How To Play Rummy: The Complete Rules

While the term rummy consists of a family of different card gamesthere is a basic version of rummy that every beginner should learn first. It's a good introduction to the game if you've never played before and it's suitable for all agesmaking it a great family game! The popular card game is ideal for two to six players. Once you have a deck of cards at the readysit down and read through our guide for how to play rummy. We've compiled the complete rummy rule set to make your first time playing a breeze.

Complete rules are also available for other games under the rummy umbrellaincluding gin rummyHollywood ginThree ThirteenOklahoma ginPhase 10Manipulationand canasta.

Players

Play rummy with two to six players.

Deck

Use a standard 52-card deck. The king is high and the ace is low (see "Ace Either High or Low" below for a common variant).

Goal

Your goal is to be the first to play (also known as "meld") all of your cards.

Setup

Shuffle the deck and choose a dealer. The dealer will deal cards to the players as follows:

• With two players10 cards each
• With three or four playersseven cards each
• With five or six playerssix cards each

Cards that are not dealt are placed face down in the middle of the table to form the draw pile. Turn the top card from the draw pile face up and set it next to the draw pile; this card begins the discard pile. Note that as you play the game and the draw pile becomes exhausted (all cards are taken)shuffle all of the cards in the discard pile except for the one on top to form a new draw pile.

Gameplay

On each turnplayers must follow this sequence:

1. Draw one cardeither from the top of the draw pile or the top of the discard pile.
2. The player may (but does not have to) play a meld of cards (see "Meld of Cards" below) or add to another player's meld (see "Laying Off" below).
3. The player must discard one cardadding it (face up) to the top of the discard pile. There is one exception to the requirement that you discard: If a player has melded all of his cardshe does not need to discard.

NOTE: If a player chose to draw the top card from the discard pile in step onehe may not discard that card on the same turn in step three.

Meld of Cards

A meld of cards can be played if it meets one of two conditions:

• Groups (or Books): Three or four of a kind
• Sequences (or Runs): Three or more consecutive cards of the same suit

NOTE: When making a sequence in basic rummythe ace is always a low card. It may not be played above the king.

Laying Off

A player may play a card or cards from his hand that fits a meld already on the table. This is known as "laying off." Cards that are laid off get placed on the table in front of the player who plays them.

EXAMPLE: Player A has played a meld that includes three eights. Player B can lay off an eight from her hand.

EXAMPLE: Player A has played a meld that includes the eightnineor 10 of hearts. Player B can lay off the seven of hearts or the jack of heartsor bothfrom his hand.

EXAMPLE: Player A has played a meld that includes the three. fouror five of clubs. Player B can lay off the six and seven of clubs from her hand.

Going Out

A player "goes out" when he plays the last card in his hand either by meldinglaying offor discarding.

NOTE: Some players require that the final card in a player's hand be discarded. That isa player cannot go out by melding or laying off. He must discard the final card.

Rummy Scoring

When a player goes outthe round is scored. All of the cards remaining in other players' hands are credited to the winner of the handas follows:

• Aces are worth one point.
• Number cards are worth face value.
• Face cards are worth 10 points each.

Going Rummy

A player "goes rummy" if he plays all of his cards (in any combination of meldinglaying offand discarding) in a single playhaving played no cards at all previously during that hand. When a player goes rummyall points are doubled for that hand.

Ace Either High or Low

Some players play that the ace can be either low card (as it normally isas in acetwoand three) or high card (so that a meld of queenkingand ace would also be legal). If playing this wayaces should be counted as 15 points each in scoring to better reflect their value.

Winning Rummy

The first player to reach a predetermined number of points (such as 150)or to have the most points after a predetermined number of hands are playedis the winner.