Rummy Rules - Learn How to Play Rummy Game
Rummy is a card game that you play with two standard decks of cards and two printed Joker cards, between 2-6 players. One of them is called the closed deck, where the cards are placed face down and the player cannot see the cards they are picking, while the other one is an open deck where discarded cards are visible. To win a game of rummy, a player must make a valid declaration that has to compulsorily have 1 pure sequence and 1 other sequence, while the rest of the cards can be grouped into either sets or sequences.
Rummy skill set
Rummy Rules and Objectives of the Game
Table of Contents
Primary Objective
How to Play Rummy
Primary Objective
How to Play Rummy
Common Terms in Rummy Rules
Rules for Discard, Drop and Show
Important Charts for Rummy Rules
How Game Points are Calculated as per Rummy Rules
Pro Tips to Win the Rummy Card Game
Rummy Rules - Learn How to Play Rummy Game
In an
Indian rummy game
, which is widely played with 13 cards, players need to arrange all their cards into sets or sequences and make a valid declaration to win the game. This game can be played among 2 to 6 players, using 1-2 standard decks of 52 cards. Keep in mind that if players want to make a valid declaration in the game, they must have two sequences and at least one pure sequence. If a player declares without forming a pure sequence, the declaration is considered invalid.
How to Form Sequences in a Rummy Game
A sequence is a group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit. In rummy, there are two types of sequences: pure sequences and impure sequences. To win the game, you need at least one pure sequence in your hand, and at least 2 sequences in total.
Pure Sequence
A sequence is considered a pure sequence if it has 3 or more consecutive cards of the same suit WITHOUT any Joker card. In a rummy game, at least 1 pure sequence is compulsory to win.
Examples of pure sequences:
As we can see, they are consecutive cards of Hearts, thus this is a pure sequence.
In this case, the 4 cards of Clubs are in descending order of rank. This is also a pure sequence.
A pure sequence can have any number of cards. But remember that a pure sequence of 6 or more cards is still considered 1 single sequence.
Note: Ace can be used as both the highest card (with face cards) or the lowest card (with numbered cards) in a sequence, but you can’t put the ace in the middle.
✅
You can do:
❌
You can’t do:
Impure Sequence
When a sequence is formed using a Joker, it is known as an impure sequence. In this case, the Joker card is used to replace the missing card(s). Also, there are two types of Joker cards in rummy: wild card joker and printed joker. Both can be used to form an impure sequence. Multiple Joker cards can also be used to make an impure sequence.
Examples of impure sequences:
In this case, 3
♣
is a wild card Joker, chosen randomly in the beginning of the game. It is used to replace the J
♦️
to make this an impure sequence.
In this case, the printed Joker replaces the 10
♠️
to make an impure sequence.
In this example, we have both a printed and a wild card Joker to complete the impure sequence. You can mix 2 or more Joker cards to make an impure sequence.
Note: On many platforms, a maximum of 2 Joker cards can be included in an impure sequence. But, on apps such as LedgisterRummy any number of Joker cards can be used.
First Life Rule
Note: On many platforms, a maximum of 2 Joker cards can be included in an impure sequence. But, on apps such as LedgisterRummy any number of Joker cards can be used.
Second Life Rule
After getting the first life by forming a pure sequence, a player gets a second life when they make another sequence, which could be pure or impure. To be able to make a valid declaration, a player must have both the first and the second lives.
How to Form Sets in a Rummy Game
When a player groups 3 or 4 cards of the same rank and different suits, the grouping is called a set. A set of 3 cards is also called a triplet, and a set of 4 cards is called a quadruplet. A Joker card can be used to form a valid set. Remember, a set can only have a maximum of 4 cards without using any Joker card(s), as there are only 4 different suits and no suit can be repeated in a set, but a set of more than 4 cards can also be formed using Joker card(s). Also, note that making sets is not mandatory to win a rummy game.
Examples of valid sets:
This is an example of a valid triplet.
This is an example of a valid quadruplet.
In the above scenario, K
♦
is a wild card Joker and can be used to replace A
♥️
or A
♦️ .
Here, 2 Joker cards have been used to make a quadruplet.
Here, 2 printed Joker cards and K
♦
which is a wild card Joker, have been used to make a 5-card set.
✅
You can do:
❌
You can’t do:
Formation of sequences and sets in 13-card rummy
How to Play Rummy
In a nutshell, to win a rummy game, one has to group their 13 cards into various sequences and sets and be the first one to declare with valid groupings (or melds). Once 13 cards are arranged into groupings, the last card is placed on the table face down to make a declaration. In the following sections, you will learn more about how to play rummy and the common terms used in it.
Rummy Rules and Objectives of the Game
Before the game begins, a toss is held to determine who goes first. Each player is dealt a single card. Whoever has the highest-ranking card will begin the game.
Once the turn order is decided, 13 cards are dealt to each player from a well-shuffled deck or decks of cards. After dealing the cards to players, the remaining cards are placed face down on the table, forming the closed deck. Another card deck called the open deck is created by placing the top card of the closed deck face up. This deck is where the players discard their cards.
The player winning the toss begins. The game then proceeds in the clockwise direction in the case of a 6-player game.
Each player has the option to pick a card from the closed deck or open deck on every turn. Once a card is picked up, the player has to discard a card, which goes face-up to the open deck.
In a rummy game, there are two types of Joker cards: printed and wild card. Joker cards are used to fill in for missing cards when making sequences and/or sets.
When all 13 cards in hand are arranged in sequences and/or sets, the player discards the last unwanted card to make a valid declaration in the game.
Each card carries a point value in the game. At the end of a game, points are calculated for the ungrouped cards. Every card from 2 to 10 is worth its face value, and all face cards, i.e., J, Q, K, and aces, carry 10 points each. Joker cards are worth 0 points.
When all 13 cards in hand are arranged in sequences and/or sets, the player discards the last unwanted card to make a valid declaration in the game.
Each card carries a point value in the game. At the end of a game, points are calculated for the ungrouped cards. Every card from 2 to 10 is worth its face value, and all face cards, i.e., J, Q, K, and aces, carry 10 points each. Joker cards are worth 0 points.
Common Terms in Rummy Rules
Every rummy player should be well-versed with terminologies used in the game. Doing so can help them learn the game faster. Listed below are the commonly used terms for rummy rules.
Gametable and Lobby
In online rummy, a gametable is a virtual space where a maximum of 6 players can join and play a game of rummy. Lobby is the place where you can find different games and tournaments with various formats and values.
Decks
There are two decks on a gametable: a closed deck and an open deck. The closed deck is made of all the cards left over after distributing 13 cards to each player. It is kept face-down on the table. The top card from this deck is then put at the centre of the table as the open card, and this card starts what is called the open deck. The open deck is where players leave their extra card on each turn. Each player can choose to pick a card from either of the decks during their turn, but the card they get rid of will only go to the open deck. As an exception, players cannot pick up a discarded Joker card from the open deck, unless it’s the first open card.
Draw and Discard
The act of picking a card from either of the decks is called drawing. Discarding is the act of disposing of the extra card at the end of one’s turn.
Melds
A group of cards that makes a sequence or a set is called a meld. A player must make melds out of all 13 cards in hand to make a valid declaration.
Card Sorting
When you play on a rummy app, players have the option to sort their cards. This feature separates all cards according to suits and in ascending order (from the lowest to the highest ranked cards available in a suit), helping players make quick decisions and play the game more efficiently.
Invalid Declaration
There can be three types of invalid declarations. The first is when a player does not have any pure sequence. The second occurs when a player forms an incorrect sequence or misses making it completely, and in the third scenario, an invalid declaration happens when a set is formed incorrectly.
Declaration with an invalid sequence:
Example 1: No pure sequence
Let us consider the following example. Can you spot what’s missing here?
