | 5♦-5♥-5♠ | A♠-A♣-PJ
This is an example of 2 Sequences + 2 Sets
7♥-8♥(WJ)-9♥-10♥
This is a pure sequence consisting of four consecutive cards. Despite being a wild joker, 8♥ is a part of the suit and completes the combination.
J♣-Q♣-K♣
This is a pure sequence with three consecutive face cards of the club suit.
5♦-5♥-5♠
This combination is a set containing three 5s from different suits.
A♠-A♣-PJ
In this combination, a printed joker is used to complete the set. It is used to replace either A♦ or A♥.
Invalid Declaration-
When you declare your cards without fulfilling any of the three conditions above, it becomes an invalid declaration. If you make an invalid declaration, you will lose the game instantly and your opponent will be declared the winner if it’s a 2-player table.
If there are more than two players at the table, the other players will keep playing until one of the remaining players makes a valid declaration. Take a look at the examples of some invalid declarations below.
Examples:-
This declaration consists of 2 sequences and 2 sets. However, it is still an invalid declaration for the following reasons:
7♠-8♠-9♣-10♠
It is an invalid combination as 9♣ (which is not a wild joker) is used in place of 9♠. If 9♠ was included in the combination, it would have been a pure sequence.
The next two combinations, i.e. A♦-2♦-PJ (impure sequence) and 5♠-5♥-5♣ (set), are valid combinations.
3♠-3♥-6♦
It is not a valid combination as 6♦ (which is not a wild joker) is used instead of 3♣ or 3♦.
Examples:-
This declaration includes 2 sequences and 2 sets. However, it is still an invalid declaration for the following reasons:
A♥-2♥-3♦
It is an invalid combination as it includes 3♦ (which is not a wild joker) in place of 3♥. Including 3♥ instead would have made it a pure sequence.
The remaining combinations, i.e. 10♠-J♠-Q♠-K♠ (pure sequence), 6♠-6♥-6♣ (set) and 2♠-2♣-PJ (set), are valid, though.
Examples:-
In the above declaration, 9♦-10♦-J♦ (pure sequence), A♦-A♣-A♥ (set) and J♠-J♥-PJ (set) are valid combinations.
However, the last group of cards is not a sequence or a set. So that makes it an invalid declaration.
Examples:-
This declaration includes 2 sequences and 2 sets.
4♦-5♦-6♦-7♦ (pure sequence), A♣-2♣-3♣ (pure sequence) and 4♦-4♣-PJ (set) are valid combinations. However, 8♥-8♠-8♥ is not a valid set as it has two cards from the same suit (8♥).
So this is an invalid declaration.
A sequence is a group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit. There are two types of sequences: pure sequence and impure sequence.
Pure Sequence-
A pure sequence is a group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit. No card is replaced by a joker in a pure sequence. As per rummy game rules, it is mandatory to make at least one pure sequence for a valid declaration.
Examples of Pure Sequences
Examples of Pure Sequences:-
6♦-7♦-8♦
(It is a pure sequence that consists of three consecutive cards of diamonds. Here no card has been replaced by a joker.)
A♣-2♣-3♣4♣
(It is a pure sequence that consists of four consecutive cards of clubs. No card has been replaced by a joker in the sequence.)
5?-6?-7?-8?-9?
In this pure sequence, five consecutive cards from the heart suit are used. No joker is used in this sequence.
A wild joker can also be used in a pure sequence in its original value, but only as a card of its original suit and not to replace any other card. Let us consider the following example: 8?-9?-10? (WJ).
Here 10? is also a wild joker, but the sequence is still a pure sequence because 10? has not been used as a joker to replace any other card in the sequence: it has been used in its original value (10) and as a card of its original suit (?). This strategy is often useful when you have multiple wild jokers.
However, when you have limited wild jokers, prefer using them to create impure sequences and sets instead.
Impure Sequence
An impure sequence is a sequence (3 or more cards arranged in a sequence) in which one or more cards have been replaced by a joker or jokers.
Examples of Impure Sequences:
10♥-J♥-PJ-K♥
In this impure sequence, the printed joker has been used to replace Q♥.
3♠-4♠-8♦ (WJ)
In this impure sequence, 8♦ is a wild joker. It has been used to replace 5♠.
Three or four cards of the same rank but different suits form a set. A set cannot have more than one card from any suit. Rummy rules allow you to use one or more jokers to replace any other card(s) in a set.
Examples of Sets:-
Without a Joker
7♦-7♥-7♠
This set has 7s from three different suits.
2♦-2♠-2♥-2♣
This set has 2s from four different suits.
Examples of Sets-
With a Joker
5♠-5♣-K♥ (WJ)
In this set, the K♥ is a wild joker.
9♦-9♠-9♥-PJ
In this set, the printed joker is optional. If there was no joker, the set would be still complete as it contains all 9s from different suits.
Q♣-PJ-Q♦
The printed joker has been used to replace the missing cards: Q♥ or Q♠.
A♥-2♣-2♠
In this set, the A♥ is a wild joker.
Invalid Sets
2♦-2♠-2♦-2♣
It is an invalid set as it has two 2♦ cards. If it had 2♥ instead of one 2♦, it would have been a valid set. The correct example of valid set is: 2♦-2♣-2♠-2♥.
A♣-A♣-K♦ (WJ)
This is an invalid set as it includes two A♣ cards. If the combination had either A♦ or A♥ in place of one A♣, it would have been a valid set. The correct examples of valid set are: A♣-A♦-K♦ (WJ), A♣-A♥-K♦ (WJ)
Importance of Jokers in Rummy
One of the most important rummy rules is how to use jokers. Jokers play a very special role in rummy and can help you win the game. There are two types of jokers used in a game of rummy: printed jokers and wild jokers.
Printed Joker
As the name suggests, a printed joker has the picture of a joker printed on it. This card can be used as a substitute for any missing card and can help you form a set or an impure sequence.
Look at the examples of an impure sequence and a set below to understand how a printed joker can be used in rummy.
Examples:-
8♥-9♥-PJ
The printed joker has been used to replace 10♥ in this impure sequence.
2♠-2♦-PJ
The printed joker has been used to replace 2♣ or 2♥ in this set.
Wild Joker
The wild joker is randomly picked at the beginning of the game. When the card is picked, this card along with other cards of the same rank and different suits become the wild joker of the game.
For example, if 4♦ is selected as the wild joker, 4♥, 4♣ and 4♠ will also be the wild jokers of that game.
Just like the printed joker, the wild joker can also be used as a substitute for any missing card and helps form a sequence or a set.
Examples:-
6♣-7♣-8♦(WJ)-9♣
In this sequence, the 8♦ is a wild joker. So it’s an impure sequence.
6♠-6♥-3♣
In this set, the 3♣ is a wild joker that has been used to replace 6♣ or 6♦.
A wild joker can be used in a pure sequence too. Examples of pure sequence with a wild joker are as follows:
K♠-Q♠-J♠ (WJ): Here J♠ is the wild joker and it is used to complete the combination which ultimately forms the pure sequence.
4♥-5♥(WJ)-6♥-7♥: Here 5♥ is the wild joker and it connects 4♥, 6♥ and 7♥. The combination created is a pure sequence.
Points Rummy is the fastest rummy variant where players play for points which have a pre decided monetary value. One winner takes home all the cash at the end of the game.
The winnings are calculated based on what the other players score and the monetary value of those points minus the rake.
The trick to winning at Strikes is to meld your hand quickly and sharply to call a successful show. Also, avoid holding on to random cards that do not fit into any group.
Points to note:
- Each game lasts only for 1 deal
- Each player brings in a minimum of 80 * Points Value to the table
- The points have a pre-determined value
- Drop Points: First drop – 20 points and Middle drop – 40 points and Full count – 80 points
- To Win, you need:
- One Pure Sequence (Sequence without Joker) - Compulsory
- Second Sequence (Can be with or without Joker) - Compulsory
- Remaining cards can be grouped (meld) into sets or sequences of minimum 3 cards each
- The player with a valid show gets 0 points, the remaining players accumulate points that are a sum of their ungrouped cards (Ungrouped cards are those which cannot be grouped into valid sets and sequences)
- The winner gets the prize money which is calculated by multiplying the total points of all the losing players with the point value minus the rake
Deals Rummy is an exciting Rummy variant which is played for a fixed number of deals. The player with the least points at the end of all the deals wins the prize money. At Rummy Hall, you can play the Best of 2 and Best of 3 Deal Games.
Players need to pay an entry fee to join the game of Deals Rummy. The entry fee collected from all the players becomes the prize pool. The winner of this game goes home with the prize pool.
Point to note :
- There are two variants of Deals Rummy – Best of 2 and Best of 3
- Best of 2 deals consists of 2 deals played by 2 players and Best of 3 consists of 3 deals played by 2 players
- The players need to pay a fixed entry fee to play the game
- Drop option is not available in this version of Rummy
- To Win, you need:
- One Pure Sequence (Sequence without Joker) - Compulsory
- Second Sequence (Can be with or without Joker) - Compulsory
- Remaining cards can be grouped (meld) into sets or sequences of minimum 3 cards each
- The player with a valid show gets 0 points, the remaining players accumulate points that are a sum of their ungrouped cards (Ungrouped cards are those which cannot be grouped into valid sets and sequences)
- In case of Full count, the player gets 80 points
- The winner’s prize money is the total entry fee of the players minus the rake.
- In case of a tie, the players get to play an extra game which will then give a clear winner.
The pools variant of rummy is possibly the easiest and most basic version of Indian Rummy, yet the most preferred among skilled players. With Indian Rummy now moving into the sphere of online rummy games, you get to join a virtual pool of players who could be logged in from any corner of the world.
Pool Rummy, also known as a Syndicate, is joined by 2 to 6 players. This format has no fixed number of deals, hence can carry on for a long period of time. So get comfortable and keep a pot of coffee ready at hand when you join your game.
The main objective of Pool Rummy is to collect the least number of points in these games. Players get eliminated when they reach 101/ 201 points, hence one needs to aim to be the last player remaining on the table by having the least number of points to be the winner.
Players need to pay an entry fee to join a game of Pool Rummy. The entry fee collected from all the players becomes the prize pool. The winner of this game goes home with the prize pool minus the rake.
The player who places the show gets 0 points while the rest of the players get a score based on the ungrouped cards left on their hand.
The secret of winning Pool Rummy is consistently winning the rounds or managing low points. This game type helps immensely in improving your rummy skills besides adding handsomely to your pocket.
Points to note:
- There are two variants of Pools Rummy - 101 Pool and 201 Pool
- Player with the lowest score at the end of the games is declared the winner
- In case of 101 Pool, the drop points are: First drop - 20 points; Middle drop - 40 points and Full count - 80 points, which is the maximum
- In case of 201 Pool, the drop points are: First drop - 25 points; Middle drop - 50 points and Full count - 80 points, which is the maximum
- To Win, you need:
- One Pure Sequence (Sequence without Joker) - Compulsory
- Second Sequence (Can be with or without Joker) - Compulsory
- Remaining cards can be grouped (meld) into sets or sequences of minimum 3 cards each
- The player with a valid show gets 0 points, the remaining players accumulate points that are a sum of their ungrouped cards (Ungrouped cards are those which cannot be grouped into valid sets and sequences)
- Points are calculated at the end of every round and players are eliminated from the game once they reach 101/ 201 points
- Players have an option to re-join if all the other players at the table have points less than 79 in a 101 game and 174 in a 201 game
