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In a Rummy game, 2 to 6 players can play with 1-2 standard decks of 52 cards. Every player in the game is dealt 13 cards to arrange in sets and sequences. The player who makes a valid declaration first wins the game. From a well-shuffled deck of cards, 13 cards are dealt to each player. After dealing the cards to players, the remaining ones are placed face down on the table, forming the closed deck for the game.

Each player has the option to pick a card from the closed deck or open deck on every turn. There is another card deck in the game called open deck. The open deck is created by placing the top card of the closed deck face up. All the cards discarded by each player are added to the open deck and can be picked by their opponents.

In every deal of a rummy game, there are two types of joker cards: printed and wild card joker. A random card is chosen as the wild card joker, and all cards of that value become wild card jokers. The game begins with a player drawing a card from either the open or closed deck. Once the card is picked up, the player has to discard a card, which will be added to the open deck. It is up to the next player to decide whether to pick a card from the open or closed deck. In short, players have two options for card selection, but they must discard a card on each turn, and the discarded card is automatically added to the open deck. When all 13 cards in hand are arranged in sets or sequences, the player discards the last unwanted card to make a valid declaration in the game.

When calculating the points for ungrouped cards, each card carries a point value in the game. Every card from 2 to 10 is worth its face value, and all face cards, i.e., J, Q, K, and aces, carry 10 points each.

The Objective of Rummy

In the Indian Rummy Game, which is widely played with 13 cards, players need to arrange these cards in sets or sequences and make a valid declaration to win the game. This game can be played among 2 to 6 players using 1-2 standard decks of 52 cards. Please keep in mind that if players want to make a valid declaration in the game, they must have at least one pure sequence. If a player declares without forming a pure sequence, that declaration is considered invalid.

How to Form Sequences?

In Indian Rummy, a sequence is a group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit. There are two types of sequences, which are a pure sequence and an impure sequence. One pure sequence is essential for any player to make a valid declaration. If a player declares without forming a pure sequence, that declaration is considered invalid.

Pure Sequence

A sequence is formed without using a joker and wild card.

Here are a few examples of pure sequence:
1. 5♥ 6♥ 7♥ (Pure sequence with three cards and there is no Joker or wild card used)
2. 3♠ 4♠ 5♠ 6♠ (Pure sequence with four cards. There is no use of Joker or wild cards here.)

Impure Sequence

An impure sequence is a sequence formed using a joker. In this case, a joker is used to replace the missing card. Also, there are two types of joker cards in rummy: Wild card joker and printed joker. Both can be used to form an impure sequence.

Here are some examples to show how an impure sequence is formed:
1. 6♦ 7♦ Q♠ 9♦ (Here Q♠ has been used as a wild Joker replacing 8♦ to form an impure sequence.)
2. 5♠ Q♥ 7♠ 8♠ PJ (Impure sequence with Q♥ as wild joker that is replacing 6♠ and the Printed Joker is replacing 9♠.)

How to Form Sets?

If a player groups at least three cards of the same rank but different suits, the grouping is called a set.

A joker can be used to form a valid set.

Examples of sets

1. A♥ A♣ A♦ (In this set, all the Ace are of different suits, make a valid set.)
2. 8♦ 8♣ 8♠ 8♥ (Rummy set is formed with four 8 cards of different suits.)
3. 9♦ Q♠ 9♠ 9♥ (Here Q♠ has been used as wild joker replacing 9♣ to make set.)
4. 5♦ 5♣ 5♠ PJ (Printed joker replacing 5♥ to make set.)
5. 5♦ 5♣ Q♠ PJ (Here Q♠ has been used as wild joker replacing 5♠ & Printed joker replacing 5♥ to make set.)
6. 5♦ 5♣ PJ Q♥ Q♠ (This is a set of 5 cards with Printed joker & Q♥ as wild joker replacing 5♠ 5♥ and one more wild joker Q♠ to complete 13 cards grouping.)

Typical Example: 2♥ 3♥ 4♥ 5♥| 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ 8♣ | 5♦ 5♣ PJ Q♥ Q♠ (Set of 5 cards is made to complete the grouping of 13 cards and make a valid declaration)

Tips & Tricks To Win In Rummy Games

Forming a pure sequence is priority

To make a valid declaration, players should form a pure sequence with the cards dealt at the beginning of the game. It’s always better to drop out if you don’t spot a pure sequence after sorting your cards.

Discard High Value Cards to Avoid Penalty Points

If high-value cards in your hand can’t be used to form a sequence or set, discard them immediately. By doing so, if an opponent declares before you, you will not lose by a high margin.

Use Joker Cards Smartly

Jokers are powerful assets in rummy, as they can be used to substitute for any other card to form sets and sequences. Strategically utilize jokers to complete melds, but avoid relying too heavily on them, as they may be needed elsewhere or by your opponents. Use jokers judiciously to maximize their impact on your hand.

Rummy Rules Common Terms

Printed/ Wild card joker

In each rummy deck, there is a Printed Joker and a Wild Card that is selected at random at the beginning of the game. The role of both these types of cards is the same. Jokers are used to form sets and impure sequences. A Joker card can replace the desired number when forming the groups. This is a valid formation in a rummy game.

Drawing and discarding cards

Every player, on their turn, draws a card from either the closed deck or open deck. Also, according to rummy rules, it is compulsory to discard an unwanted card after picking a card. The process of drawing and discarding a card requires skills and good strategy.

Sort

There will be a ‘Sort’ button available when you play on Rummy Live. This feature helps you to automatically arrange cards in an optimal way and reduce the points as much as it can.

Drop

Dropping is a smart strategy used to minimise one’s loss in a rummy game when winning is not possible. This strategy is used when you have bad hands and do not get the desired cards required to make the necessary sequences/sets in the first few rounds of the game. If you are struggling to form a pure sequence, we recommend you to drop the game. When you drop a game, you get a penalty of only 20 or 40 points, depending on the time of the drop, and save yourself from a big loss.

First Drop: If you leave the table on your first turn without picking even a single card, it is called an initial drop or a first drop. You get 20 points as a penalty for a first drop. You can go for a first drop when you have no jokers or have no sequence or set in your hand.

Middle Drop: If you leave the game after picking at least one card, it is a middle drop. You get 40 points for a middle drop. You can go for a middle drop when you have no pure sequence and little to no possibility of grouping your cards into valid combinations.

Invalid Declaration

There can be three types of invalid declarations. The first occurs when a player incorrectly forms a sequence, and in the other scenario, an invalid declaration happens when a set is formed incorrectly. Players can make an invalid declaration when there is no pure sequence at all.

Declaration with an invalid sequence:

Each Card Points Value in Rummy

In rummy game, the cards are arranged from lowest to highest, starting with A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K.

Cards 2-10 have the same value as the numbers on the cards. For instance, 5 ♠ carry 5 points, and 8 ♦ carry 8 points.

In rummy, Jokers carry 0 points but play a vital role in helping players create valid combinations.

The remaining cards, i.e., the face cards J, Q, K, and A, are worth 10 points each.

Winnings Calculation

Every variant of Rummy has a specific calculation system to declare a winner. Understanding the calculations of each variant can help players perform better in the game. Here’s a brief introduction of calculation rules.

Points Rummy

The winnings of Points Rummy are based on a pre-decided rupee value. At the end of the game, the winner gets the entire amount lost by the other players.

Pool Rummy

There is a fixed Buy-In to participate in the game of Pool Rummy, and the prize pool is formed accordingly. If 6 players are playing the game and join a Pool rummy with a ₹10 Buy-In, the prize pool of the game would be ₹60. The winner will take the entire prize pool of ₹60.

Deals Rummy

Similar to Pool rummy, Deals Rummy also has a pre-decided Buy-In amount. If 6 players are playing the game and join a Deals rummy with a ₹10 Buy-In, the prize pool of the game would be ₹60. The winner will take the entire prize pool of ₹60.