6 Rummy Card Game Rules and Points You Should Know

What are the basic rules of rummy? Can I use two jokers in a set? How can I calculate rummy points? These are a few common questions you need to ask before playing the rummy card game. This article talks about the basic rummy rules and the method of points calculation that will help you make strategies for your game better.

There are many variations to the classic rummy game, such as 10-card Rummy, 21-card Rummy, Gin Rummy, and Indian Rummy. The calculation of scores and rules will change according to what kind of rummy game you are playing. It is essential to know the metrics of the point calculation before playing a game of rummy.

In this article, we will dive deep into the rules of the classic rummy game i.e. 13-card game. We will understand how these rules work and the point’s calculation process for the declaration of the winner.

13-Card game rummy

The 13-card rummy game is a discard and draw game of cards and involves two card decks. It is a multiplayer game that you can play with two to six players. The rules of the game are understandable and straightforward.

Each player gets a 13-card pile. The player who successfully makes valid rummy sets and sequences and puts them first on the table determines the game’s final objective or winning status. This way, a player can win the game.

Play real money skill-based games like snakes and Ladders, Ludo, Trump Cards, and more on Zupee! Download the app, start playing, and stand a chance to win 10 lakhs.

Rummy rules – 13-Cards variation overview

The first fundamental rule of the rummy game is that every player should begin a wholesome deck of 13 cards. Players must use these 13 cards during the game to make valid sequences.

The formation of these sequences is fall under pure sequences, impure sequences, or triples.

A pure sequence in rummy

If the sequence is pure, it should include a set of 3/4 successive cards belonging to the same suit. The winning condition will have all the 13 cards in sequence in a combination of pure, impure, or triple. However, no matter what combination of the sequence you have, it should at least have one pure sequence.

An impure sequence in rummy

You can make an impure sequence with 3 or 4 successive cards, one of which is a joker.

Triples sequence in Rummy

You can make triples with three cards of the same value belonging to different suits.

6 rummy card game rules you should know

Let’s take a look at the 6 rummy rules you should know:

1. Rummy rules for different categories of cards
2. Rules associated with Joker
3. Rummy sequence rules
4. Rummy set rules
5. Rules of discard
6. Rummy show rules

Rummy rules for different categories of cards

The order of cards in a definite manner occurs in low to high ranks. The representation of these cards is ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen, and king. Here are some rules you must know:

• Have a valid declaration set during the game.
• A player is eligible for folding the 14th card or declaring when he/she arranges all the cards and successfully forms sets and sequences, one of which is a pure sequence.
• A player wins the game after his/her declaration and validation.
• The rummy game variant determines the opponent’s points in such a situation.

Rules associated with Joker

A player indicates a printed joker card as a joker card in rummy. In the case of 2 deck-rummy games, players use two jokers get. So, there is one joker per deck. The joker plays an important role as it is used as a substitute for missing cards in a sequence or set.

Apart from the printed joker card, there is also one wild joker. The Player chooses this card among the deck of selected cards at the beginning of the rummy game.

Rummy sequence rules

In the rummy game, a series of more than two cards that are a part of an identical suit form a sequence. Sequences in rummy can be of five main categories:

• Pure Sequence
• Impure Sequence
• Triples
• First life
• Second life

Pure sequence rules

A group of three or more consecutive cards belonging to the same suite forms a pure sequence. You cannot win the game without the formation of a pure sequence. For example

• J of hearts, Q of hearts, K of hearts
• 2 of spades, 3 of spades, 4 of spades, 5 of spades

Players cannot use the joker card to form a pure sequence.

Impure Sequence rules

The impure sequence consists of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit, one of which can be a joker card. For example

• 2 of diamonds, J of spades, 4 of diamonds, 5 of diamonds as J of spades is a joker.
• 10 of spades, J of spades, 5 of hearts, K of spades as 5 of hearts is a joker.

Triples rules

Triple cards are when three cards that belong to the same rank and of different suites combine to form a group. You can also have a triple, which is an impure sequence. As a part of the triple, you can use jokers. For example

• Ace of hearts, ace of diamonds, ace of spades.

Rummy set rules

Sets can contain jokers, but when players form pure sequences, they become invalid. So, once you have a pure sequence (without the joker), you can form an impure sequence with the joker.

Rules of discard

The basic rule of the rummy game is that every player has 13 cards. The next step directs each player to choose a card from the discard deck or the standard deck of cards. Here are the rules of discard:

• The player also can discard a playing card into the discarded deck.
• The opponent can choose a card from the discard pile.
• The player who discards the faced-down final card and declares determines the game’s winning condition.

Rummy show rules

When a player is ready to make a declaration and has successfully formed valid sets and sequences, they can ask for a card show. The rule for a rummy show is that a player needs to possess 14 cards and close one of them. The player needs to combine 13 cards to form a good set and sequence to make a call for a show of validation. If the player makes a mistake, they can be penalized based on the rules set.

Points System in Rummy

The system of calculating points in rummy follows a certain set of rules that are:

• Players earn 10 points each if they have an ace and any face card.
• Players do not earn any points when they have a joker or wild card.
• All other cards are assigned a similar value according to their face value

The rummy points may change based on the variation.

Play real money skill-based games like snakes and Ladders, Ludo, Trump Cards, and more on Zupee! Download the app, start playing, and stand a chance to win 10 lakhs.

Rules for various types of rummy games

Different sets of rules and regulations in various types of rummy games are mentioned below. Remember, all rummy games are about card-melding. You need to form valid combinations of sets or sequences:

Types of Rummy game	Rules
Indian rummy game	A player should make sequences and sets and make a valid declaration before the opponent to mark himself as the winner of the game. This rule further breaks up into deals rummy, pool rummy, and points rummy. It is compulsory to obtain one pure sequence in the Indian rummy game. It can be played to a certain score or fixed number of deals. Each player gets 13 cards.
Treppenromme	The discards are arranged in such an order that all the cards should be made visible. Each player takes a card from the discard pile, and the card that is picked up at the end is played immediately. If the player has only picked up the top card, he must retain it and put a different card in the discard pile. The game is related to the 500 Rummy game. Each player gets 7 cards.
Block or tile rummy	The players discontinue the game, having played the pack once. If none of the players are out, all the players stand at 0 points after the first time the pack has gone through
Corner or continuity rummy	This allows an ace may hold high and low positions simultaneously in order to “wrap around” in one of the runs.
Points rummy	All the players use a pre-decided amount before embarking on the game. The winner of the game is entitled to 0 points and gets a cash reward equal to the total points of the opponent. Points rummy is a variant of the Indian Rummy game.
Rummy 500	A player who first reaches 500+ points is declared the 500 rules rummy game-winner.
Pools rummy	The winner gets decided by declaring one of the players with a good set comprising a combination of a pure and an impure sequence. If it is a valid declaration, then the calculation is based on the points of all other players. Pools rummy is a variant of the Indian Rummy game.
101 points rummy	The player who can accumulate 101 points before anyone else gets disqualified from the game.
21 Card Rummy	This rummy game can be played with two-five players and needs three playing card decks of 53 cards each. Each deck includes one printed joker card, and 21 cards are assigned to every player. The wild joker is arbitrarily chosen from the deck of cards, and each player starts arranging their cards to form valid sequences and sets by choosing cards from the closed or open deck, followed by discarding.
Gin Rummy	The gin rummy rule requires two players and a 52 normal card deck. The kings are high and aces are low. The cards hold a numerical value, such that aces are worth one and face cards are worth 10. The winner is the player who touches 100 points first.

Rummy Rules – FAQs