One of the most widely played card games in India is Rummy. It is almost like a household game. People often play rummy with or without money for fun at festivals, weddings, and other gatherings. For years now, rummy has been instrumental in bringing people together and bonding them over a game of cards.
With the evolution of technology and the onset of online gaming, this interesting game made its way into the digital world. Today, rummy can be played virtually on the screens and on handheld mobile devices on the go. Today several online platforms offer online games, so you need not wait for the next family gathering to play your favorite game or convince your friends to play. Online rummy allows you to play with people across borders.
Besides, it provides an amazing opportunity to earn great cash rewards. The Indian online rummy space has scaled unprecedented heights in the past few years. With popular celebrities and personalities promoting the game of skill, the prize pools also keep getting bigger and better.
In this guide we’ve covered the basics of how to play rummy. So read on to know.
Rummy has been a household card game in India, with the 13 Card Rummy being the most popular one. It is also known as Indian Rummy. The game involves drawing and discarding cards to make sequences. It is typically done utilizing two decks and the two Joker cards. A game of rummy requires minimum two and maximum six players to play.
The rules for playing rummy are pretty basic to learn. Thus anyone can play this exciting game. The game includes two piles of cards placed on the table. One of the pile is kept closed, while the second pile is kept open, also known as the discard pile deck.
Each player gets 13 cards at the start of the game. According to the rules of rummy, every player must create a minimum of two sequences, out of which one must be pure. The second sequence can be pure or impure. A player is permitted to make a maximum of two sets with the same cards representing different suits. Players can declare only if they have a pure sequence. Declaring without a pure sequence can lead to players receiving penalty points or even losing the game.
Thus here is what a valid and legitimate declaration should look like:
2 sequences + 2 sets
3 sequences + 1 set
The main aim in a game of rummy is to be the first player to create proper rummy sets and sequences. Upon setting valid combinations, a player can declare and claim victory.
Before you dive into the game and start playing, it is advisable to acquaint yourself with the terms and jargons that are used in rummy. Here are some words and phrases you must know:• Table :
• Table :
A normal game of 13 cards rummy is played at a table. The table may be virtual or physical. As per rummy rules, a game of rummy can only begin when there are 2 players at the table. Similarly, a table allows a maximum of 6 players. which might be digital or actual. According to the rummy rules, there are 2 to 6 players at each table.
• Deck :
There are 52 cards in a deck, plus a printed joker. There are four suits (Clubs, Hearts, Spades, and Diamonds) in a deck, each having 13 cards each. Every card has a different suit rank.
• Wild Cards and Joker Cards :
Every open deck includes a printed Joker Card. Once the cards have been dealt, a wild card is then selected at random. Players can make use of joker card as well as the wild card to make sets and impure sequences.
• Sorting :
Sorting cards in rummy means arranging the cards in order after they are handed at the start of the game. To ensure the formation of sets and sequences and mixing cards, each player must arrange their cards in a specific order.
• Drop :
Each player in a game of rummy has the option to exit the game at any time, however, remember that this results in a penalty.
• Draw and Discard :
In a game of rummy, players can choose to draw or pick cards from the closed pile or the open pile (pile of cards containing the discarded by players and placed face up).
During every turn, a player must draw a card and discard an unwanted card from their hand. The actions of picking new cards and discarding the unwanted cards is known as drawing and discarding, respectively.
• Meld
Every time the cards have been dealt, players need to arrange their cards in sequences, or sequences and sets. The action of arranging the given cards in such valid groups is known as melding.
• Printed & Wild Joker
Jokers have an important role to play in a rummy game. There are majorly two types of jokers: printed jokers (1 per deck) and wild jokers (4 per deck). There is one printed joker in each deck, while there are four wild jokers in each deck. Both these jokers can be used as substitutes for any missing cards in the formation of a set or sequence.
• Declare
Once you have formed the required sets and sequences and have finished the game by discarding one of your cards to the “Finish” slot, you must show your cards to your opponents. This act is known as declaring your hand.
• First Life
The first pure sequence created by the player is known as the first life.
• Second Life
The second pure sequence or the first impure sequence is called a second life. Remember that a second life is invalid without a first life.
So far we have discussed the basic rules of rummy. Two deck of cards are used to play a game of rummy between two and six players. Each players gets 13 cards and one card is selected at random to become the game's wild joker.
Apart from the wild joker the printed joker from the deck can also be used to make valid sets and sequences. The players need to draw new cards and discard old ones on every turn to create sets and sequences holding the 13 cards.
As per the rules of Indian Rummy, a player may declare victory once they have organized 13 cards into two valid sequences, having one pure sequence, and additional sequences or sets.
A sequence in rummy is a combination of a minimum of three consecutive cards belonging to the same suit. There are two types of sequences in rummy namely, pure sequence and impure sequence. In order to make a valid declaration a player must have at least one pure sequence.
Pure sequence
In rummy, a pure sequence is a combination including at least three consecutive cards having the same suit. Players are not allowed to use a wildcard or joker to make a pure sequence, hence the name.
For example, a hand having 7h 9h Th is a pure sequence. Similarly, 3s 4s 5s 6s is also a pure sequence containing no joker.
Impure sequence
Just like a pure sequence, an impure sequence is also a combination containing at least three consecutive cards, having the same suit. But there's a small difference. In an impure sequence, players are permitted to use one or even more joker cards to complete their sequence.
For example, 5d 6d Kc 8d is an impure sequence, wherein the wildcard joker Kc replaces the 7d in the sequence.
A set in 13 rummy card games is a combination of a minimum of three cards, belonging to different suits but of the same value or rank. Players are allowed to include joker or wild cards, for replacing the missing cards to complete your rummy set.
An example of a rummy set is 7d 7h 7c 7s. Similarly 8d 8h Qs 8s is also a valid set wherein, Qs is a joker replacing 8c.
Remember, the formation of a set having two or more cards belonging to the same suit is not allowed and thus it will be considered as an invalid declaration. On the other hand, a valid set of five cards can also be created by using more than 4 cards and a Joker.
The game of rummy ultimately depends on the accumulation of points. The aim of every player must be to minimize the penalty points.
Let us have a look at how points are calculated when you are playing an online rummy card game.
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| High Value Cards Ace, King, Queen, Jack | All carry 10 points each |
| Joker and Wild Cards | Zero points |
| Other cards Example: 5 ♥, 6 ♥ 10 ♥ | Have point value same as their face value 5 points, 6 points, 10 points |
| If the player doesn’t have 2 sequences including a pure sequence | The value of all cards is added, capped at 80 points |
| If the player has formed 2 sequences including a pure sequence | Value of cards that are not included in sequence are calculated |
| Wrong Declaration | 80 points |
| First Drop | 20 points |
| Middle Drop | 40 points |
| 3 Consecutive Misses | Considered as middle drop with 40 points loss |
| Leave Table | If a player leaves the table after picking from a closed deck, it is considered a middle drop. If the player hasn’t picked any card, it is taken as the first drop. |
Examples of Points Calculation With Winning Amount
Here are some examples of points calculated on a table of 6 players, wherein Q♦ is a wild joker.
| Player | Hand Formed | Points Calculated |
|---|---|---|
| Player 1 | 2 3 4 | 5♣ 6♣ Q | 8 8♠ 5♣ | 2 2♣ | K♠ Q♠ | The player has 2 sequences 1 pure and 1 impure. So, only the points of extra cards will be counted = 45 |
| Player 2 | 4♠ 4 4♣| 4 5 Q | 3♠ 7♠ 8♠ | Q K | 10♣ 9♣ | The player has not formed 2 sequences, including the pure sequence. Hence, points of all cards will be calculated = 68 |
| Player 3 | 3 4 5 | 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ Q | 8 5♣ | 2 2♣ 2 | K♠ | The player has 2 sequences, 1 pure and 1 impure. It also has 1 set formed. The points will be calculated only for the unused cards = 23 |
| Player 4 | A 4 5 | 5♣ 6♣ 10♣ J | 8 5♣ | 2 2♣ Q | K♠ | First Drop with a loss of 20 points |
| Player 5 | 4♠ 4 4♣| 4 5 Q | A♠ 7♠ 8♠ | Q K | J♣ 9♣ | 3 consecutive misses = 40 points |
| Player 6 | 2 3 4 | 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ Q | 5 5♣ 5 | 2 2♣ 2 | WINNER |
Referring to the above guide is all you need to know to get started with playing rummy online. Remember that playing rummy online can be fun and also help you win some great cash rewards, all you need to do is play thoughtfully and keep getting better at the game.
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