Rummy Rules

Rummy Rules

Rummy is a very popular card game and is known by a number of names. Sometimes it is called Rummy 500 or simply 500 and it can be enjoyed both online, in land-based casinos or around your kitchen table. To learn how to play the game is easy and you will soon catch up on the basic rummy rules. There are smaller variations to the game depending on where you play it and if jokers are included. You should, of course, always make sure to check the specific rules that apply in the place you choose to play in.

Object of the Game
In rummy you want to get rid of all of your cards. Usually a target score is set and this is most commonly 100. Sometimes rummy can be played so that the final score depends on the specific melds each player made. This type of rummy suits the home setting the best since it can get a bit complicated to keep track of. The game ends when the first player manages to get rid of all of his cards.

How to Play
You have to be at least 2 players for a rummy game to start up. With 2 players each player is dealt 10 cards. With 3 to 4 players each player gets 7 cards and with 5 to 6 players around the table each one gets 6 cards to play with. Who will be the dealer is determined by drawing single cards. The lowest card gets dealer position. After this the dealer is passed on clockwise around the table. A stock pile and discard pile is created and each player needs to pick up a card from either one of them. By creating melds the player gets rid of the cards on his hand.

Create a Meld
A meld must consist of 3 or more cards and the rummy rules for melds are simple. You can have 3 of one kind, for example 3 Aces, this is called a set. The other option is to have a run which means three cards in a sequence of the same suit for example 5, 6 and 7 of Hearts. You can’t win a game by putting all of your hand down on the table as a meld. You must end each turn by discarding one card and this is also so when you are finally able to get rid of all of your cards.

Build on Other’s Melds
You can continue on a meld created by another player and when you do so it is enough to add one card. If you have a meld of 5, 6 and 7 you could add on both sides of the sequence as long as your cards have the same suit and color. You are not allowed to take cards from existing melds on the table and move the around to create new combinations. You don’t have to build on other’s melds just because you can. Sometimes it is wiser to save cards to build new melds with since this might let you finish the game faster.