How To Play Rummy

Get Started With Rummy Rules

Rummy is a card game that is played with two decks of cards with total of two Jokers. To win the rummy game a player must make a valid declaration by picking and discarding cards from the two piles given. One pile is a closed deck, where a player is unable to see the card that he is picking, while the other is an open deck that is formed by the cards discarded by the players. To win at rummy card game, the players have to group cards in valid sequences and sets.

In rummy, the cards in each suit rank low to high starting with Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen and King. Ace, Jack, Queen and King each has 10 points. The remaining cards have value equal to their face value. For example, 5 cards will have 5 points and so on.

The Objective Of Rummy

The objective of rummy card game is to arrange the 13 cards in valid sets and sequences. To win the game you need to make minimum 2 sequences, out of which one needs to be pure sequence and rest can be any valid sequence or sets. Without a pure sequence you cannot make a valid rummy declaration. This is one of the most important rummy rules.

How to Form Sequences?

In rummy, a sequence is a group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit. There are two types of sequences that are formed; a pure sequence and an impure sequence. To win the game of rummy you need at least one pure sequence in your rummy hand.

Pure Sequence

A pure sequence is a group of three or more cards of the same suit, placed in consecutive order. To form a pure sequence in rummy card game, a player cannot use any Joker or wild card.

Here are a few examples of pure sequence.

• • 5♥ 6♥ 7♥ (Pure sequence with three cards and there is no Joker or wild card used)
  • 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 group of three or more cards of the same suit with one or more Joker card used.

Here are some examples to show how an impure sequence is formed.

• • 6♦ 7♦ Q♠ 9♦ (Here Q♠ has been used as a wild Joker replacing 8♦ to form an impure sequence.)
  • 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?

A set is a group of three or more cards of the same value but of different suits. When you are forming sets, you can use wild card and Jokers.

Examples of sets

• • A♥ A♣ A♦ (In this set, all the Ace are of different suits, make a valid set.)
  • 8♦ 8♣ 8♠ 8♥ (Rummy set is formed with four 8 cards of different suits.)
  • 9♦ Q♠ 9♠ 9♥ (Here Q♠ has been used as wild joker replacing 9♣ to make set.)
  • 5♦ 5♣ 5♠ PJ (Printed joker replacing 5♥ to make set.)
  • 5♦ 5♣ Q♠ PJ (Here Q♠ has been used as wild joker replacing 5♠ & Printed joker replacing 5♥ to make set.)
  • 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)

Note: The set is formed with same card of different suits. However, you can’t use two or more cards of the same suit. This is taken as an invalid declaration. Also, note that a set can have more than four cards. So, if you have a set of four cards and you are using an additional Joker, then in total it becomes a 5 cards group and still be a valid set. At no given time, the hand can have more than 13 cards.

Examples of invalid set

• • Q♥ Q♥ Q♦ (There are two Qs of the same suit ♥ making it an invalid set.)
  • 7♠ 7♥ 7♦ 7♠ Q♥ (It has two 7 spades of the same suit. The wild card Q♥ as the fifth card is valid but having two 7♠ is making it invalid.)

How To Play Rummy Card Game?

Follow this simple rummy rules and instructions to know How To Play the game from start to end:

Rummy card game is played between 2 to 6 players with 2 decks of cards. Each player is dealt with 13 cards and a random card is selected as wild joker or joker card of the game.

The player has to draw and discard cards to form valid sets and sequences of the 13 cards in hand where player can also use wild joker or printed joker of the deck to make impure sequence and sets.

As per indian rummy rules, once a player arranged 13 cards in valid 2 sequences including 1 pure sequence and more groups (sequences or sets), one can make a declaration and win the game.

Quick Tips To Win The Rummy Card Game

Just as it’s important to know the rummy rules, it is also necessary to play carefully and with focus. Here are quick tips to win the rummy game and stay a step ahead of your competitors.

Form the pure sequence at the very beginning of the game. Without a pure sequence, a player cannot make a declaration.

Discard cards with high points like Ace, Jack, Queen and King. Replace these cards with Joker or Wild Cards. It reduces the point load, in case you lose the game.

As much as possible, avoid picking from the discard pile. It gives away what hand you are trying to form.

Look out for smart cards. For example, a 7 of any suit can work with 5 and 6 of the same suit and also 8 and 9 of the same suit.

Jokers play an important role in rummy. Try using them to replace high value cards. Remember, Joker and wild cards cannot be used to form pure sequence.

When you are ready to make a declaration, check and recheck your cards and then press the button. An invalid declaration can turn even a winning game into a complete loss.

Common Terms Used In Rummy Rules

Here are some common terms of Indian Rummy that every player needs to know before he starts playing.

What is a Rummy Table?

It is the table where the game of rummy is played. Every rummy table can sit two to six players for each game.

What is Joker and Wild Cards?

In each rummy deck there is a Printed Joker and there is a Wild Card that is selected at random at the beginning of the game. The role of both these types of card 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.

What is Draw and Discard?

In all Rummy games, each player is dealt 13 cards. Additionally, there are 2 stacks from which each player can select cards, thereby drawing a card. Once a player draws a card, he has to get rid of one card – this is called discarding.

What is Sorting of Cards?

Sorting of cards are done at the beginning of the game. This is done to arrange your cards to help you form your sets and sequences reducing the probability of mixing the cards. Once, the cards are displayed, you can hit the Sort button and start playing.

What is a Drop?

When a player decides to leave the game table at the start or middle of the rummy game, it is a drop. The act is withdrawing from the game as a personal decision. The first drop=20 points; middle drop= 40 points and last drop and maximum point loss is 80 points. In case of Pool rummy, if a player drops in 101 pool, the score is 20. In case, it is 201 pool rummy, the drop score is 25. In a game, where it is best of 2 and best of 3 is played, then a drop is not allowed.

What is an Invalid Declaration?

An invalid declaration happens in rummy card game when the player presses the Declaration button, but the cards are not in valid sequences and sets. Therefore, the player will lose the game and the competitor will automatically be declared as the winner. Here are few examples of common invalid declarations players make while playing rummy:

Wrong Declaration with Invalid Sets

• • Example 1: 10♠ 10♠ 10♦ 10♣ Q♥

A set can have 3 cards or more, however a set needs to be formed with cards of the same value and different suits. In this situation, the Wild Joker (Queen of Hearts) card was added and that became the fifth card, which is valid as per rules, however the group consist of 2 cards of the same suit making it a wrong declaration.

• • Example 2: K♥ K♥ K♦

In this set, there are 3 cards which is well within the minimum limit. Also, a set consists of cards of the same face value but has to be of different suits. The set cannot have more than one card of the same suit. In this example, the set consists of two cards of the same suit and that makes it a wrong declaration.

Wrong Declaration with Invalid Sequences

• • Example 1: 10♠ 10♥ 10♦ 10♣ | 5♠ 5♥ 5♦ | 6♠ 6♥ 6♣ | 9♥ 9
  • ♦ Joker

A valid declaration requires 2 sequences, out of which one needs to be pure sequence i.e. sequence without joker and the other can be pure or impure sequence i.e. sequence with or without joker. However, in the given example there is neither sequence made making it an invalid declaration.

• • Example 2: K♥ K♠ K♦ | 6♥ 7♥ Joker | 9♠ 10♠ J♠ Joker | 5♠ 5♥ 5♦

A valid declaration must have 2 sequences, out of which one needs to be pure sequence i.e. sequence without joker and the other can be pure or impure sequence i.e. sequence with or without joker. This example shows that there are 2 sequences, but both are impure sequence i.e. sequence with joker and the pure sequence is not there. It is compulsory to have a pure sequence before you make a declaration.

• • Example 3: Q♥ Q♠ Q♦ | 6♥ 7♥ 8♥ 9♥ | 5♠ 5♥ 5♦ | 10♠ 10♥ 10♦

Sequences are very important for a rummy card game and you need minimum 2 sequences, out of which one needs to be pure sequence and the other can be pure or impure sequence to win the game. In this example, there is a pure sequence, however the 2nd sequence is missing and hence it is an invalid declaration.

Combination Possible as per the Above Rules to Declare 13 Cards in Rummy:

• • There is one Pure Sequence of 4 cards
  • There is Impure Sequence of 3 cards where 8♣ is a wild joker
  • There is a “Set 1” of 3 cards
  • There is a “Set 2” of 3 cards having a “Printed Joker”

What is Pool Rummy

Pool Rummy allows players to be more strategic as this is a long format game often preferred by skilled rummy players. Total Rummy offers three sub variants of Pool rummy – 61 Pool, 101 Pool, and 201 Pool. Pool rummy can be played among 2 to 6 players. The game starts by choosing a table with a fixed Buy-In, which contributes to the overall prize pool. So, the more the players, the bigger the prize pool of this rummy game.

Pool Rummy

During online games on the rummy app, players also get the option to split the pool prize with the remaining players. This option becomes enabled when there are only 2-3 players remaining in the game, and the split is only possible if it’s accepted by each player.

Different Types of Pool Rummy

There are 3 sub variants of Pool rummy on Total Rummy – 61 Pool, 101 Pool, and 201 Pool. Each variant has its own score limit, which means that the player whose score exceeds the limit is eliminated. For example, players in 61 Pool need to keep their score below 61, and the same goes for 101 Pool (101 points) and 201 Pool (201 points).

This format follows all general rummy rules. However, here are Important points to keep in mind while playing the sub variants of Pool Rummy.

A player gets eliminated from the game if their score exceeds the score limit 61 (in 61 Pool), 101 (in 101 Pool), or 201 (in 201 Pool).

The rejoin option gets enabled for the eliminated player if the score of other players is below 45 points (in 61 Pool), less than 79 points (in 101 Pool), or less than 174 points (in 201 Pool).

The points of the player who rejoined the game will be equal to the highest points of an existing player +1.

The art of dropping out of the game at the right time helps players save a lot of points in the game. Making an invalid declaration costs 60 points (in 61 Pool) and 80 points (in 101 and 201 Pool).

How is the Score Calculated in Pool Rummy

In each sub variant of Pool rummy, the winner of a round gets 0 points, and other players get points based on their ungrouped cards. 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.

What is Points Rummy

Points rummy is a single deal format of rummy that is very popular among all rummy enthusiasts. The winner of the game is the one who makes a valid declaration first, and the winning amount depends on the point value of the game.

Points rummy is probably the fastest among all rummy variants and this is why it is loved by all. It is a 13 card variant of rummy which is played between 2 to 6 players.

Points Rummy

How to Play and Rules of Points Rummy

Here are the things to keep in mind while playing Points rummy:

• • Each player gets 13 cards at the start of the game.
  • The winner of the game is the player who makes a valid declaration first.
  • The winning amount depends on the point value of the game and the ungrouped cards of the losing players.

How is the Score Calculated in Points Rummy

The score is calculated based on the ungrouped cards in Points rummy. Let’s understand this with an example:

• • Game type: 6-player game Players: A, B, C, D, E, F, G Point value: ₹1 (every point is worth ₹1)
  • Players Player A Player B Player C Player D Player E Player F
  • Points Winner 15 points 25 points 10 points 20 points 5 points

As you can see, “A” has the game and the sum of points of the ungrouped cards of other players is as listed above. The total of their points is 15+25+10+20+5 = 75. “A” has won ₹75 in this game, since each point is worth ₹1.

How is the Winning Amount Calculated in Points Rummy

As mentioned above, the winning amount depends on the point value of the game and the number of points your opponents have at the time of a valid declaration. Points game on Total Rummy range between the point value of ₹0.01 to ₹500 point.

What is the Point Value?

Point value is the monetary value of each point in a Points game. For example, in a ₹1 Point game, each point is worth ₹1, similarly in a ₹500 Point game, each point is worth ₹500.

So, let’s say you win a ₹10 Point game in which the sum of all the points of your opponents is 100, then you will win ₹10×100 = ₹1,000.

How Does the Drop Option Work in Points Rummy

If you think that the cards you got in a Points game are not great, you can always choose to “drop” from the game. But, a penalty will be applied to your score if you do so:

• • Game First Drop Mid Drop
  • Points game 20 points 40 points.
  • Also, if you make an invalid declaration, you get penalised with 80 points.