Rummy (also known as Traditional Rummy) remains one of the most popular Rummy card games.
RummyG, India’s most trusted rummy platform, offers you a variants to play
and has detailed tutorials to bring out the player in you. Read on to learn rummy rules explained in a detailed. Step-by-step
instructions to learn how to play Rummy game online.
Players & Deck -
PlayRummy is played between 2 to 5 players and each player is dealt 13 cards. For 2 or 4
players, two 52-card decks (104 cards) and 4 jokers (wild cards) are used. For 5
players, three decks (156 cards) and 6 jokers are used. Each player turn by turn (in
clockwise order) deals the cards.
Number of Players | Number of Decks | Number of cards dealt to each player |
---|---|---|
2 - 4 player table | 2 deck | 13 cards each |
5 player table | 3 decks | 13 cards each |
A sequence is group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit. There are two
types of sequences that are used in 13 card rummy games. A Pure Sequence and an Impure
Sequence. To win rummy game you need at least one pure sequence. Know how to play rummy
with pure and impure sequences:
Pure sequence
5♥ 6♥ 7♥ are three consecutive cards of the same suit ♥
A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥ are four consecutive cards of the same suit ♥
A♥ 2♥ 3♥ are three consecutive
cares of the same suit ♥
However: K♥ A♥ 2♥ is not considered a valid sequence. In order for a set to
be valid it has to follow the sequence A,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,J,Q,K,A in a loop and
A,K,Q,J,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,A.
Three identical Cards: when playing with
three 52-card decks, the three cards of same rank and same suit are treated as pure
sequence/run. For example: 9♥ 9♥ 9♥ and J♠ J♠
J♠.
Impure sequence is when a printed joker or a wild card is used to
create a sequence. Let's assume K♥ is a selected Wild
Card.
4♣ 5♣ PJ 7♣ - here a printed joker has been used
to replace 6♣.
4♣ 5♣ K♥ 7♣ - here the selected wild
card K♥ has been used to build a sequence replacing 6♣.
In a valid declare you must have minimum two sequences. One of the two required sequence
must have a pure sequence and the other must have a minimum of 4 cards.
First
Combination: Both the sequences are pure
First Life
5♥ 6♥ 7♥
Second Life
A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥
Second
Combination: One of the sequences is pure and the other impure (considering J♠
is joker)
First Life 5♥ J♠ 7♥
Second Life
A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥
Third
Combination: One of the sequences is pure and the other is impure (considering
J♠ is joker)
First Life 5♥ 6♥ 7♥
Second Life A♥ J♠ Q♥ J♥
Three identical Cards: the three cards of
same rank and same suit are treated as pure sequence/run. For example: 9♥ 9♥ 9♥. This too can be treated as a first life.
3 or more cards of the same face value but different suits in a row are called a
Set
Pure Set
7♥7♣7♦ are of different suits ♥ ♣
♦
K♦ K♣ K♥ K♠ are of different suits ♦ ♣ ♠ ♥
However
7♥ 7♦ 7♦ is not considered a valid set. All cards in a set have to
be of different suits. If two or more cards of the same suit are used to make a set of
three or more cards, it is considered as an invalid set. (this is applicable in
gameplays with 2 or more deck of cards). As you can see two of 7♦ has been used to declare the set.
Impure Set
A
set can also be built with a Wild Card or a printed joker. Lets us assume the Wild Card
is K♥.
4♣ 4♦ PJ 4♥ - here a printed joker
has been used to replace 4♠ in the set.
A♣ A♥ K♥ A♠ - here the selected wild card K♥ has been used to build a set replacing A♦.
There are two types of jokers used in rummy.
Wild Joker
At the start of each
game, a wild joker card is randomly selected. This card can be used as a replacement to
any required card after you meet the requirement of at least one valid
sequence.
For example:
If 6♥ is selected as the
wild joker, then 6 of any suit can be utilized as the wild joker. I.e. 6♥, 6♠ 6♦ 6♣ are all joker
cards.
4♣ 5♣ 6♦ 7♣ - 6♦
has been used to form a sequence. This is an Impure sequence because even though it's a
6 it's not a 6 of clubs. 6♦ being a joker in this
case.
4♣ 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ - 6♣ has been used to form a sequence. Even though 6♣ is a
joker, it’s considered a pure sequence because it belongs to the same suit. (this is
possibly the worst placement with a joker considering it is blocked in a sequence
reducing its value of wild card)
A♣ K♣ 6♥ J♣ -
6♥ has been used to form a sequence by replacing in it
space of Q♣ . There this is an impure sequence using a joker.
Printed Joker
(PJ)
Printed jokers also serve the same
purpose since you can use them to replace any other card to form sets and
sequences.
A♣ K♣ PJ J♣ - PJ has been used to form a sequence by replacing in it
space of Q♣ . There this is an impure sequence using a printed joker.
A♦ PJ A♣ A♥ - PJ has replaced A♠ to
form a set of A♦ A♠ A♣ A♥
Note: If the Printed Joker is
randomly selected as the wild joker, then A’s of all suits will become wild jokers. I.e.
A♦ A♠ A♣ A♥ automatically
become the jokers.
When you have arranged all the cards in your hand in proper sequences and/or sets,
including one pure sequence, you need to declare the game by discarding one of your
cards to the declaring Slot. After that, arrange your cards in proper sequences and/or
sets to show them to your opponents and wait for them to show their
hands.
Note: Three identical Cards: when playing with three 52-card decks, the
three cards of same rank and same suit are treated as pure sequence/run. For example:
9♥ 9♥ 9♥ and J♠ J♠ J♠.
Example #1 Declaring with Pure Sequences and Sets
A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥| 2♣ 3♣ 4♣ | 5♦ 5♠ 5♥ | K♥ K♦ K♣
This is a valid
declaration as it meets the objective of the game.
Example #1: Invalid Set
A♥ K♥ Q♥ J♥| 2♣ 3♣ 4♣ 5♣ 6♣ |6♦ 6♥ 6♥ 6♣
13 Card Rummy - A standard game of online rummy where 13 cards are dealt to each
player which need to be melded into sets and sequences. 2 sequences need to be pure out
of which at least one must be of 4 cards. The rest can be arranged into sets or
sequences.
101 Pool - A Rummy type in which the Round of games continues until all the
players are eliminated and one single player survives without accumulating a total sum
of 101 Pool Points. The table is set with a fixed point of entry where the winner takes
the entire amount of the table (minus PlayRummy rake).
201 Pool - A Rummy type in which the Round of games continues until all the
players are eliminated and one single player survives without accumulating a total sum
of 201 Pool Points. The table is set with a fixed point of entry where the winner takes
the entire amount of the table (minus PlayRummy rake).
Buy In - The amount of entry or bet fee you need to put in to enter a Tournament
or a Pool Table.
Deck - It refers to the pack of cards used in a rummy game. A regular deck has 52
cards and two printed jokers.
Closed Deck - In a typical 13 cards rummy game, the cards that are not
distributed are kept face down to form the closed deck.
Open deck - An open deck is formed by the card/s discarded by players. A player
can pick the top card from the open deck which is placed face-up on the table.
Suit - There are 4 suits in any pack of cards i.e. Spades, Hearts, Diamonds and
Clubs. (♥ ♠ ♣ ♦)
Ace - In a standard 52 cards deck there are 4 aces; one of each suit (spades,
hearts, clubs and diamonds). Ace can be used to make a sequence as Ace-2-3 as well as
Ace-King-Queen.
Wild Joker - A joker is a randomly selected card at the beginning of each rummy
game. A joker can be used as any card in that particular game. For example: if the joker
is a 4♠, the other 4s (4♥ 4♣ 4♦) can be used as any card to make impure sets and
sequences.
Printed Joker - Apart from the 52 cards of 4 suites, there are two or three
printed jokers in a standard 52 cards pack. (PJ)
Point of Cards - Each player is dealt 13 cards and the after distributing the
following are scored as
Joker = 0 points
Ace, King, Queen, Jack = 10 points (also
known as Face Cards)
10 = 10 points
Number Cards = Face Value (i.e. 4 = 4 points
and 9 = 9 points etc.)
Discard - In a 13 cards rummy game, a player is supposed to pick up the 14th card
(either from the closed deck or the open deck). The 14th card there onwards is used to
start the discard pile or the open deck. The player should have 13 cards at the end of
their turn.
Play time - There is a time limit in while a player can play their turn. (30
seconds in PlayRummy)
Extra Time - Upon completion of the allotted time frame, extra time is allotted
to each player which can be utilized. Once the extra time is over only the play time
limit is provided. (30 seconds in PlayRummy)
Declare Time - Once a player has declared each player on the table is provided a
time frame to make their declarations. (30 seconds in PlayRummy)
Declare - To make a valid Declaration one must finish arranging their cards in
desired sequences and/or sets. In a 13 cards rummy game, you declare rummy by putting
the 14th card face down on the discard pile. This card is placed in the finnish
slot.
Pure sequence - A pure sequence is a sequence without a Joker.
A,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,J,Q,K of the same suit can be placed to make a pure sequence i.e.
(7♥ 8♥ 9♥) etc. A,K,Q in an order is correct where as K,A,2 is
incorrect and cannot be used in that order.
Three identical Cards - When playing with three 52-card decks, the three cards of
same rank and same suit are treated as pure sequence/run. i.e. 9♥ 9♥ 9♥ and J♠ J♠ J♠.
Impure Sequence - An impure sequence is one that is made by using a joker (wild
or Printed) i.e. 2♥ 3♠ 4♥
5♥ (3♠ being a wild joker) or 2♥ PJ 4♥ 5♥ (PJ being a wild joker).
Pure set - A set is made up of 3 or more cards of the same number (9♥ 9♠ 9♣ 9♦)
etc.
Note: While playing with more than one pack of cards, you cannot
make a valid set with 2 cards from the same suit i.e. (J♠ J♠ J♥) etc.
Impure Set - An impure set is when the set made consists of a joker. (wild or
Printed) i.e. 9♥ 3♠ 9♣ 9♦
(3♠ being a wild joker) or 9♥ PJ 9♣ 9♦ (PJ being a wild joker).
Unarranged Cards - The cards with which a player is not able to make any sets or
sequences at the time of declaration are considered as unmatched cards. The losers
unmatched card points are calculated and its the point loss which is awarded to the
winner.
Scoring - The loser faces a point loss of the unmatched or unarranged cards which
they are unable to arrange in any sets or sequences.
Winner - A winner in a rummy game is a player who declares by arranging their
cards with valid sets and/or sequences. Also, to win the rummy game, the player has to
correctly declare their cards in 2 sequences out of which one has to be pure and the
other has to have 4 cards. The winner gets 0 points after winning the hand.
The above mentioned rummy glossary is purely for informative
purposes only. The Rules for playing rummy that are applicable to PlayRummy.com
rummy games can be found at: Link