Rummy is the most popular matching type card game played with a french deck of 52 cards.
Common variants of the game are for 23or 4 players. The players’ target is to create melds of cards with the same value or same suit. The final objective is to be the first to terminate the cards and score the accorded game points.
Learn how to play online and check our rules below.
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The game is usually played by 2,3 or 4 players. In our variant you can play Rummy for 4 players where each player scores for himself.
All 52 cards from the standard French deck are used in the game. Depending on the session optionsthe Low Ace or High Ace rule is applied:
In Low Acethe rank of cards in which sequences can be formed is: A2345678910JQK
In High Acethe rank of cards in which sequences can be formed is: 2345678910JQKA
The card values used for calculating the hand score are as follows:
Face cards (KQJ) are worth 10 points each.
Aces are worth 1 or 15 pointsdepending on the session options (Low Ace or High Acerespectively).
Number cards are worth their face value – for examplea six is worth 6 pointsa four is 4 pointsand so on.
Dealing
The first dealer is selected randomly.
The dealer for the next games is the next one in a clockwise direction.
Dealing is in a clockwise direction.
The number of cards dealt depends on the number of players: 10 for 2 players 7 for 3 and 4 players
After cards are dealtthe remaining form the Stock.
The top card from the Stock is placed separately face-upforming the beginning of the discard pile.
Playing the cards
Players take turns in clockwise rotationbeginning with the player to dealer’s left.
Turn actions
Each turn consists of the following parts:
Drawing
The player must begin by taking one card from either the top of the Stockpile (without showing it to other players)or from the top card on the discard pileand adding it to his/her hand.
Melding or Laying off.
When possiblethe player could do some of the following:
Melding
If the player has a valid group or sequence in his handhe may lay one such combination face up on the table. The player can meld one or more combinations in a turn. Melding is optional; players are not obliged to meldeven if they can.
Laying off
The player could add cards to groups or sequences already melded on the table. There is no limit to the number of cards a player may lay off in one turn. Identically to meldinglaying off is optional; players are not obliged to do it even if they can.
Discarding
At the end of the turnthe player must discard one card from his hand and place it on top of the discard pile face-up:
When in this turn the player took a card from the discard pile it is not allowed to discard it in the same turn. It is allowed to discard the card in the next turn.
It is allowed to discard the card that was taken in the same turn from the Stock.
When after discarding there are no more cards in the player’s handthe player becomes a winner.
Ifwhile playingthe stock runs outthe next player may choose to draw from the discard pile or to turn the discard pile over to form a new stock. After creating the new stockthe top card is drawn to form the new discard pilejust like after the deal. Consider that exhausting the stock for a second time would end the round.
Round Score
The first player who remains without cards wins the round. When this happensthe values of the cards that remained are added to the hands of the losing player. This is the number of points the winner scores for the round.
If you plan your turns carefullyyou can win a round with Rummythus scoring twice more points. To announce Rummyduring your last turn you meld or lay off all your cards (except one)and then you discard your last card. Consider that you can only do this if you haven’t melded or laid off any card in your previous turns.
When the round ends because the stock was exhausted for a second timethe winner would be the player whose hand has the lowest value. In this casethe value of the losing hands is reduced with the value of the winner’s hand. Then values calculated this way are added – this is the number of points scored by the winner. For exampleassume player’s hand values are 6 (Alice)15 (Bob)7 (Carol)and 21 (Dan). Alice is the winner. The value of the losing hands is reduced by 6so they are 91and 15 (respectively). Alice scores 25 points.
Session score
The session goes on until a player reaches the winning scorefor example150 points. This player wins the session. For custom gamesthe winning score can be changedfor example to 100.
The Rummy family of games is bigger than you think. One of the most popular members is Gin Rummy. Take a look at the Gin Rummy rules page to find out more.
