We’ve all played card games at some point in our lives. Before the smartphone era, almost all of us owned a deck of cards in our homes. However, times have changed; in some homes you would find the same deck organized in order, in some you would find them in a drawer eating dust and in some you might not find it at all. Thus, we have at least a little experience of playing games like Teen Patti, Satte Pe Satta, Bluff, and Rummy is one of them too. If you’ve forgotten all about Rummy, don’t worry, we’re here to refresh your memory.
Variants
Rummy is one of the most popular card games played all across the globe in different variants. Some of these variants are Gin Rummy, Points Rummy, Deals Rummy, 500 Rummy, etc. In India, you’ll find that 13-Card Rummy and 21-Card Rummy are quite popular.
Deals
Each variant has its own requirement of the number of decks used. 13-Card Rummy uses 2 decks and 21-Card Rummy uses 3 decks and the numbers 13 and 21 in the names simply suggest how many cards are dealt to each player.
Joker
After the cards are dealt, the pile of remaining cards is placed face down. And there is one card that is placed face up next to the pile which is considered to be the joker. This card acts as a filler and can act as any card when used in a game. Some variants have more than one joker like the cut joker, upper joker, lower joker, etc.
Melds
A meld is a group of cards either in a set or a sequence. A set is made up of at least 3 cards of the same rank; for example, 9♥ 9♦ 9♠ or J♥ J♦ J♠ J♣, whereas, a sequence is made up of at least 3 cards of the same suit aligned in an ascending order; for example, 6♣ 7♣ 8♣ or 9♥10♥ J♥ Q♥. Most variants of rummy restrict you from making sequences using cards from different suits. If you don’t have the required number of cards to make a set or a sequence, or if you want to add another card to them, you can use the joker. As mentioned before, the joker can act as any card when used in the game. For example, if 7♥ is placed as the joker, the number 7 of any suit will go in any set or sequence, such as J♥J♦ 7♠, A♣ 2♣ 7♦ 7♣. A sequence without the joker is called a pure sequence.
Gameplay
After the joker is placed, one card is placed face up in the center and the game starts. The first person to play has to decide whether he/she wants to take the card placed or take an unknown card. This depends on whether the card is useful to him/her or not. For example, if the player has 2 and 3 of spades and the card placed in the center is a 4 of spades, then he/she should go ahead and take it as it will form of sequence. Once the card is taken, another card or the same card has to be discarded to maintain 13 cards at all times. This discarded card will be placed in the center forming a discard pile. The game continues in this fashion as everyone tries to make sets and sequences.
How To Win
The game of rummy ends when a player converts all of his cards into sets and/or sequences. The first to do so is considered to be the winner and the others are ranked based on points. The point system differs across variants and the points are given for the sets and sequences accordingly. In some variants, in order to win the game, it is necessary to have at least one pure sequence.
How are the Points calculated for the player who loses any Rummy Game
Every card in a deck carries a certain number of points as follows:
1. A, K, Q, J of any suit carries 10 points each.
2. All other numbered cards carry the same points as their face value e.g. 2 carries 2 points and 9 carries 9 points.
3. Joker cards carry zero points.
4. At the end of the game, a losing Player’s total points are calculated by adding points for cards that are not grouped as sets/sequences with the following exceptions. If the losing player has no pure sequence in his hand, all cards are counted and if the losing player does not have two sequences, but has a pure sequence, only the pure sequence is not counted. For a set to be valid there should be two Pure Sequences or One Pure Sequence and One Impure Sequence.
WHAT IS A SEQUENCE IN RUMMY
Sequence:
In Rummy game, a sequence is a hand with 3 or more cards of the same rank. Example, 2♥ 3♥ 4♥; 6♣ 7♣ 8♣ 9♣; 4♦ 5♦ 6♦ 7♦ 8♦ 9♦; 9♠ 10♠ J♠ Q♠ K♠ A♠; in one hand makes a sequence.
Pure Sequence:
You can make a sequence of low or high point cards or face cards. A pure sequence is a group of three or more cards of the same suit, placed in consecutive order. You cannot form a pure sequence with a joker card. To declare the game, you need to have at least 1 pure sequence in your rummy hand.
For example, 8♠, 9♠, 10♠ is a pure sequence. It qualifies to be a sequence since the cards belong to the same set and are placed in consecutive order. Also, we have not used any joker card to complete this sequence.
Impure Sequence:
An impure sequence in the game of rummy is a group of 3 or more cards of the same suit with one or more joker card. A valid declaration can contain impure sequences, but one pure sequence is compulsory.
Example of an impure sequence: 4♥, 5♥, 2♠, 7♥. In this sequence, the 6 of hearts is missing and it is replaced by 2 of Spades (Joker).
WHAT IS A SET IN RUMMY
In Rummy Game, a Set is a hand with 5♣5♦5♥; K♠K♣K♥K♦ in one hand makes a Set.
A set is a group of three or more cards of the same value but of different suits. While forming sets, you can even use a joker card.
For example; 5♣5♠5♦5♥ is a form of set without using any joker card, K♠K♣K♦Q♦ here the set is form using a wild card i.e., Queen of Spade.
As a rummy game set is formed with four 8 cards of different suits. So, K♠K♣K♣ this can’t be considered as a set because here two cards of same suit is used.
POINTS RUMMY
One of the variants of Rummy game is Point Rummy. Every game of Point Rummy only lasts for one deal not more than that.
After the end of every game, the player who wins get the chips from the other players who lost and the value of chips depends on the count and point value of the cards of a player.
Point Rummy requires a great skill to play and it includes great thrill and excitement. Winning can be quite more in this form of variant.
Point Rummy can be played between 2, 4, or 6 players.
The point value in this game ranges from 0.1 to 40, 60…
If the point value = 0.5, then 1 point = 0.5 Play/Cash.
After the end of every game, number of chips added to winner will be= [Sum of counts of other players X point value] – Rummy Pandit Commission.
- Example, If Point Value = 2, then drop will be 2*10= 20; and Middle Drop will be 2*30 = 60 points.
- If Point Value = 5, drop will be 5*10 = 50; and Middle Drop will be 5*30=150
Deal Rummy is played between 2 players on www.RummyPandit.com, played typically with 1 or 2 packs cards each which will include one Joker per pack.
Deciding the Winner
The player with highest score in his account in 2 Deals or 3 Deals, will be declared as the winner.
Example: In a Deal play of 2 deals between “A” and “B”, “A” loses first game and his total losing points are 18, so “B”’s account will be credited with those 18 points making it 160+18=178 Points and from “A”’s account 18 points will be deducted making it 160-18=142 Points.
If “B” wants to win this Deal Game, then he has to win the second game irrespective the margin of points and if “A” declares the second game then the points in hand of “B” should be lesser than 18. And if “A” needs to win this game then he needs to defeat “B” with a margin of more than 18 points for that “B” need to have 19 points in hand.
In case there is a tie between “A” and “B”, then in “Best of 2” third round and in “Best of 3” fourth round will be play as a deciding game which will be played between them and the one who wins this game will be declared as the winner of this Deal Game.
In this format of rummy, the player whose score is less will be considered as the winner.
Pool Rummy variant can be played among 2 to 6 players and by selecting 101/201 Pool Table. The player whose score goes above 101/201 is eliminated and the last player/players (depending on Split Option) remaining will be declare as a winner.
How are Points calculated in Pool Rummy (101/201 Pool Tables)