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How to Play Rummy Game Online: Get Started with Few Rummy Rules
Want to know how to play rummy in cards? Wellyou’ve come to the right place! Rummy (a.k.a. Traditional Rummy or Indian Rummy) has always had a special place in India when it comes to card games. Octro PlayRummy has been India’s most trusted rummy platform for over a decade. It offers you many rummy variants to play and has detailed tutorials to bring out the rummy pro within you. Keep reading to learn rummy rules explained thoroughly. We’ve provided you step-by-step instructions to learn how to play Rummy online.
Players & Deck - Octro PlayRummy is played between 2 to 5 players and each player is dealt 13 cards. For 2 or 4 playerstwo 52-card decks (104 cards) and 4 jokers (wild cards) are used. For 5 playersthree decks (156 cards) and 6 jokers are used. Each player turn by turn (in clockwise order) deals the cards.
| Number of Players | Number of Decks | Number of cards dealt to each player |
|---|---|---|
| 2 - 4 player table | 2 decks | 13 cards each |
| 5 player table | 3 decks | 13 cards each |
Now that you know how many cards in rummylet’s find out how the game progresses:
Read the points below to know how to play rummy online:
- A player is randomly chosen to begin the game.
- Each player is dealt 13 cards face down. The next card from the deck is placed face up on the table; this starts the discard pile/open deck. Rest of the cards are placed face down in the centre of the table; this is the stock pile/closed deck.
- A card from the stock pile is picked & placed face up. All the cards of that rank are considered as additional jokers or wild cards.
- The objective of the Game. The objective of the game is to form Runs (or sequences) and Sets. When a player has formed required runs and sets using all the 13 cardsthe player can declare their game. A valid declaration must have minimum two runs with one pure run (called First Life). The second run can be pure or non-pure (called Second Life). Either First Life or Second Life must have 4 or more cards. The Octro PlayRummy app has a 'declare' button. Once the objective is met the player can declare by clicking on the 'Declare' button.
- Once a valid declaration is madeall other players must form as many valid sets and sequences as they can with the cards in their hands. For these players all the unmatched cards are counted. Every player must meet the requirements of minimum two runs (First Life and Second Life) else all the 13 cards are treated as unmatched and are counted. When all the 13 cards are unmatchedthe player is penalized with 80 points.
- Dropping If you drop from the game without picking a single card from the discard pile or stock pileyou get 10 points. If you drop in between a handbefore any other player has done a valid declarationyou get 30 points.
- After the points of all the players are calculated for all playersthe winner takes home the prize money.
- Some Rummy Rules to remember. A sequence/run can also use a joker (wild card) as substitute for any missing card. Such a sequence is non-pure sequence. You can use only one joker in a non-pure sequence.
- A set consists of 3 or 4 cards of same rank but of different suits. or 2 (or 3) such cards and a joker.
- After each loss point is calculated for all playersthe winner takes home the prize money.
- Three cards of same rank and same suit (except printed jokers) are treated as pure sequence/run.
- All the unused jokers can be placed separately while declaring and hold 0 points.
- This is how to play rummy game
A sequence is group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit. According to rummy sequence rulesthere are two types of sequences that are used in 13 card rummy games. A Pure Sequence and an Impure Sequence. To win rummy game you need at least one pure sequence. Know how to play rummy online with pure and impure sequences by understanding this rummy sequence list:
Pure sequence
5♥ 6♥ 7♥ are three consecutive cards of the same suit ♥
A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ are four consecutive cards of the same suit ♥
A♥ 2♥ 3♥ are three consecutive cares of the same suit ♥
However: K♥ A♥ 2♥ is not considered a valid sequence. For a set to be validit has to follow the sequence A,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,J,Q,K,A in a loop and A,K,Q,J,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,A.
Three identical Cards: when playing with three 52-card decksthe three cards of same rank and same suit are treated as pure sequence/run. For example: 9♥ 9♥ 9♥ and J♠ J♠ J♠.
Impure sequence is when a printed joker or a wild card is used to create a sequence. Let's assume K♥ is a selected Wild Card.
4♣ 5♣ PJ 7♣ - here a printed joker has been used to replace 6♣.
4♣ 5♣ K♥ 7♣ - here the selected wild card K♥ has been used to build a sequence replacing 6♣.
When you start to learn how to play rummy gameit’s important to know that a valid declaration has a minimum of two sequences. There must be at least one pure sequence & one sequence of 4 cards.
First Combination: Both the sequences are pure
First Life 5♥ 6♥ 7♥
Second Life A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥
Second Combination: One of the sequences is pure and the other impure (considering J♠ is joker)
First Life 5♥ J♠ 7♥
Second Life A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥
Third Combination: One of the sequences is pure and the other is impure (considering J♠ is joker)
First Life 5♥ 6♥ 7♥
Second Life A♥ J♠ Q♥ J♥
Three identical Cards: the three cards of same rank and same suit are treated as pure sequence/run. For example: 9♥ 9♥ 9♥. This too can be treated as a first life.
It is important to know about first and second life to learn how to play rummy online.
3 or more cards of the same rank but different suits are called a Set
Pure Set
7♥7♣7♦ are of different suits ♥
♣ ♦
K♦ K♣ K♥ K♠ are of different suits ♦ ♣ ♠ ♥
Howeverif you know how to play rummy gameyou would know that 7♥ 7♦ 7♦ is not considered a valid set. All cards in a set have to be of different suits. If two or more cards of the same suit are used to make a set of three or more cardsit is considered as an invalid set. (this is applicable in gameplays with 2 or more deck of cards). As you can see two of 7♦ has been used to declare the set.
Impure Set
A set can also be built with a Wild Card or a printed joker. Let us assume the Wild Card is K♥.
4♣ 4♦ PJ 4♥ - here a printed joker has been used to replace 4♠ in the set.
A♣ A♥ K♥ A♠ - here the selected wild card K♥ has been used to build a set replacing A♦.
Now that you have learned about sets & sequencelet’s learn about jokers so you know how to play rummy card game.
No matter how many cards in rummy you getJoker is by far the most important one. It is important to know about jokers if you want to know how to play rummy game. There are two types of jokers used in rummy.
Wild Joker
A random card is selected at the beginning of each game & considered a wild joker. All cards of this rank can be used as a replacement to any required card after you meet the requirement of at least one valid sequence.
For example:
If 6♥ is selected as the wild jokerthen 6 of any suit can be utilized as the wild joker. I.e. 6♥6♠ 6♦ 6♣ are all joker cards.
4♣ 5♣ 6♦ 7♣ - 6♦ has been used to form a sequence. This is an Impure sequence because even though it's a 6 it's not a 6 of clubs. 6♦ being a joker in this case.
4♣ 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ - 6♣ has been used to form a sequence. Even though 6♣ is a jokeris a jokerit’s considered a pure sequence because it belongs to the same suit. (this is possibly the worst placement with a joker considering it is blocked in a sequence reducing its value of wild card)
A♣ K♣ 6♥ J♣ - 6♥ has been used to form a sequence by replacing in it space of Q♣ . There this is an impure sequence using a joker.
Printed Joker (PJ)
Printed jokers also serve the same purpose since you can use them to replace any other card to form sets and sequences.
A♣ K♣ PJ J♣ - PJ has been used to form a sequence by replacing in it space of Q♣ . There this is an impure sequence using a printed joker.
A♦ PJ A♣ A♥ - PJ has replaced A♠ to form a set of♦ A♠ A♣ A♥
Note: If the Printed Joker is randomly selected as the wild jokerthen A’s of all suits will become wild jokers. A♦ A♠ A♣ A♥ automatically become the jokers.
When you have arranged all the cards in your hand in proper sequences and/or sets & meet all the guidelines of a valid declarationyou need to declare the game by discarding one of your cards to the Declaring Slot. After thatarrange your cards in proper sequences and/or sets to show them to your opponents and wait for them to show their hands.
Note: Three identical Cards: when playing with three 52-card decksthe three cards of same rank and same suit are treated as pure sequence/run. For example: 9♥ 9♥ 9♥ and J♠ J♠ J♠.
Read all about declarations below to get an idea of how to play rummy in cards:
Here are a few examples of valid declaration that will help you understand how to play rummy online:
Example #1 Declaring with Pure Sequences and Sets
A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥| 2♣ 3♣ 4♣ | 5♦ 5♠ 5♥ | K♥ K♦ K♣
This is a valid declaration as it meets the rules of the game.
- All the 13 cards are arranged in valid sequences and/or sets.
- There are two sequences - A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ and 2♣ 3♣ 4♣. The guidelines of having at least one pure sequence & one sequence of 4 cards has been met.
Example #2: Declaring with Pure and Impure Sets & Sequence Combo
This is an important example to know how to play rummy online.
K♦ is the Wild Joker
A♥ 2♥ 3♥ K♦| 2♣ 3♣ 4♣ | 5♦ 5♠ 5♥ | K♥ K♦ K♣
This is a valid declaration as it meets all the rules.
- All the 13 cards are arranged in valid sequences and sets
- It has a minimum of two sequences - A♥ 2♥ 3♥ K♦ and 2♣ 3♣ 4♣. Here2♣ 3♣ 4♣ is a pure sequence and A♥ 2♥ 3♥ K♦ is an impure sequence. Since all the guidelines are metthis is a valid declaration.
Example #3: Declaring with Pure and Impure Sets & Sequence Combo
PJ is the Wild Joker - (A♦ A♠ A♣ A♥)
PJ 8♥ 9♥ 10♥| 2♣ 3♣ 4♣ | 5♦ A♣ 5♥ | K♥ K♦ K♣
This is a valid declaration as it meets the objective of the game.
- All the 13 cards are arranged in valid sequences and sets
- It has a minimum of two sequences - PJ 8♥ 9♥ 10♥ and 2♣ 3♣ 4♣. Here2♣ 3♣ 4♣ is a pure sequence and PJ 8♥ 9♥ 10♥ is an impure sequence. The objective of the game is met of having at least two sequencesout of which one is a pure sequence and one has four in a sequence using the Printed joker or the Ace Card.
- The set 5♦ A♣ 5♥ is an impure set using the Ace card which automatically becomes the joker once the printed joker is selected to be the wild card. This is all you need to know if you want to know how to play rummy game.
Just like knowing about valid declarationsit is equally important to know about wrong declarations to know how to play rummy card game. Read the examples below thoroughlybecause making a wrong declaration will cost youno matter how many cards in rummy you get that are good:
Here are a few examples:
Example #1: Invalid Set
A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥| 2♣ 3♣ 4♣ 5♣ 6♣ |6♦ 6♥ 6♥ 6♣
- A set is defined as a group of three or four cards of the same face value with different suits
- 6♦ 6♥ 6♥ 6♣ is an invalid set since it consists of two cards of the same suit 6♥.
Example #2: Declaring without any Sequence
3♦ 3♠ 3♥ 3♣ | 6♦ 6♠ 6♥ | A♥ A♣ A♦ | 5♦ 5♠ 5♥|
- As you can seethe above example has no sequences.
- A valid declaration must contain at least two sequencesout of which one has to be a pure sequence and one has to be a sequence of four.
Example #3: Declaring without Two Sequences
K♥ is the Wild Joker
A♥ 2♥ 3♥ 4♥ | 5♣ 5♠ 5♥ | 6♦ 6♠ 6♥ | 3♦ 3♠ 3♥ |
- There is only one sequence in this example.
- No second sequence is found with or without Joker.
- This is an invalid declarationas there is no second sequence.
Example #4: Declaring without Pure Sequence
K♥ is the Wild Joker
A♥ 2♥ K♥ | 2♣ K♥ 4♣ 5♣ 6♣ |6♦ 6♥ 6♥ 6♣
- There is no pure sequence in this example.
- In order to make a valid declarationthere has to be at least one pure sequence (without Joker).
- Herethere are two impure sequences using the wild card and there is no pure sequence.
Example #5: Declaring without a Sequences of Four
This is a perfect example to know how to play rummy in cards without a big sequence:
K♥ is the Wild Joker
8♥ 9♥ 10♥| 2♣ 3♣ 4♣ | 5♦ 5♠ 5♥ |Q♥ Q♦ Q♣ K♥
- No sequence of four cards can be found in this example.
- In order to make a valid declarationthere has to be at least one pure sequence (without Joker) and another sequence (with or without Joker) with at least four cards.
- K♥ should have been placed with either of the pure sequence to make this a valid declaration.
How to play rummy
Hope you enjoyed our in-depth video tutorialyour key to unlocking the intricacies of playing rummy seamlessly on the Octro PlayRummy app!
In case you haven’t watched itkindly do watch it as it will be your guiding lightilluminating the crucial steps to embark on your online play rummy journey on this platform. We begin with the basicsfrom downloading and creating your accountensuring you're well-prepared for the adventure ahead. Navigating the game interface will be a breezegranting you access to explore the myriad rummy variations at your fingertips.
Our mission is to impart a solid understanding of the rules of rummyencompassing card distributionthe game's objectivesand the art of crafting sets and sequences. We'll unravel the mysteries of jokers and delve into the scoring systemmaking certain that your grasp of the game is nothing short of comprehensive.
This tutorial is for everyonewhether you're a novice seeking to embrace the world of rummy or an experienced player aiming to fine-tune your skills. Expect an array of tips and strategies to elevate your gameplay and boost your odds of clinching victory.
As you progress through this video tutorialyou'll be well-equipped to savour the thrill of rummy on the Octro PlayRummy app. Sograb your mobile devicedownload the rummy appand prepare to immerse yourself in the captivating realm of rummywhere every card can be a game-changerand each move holds the key to success.
13 Card Rummy - A standard game of online rummy where 13 cards are dealt to each player which need to be melded into sets and sequences. 2 sequences need to be pure out of which at least one must be of 4 cards. The rest can be arranged into sets or sequences.
101 Pool - A Rummy type in which the Round of games continues until all the players are eliminated and one single player survives without accumulating a total sum of 101 Pool Points. The table is set with a fixed point of entry where the winner takes the entire amount of the table (minus Octro PlayRummy rake).
201 Pool - A Rummy type in which the Round of games continues until all the players are eliminated and one single player survives without accumulating a total sum of 201 Pool Points. The table is set with a fixed point of entry where the winner takes the entire amount of the table (minus Octro PlayRummy rake).
Buy In - The amount of entry or bet fee you need to put in to enter a Tournament or a Pool Table.
Deck - It refers to the pack of cards used in a rummy game. A regular deck has 52 cards and two printed jokers.
Closed Deck - In a typical 13 cards rummy gamethe cards that are not distributed are kept face down to form the closed deck.
Open deck - An open deck is formed by the card/s discarded by players. A player can pick the top card from the open deck which is placed face-up on the table.
Suit - There are 4 suits in any pack of cards i.e. SpadesHeartsDiamonds and Clubs. (♥ ♠ ♣ ♦)
Ace - In a standard 52 cards deck there are 4 aces; one of each suit (spadesheartsclubs and diamonds). Ace can be used to make a sequence as Ace-2-3 as well as Ace-King-Queen.
Wild Joker - A joker is a randomly selected card at the beginning of each rummy game. A joker can be used as any card in that particular game. For example: if the joker is a 4♠the other 4s (4♥ 4♣ 4♦) can be used as any card to make impure sets and sequences.
Printed Joker (PJ) - Apart from the 52 cards of 4 suitesthere are two or three printed jokers in a standard 52 cards pack.
Point of Cards - Each player is dealt 13 cards and the after distributing the following are scored as
Joker = 0 points
AceKingQueenJack = 10 points (also known as Face Cards)
10 = 10 points
Number Cards = Face Value (i.e. 4 = 4 points and 9 = 9 points etc.)
Discard - In a 13 cards rummy gamea player is supposed to pick up the 14th card (either from the closed deck or the open deck). The 14th card there onwards is used to start the discard pile or the open deck. The player should have 13 cards at the end of their turn.
Play time - There is a time limit in while a player can play their turn. (30 seconds in Octro PlayRummy)
Extra Time - Upon completion of the allotted time frameextra time is allotted to each player which can be utilized. Once the extra time is over only the play time limit is provided. (30 seconds in Octro PlayRummy)
Declare Time - Once a player has declared each player on the table is provided a time frame to make their declarations. (30 seconds in Octro PlayRummy)
Declare - To make a valid Declaration one must finish arranging their cards in desired sequences and/or sets. In a 13 cards rummy gameyou declare rummy by putting the 14th card face down on the discard pile. This card is placed in the finnish slot.
Pure sequence - A pure sequence is a sequence without a Joker. A,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,J,Q,K of the same suit can be placed to make a pure sequence i.e. (7♥ 8♥ 9♥) etc. A,K,Q in an order is correct where as K,A,2 is incorrect and cannot be used in that order.
Three identical Cards - When playing with three 52-card decksthe three cards of same rank and same suit are treated as pure sequence/run. i.e. 9♥ 9♥ 9♥ and J♠ J♠ J♠.
Impure Sequence - An impure sequence is one that is made by using a joker (wild or Printed) i.e. 2♥ 3♠ 4♥ 5♥ (3♠ being a wild joker) or 2♥ PJ 4♥ 5♥ (PJ being a wild joker).
Pure set - A set is made up of 3 or more cards of the same number (9♥ 9♠ 9♣ 9♦) etc.
Note: While playing with more than one pack of cardsyou cannot make a valid set with 2 cards from the same suit i.e. (J♠ J♠ J♥) etc.
Impure Set - An impure set is when the set made consists of a joker. (wild or Printed) i.e. 9♥ 3♠ 9♣ 9♦ (3♠ being a wild joker) or 9♥ PJ 9♣ 9♦ (PJ being a wild joker).
Unarranged Cards - The cards with which a player is not able to make any sets or sequences at the time of declaration are considered as unmatched cards. The losers unmatched card points are calculated and its the point loss which is awarded to the winner.
Scoring - The loser faces a point loss of the unmatched or unarranged cards which they are unable to arrange in any sets or sequences.
Winner - A winner in a rummy game is a player who declares by arranging their cards with valid sets and/or sequences. Alsoto win the rummy gamethe player has to correctly declare their cards in 2 sequences out of which one has to be pure and the other has to have 4 cards. The winner gets 0 points after winning the hand.
The above mentioned rummy glossary is purely for informative purposes only. The Rules for playing rummy that are applicable to Octro PlayRummy rummy games can be found at: Link
This game may be habit-forming or financially risky.
Play responsibly. T&C Apply
Play responsibly. T&C Apply
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