Rummy Rules

Online Rummy is a popular card game played with two decks. Start playing the game by making two piles: a closed deck you cannot see and an open deck involving the cards you tossed away. Win the game by carefully selecting and discarding cards from the two piles to make a valid declaration while arranging the cards in sets and legal sequences.

A key to playing a rummy game is abiding by its rules. The Rummy game rules can vary depending on the game's variation and this is a guide to Rummy rules that will help in playing the game and navigating its variations and point value calculations.

Rummy Game Rules: The Card Categories

The Rummy cards are categorised from high to low lank, including the King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and Ace. The royal cards of King, Queen and Jack have the highest value at 10 points. But an Ace is a single point or a face card when creating sets.

A player must have a valid declaration when playing Rummy. Fold the 14th card and declare when you have arranged all your cards to meet the sequences and sets. According to the Rummy card game rules, the sequences must include at least one pure sequence. The winner is announced once you make your valid declaration, and all the opponents' points are calculated based on the game’s variant.

Rummy Joker Rules

Rummy’s Joker includes a randomly selected card and a printed Joker card picked at the beginning of a game. Follow the Rummy Joker rules given below to succeed in the game.

Only 2 Joker cards can be used to make a set.
Another player cannot take a discarded Joker card.
Five Joker cards are allowed in a game with a single deck. The Jokers include 3 wild cards and 2 printed Jokers.
Use the Joker as a replacement card for any other to form an impure sequence.

Suggested Read: Learn How to Play Rummy Card Game

Rummy Card Sequence Rules

The Rummy card sequence is a group of three or more cards of the same suite. The game has two types of sequences: impure and pure sequence. According to the Rummy rules, any player should have at least one pure sequence to win the game. Below are the five sequence rules that dictate the winning party in Rummy.

Impure Sequence Rule

An impure sequence is a group or run of at least three cards of the same suite. But one of the cards must be a Joker. For instance, Q♠ is a Joker in 2♦ 3♦ Q♠ 5♦ and 4♥ is a Joker in 10♠ 4♥ Q♠ K♠.

Pure Sequence Rule

A pure sequence in Rummy is also a group or run of at least three cards of the same suit. A game cannot be won without a pure sequence, and some of the examples of this sequence include - 9♥ 10♥ J♥ and 5♠ 6♠ 7♠ 8♠.

First Life Rule

Rummy’s first life is the first pure sequence created.

Second Life Rule

A second life in the Rummy game rules refers to an impure or a second pure sequence. The second life cannot be formed without the first life.

Triples Rule in Rummy

A triple is collecting three cards of the same rank from different suites. A set of triples is also an impure sequence; you can use Jokers to form these triples. A triple can be something like - A♦ A♠ A♥

How to Form Sets?

A set comprises three or four identical cards. Complete a set by substituting other cards with Jokers and wild cards. Below are some examples of rummy rules for sets.

A♥ A♣ A♦ - This set uses three Aces of different suits.
4♠ 4♣ K♥ - This set is made using K♥ as a wild Joker and 4s of different suits.
4♥ 4♠ 4♣ 4♦ - This set is made without a Joker using 4s of different suits.
6♦ 6♣ 6♠ PJ - This set uses a printed Joker to replace 6♥ and 4s of different suits.

Note: Do not use two or more cards from the same suit to make a set. Doing so will give you an invalid declaration.

How to Group Cards in Rummy?

A crucial component of playing Rummy is sorting and grouping of cards. Click on the sort icon in the platform once the cards are dealt. All the dealt cards are grouped and sorted using the sort tab into the cards of the same suit. Add a card into a group by tapping on it, and organise those cards into sets and sequences by tapping on the group icon. You may also drag and drop cards in any necessary group.

Rummy Game Rules for Point Calculation

Rules to Calculate Points as Per Indian Rummy Rules

Rummy point calculations are based on the played variant. Below is how the point is calculated according to Indian Rummy rules in a classic Rummy game.

Aces, Jacks, Kings, and Queens of any suit carry 10 points each.
Every card has some points, and every number card has an equal point value. For instance, 5 spades have 5 points.
Joker cards get zero points according to Rummy Joker rules.
The losing player’s score is calculated at a Rummy game’s end and estimated by adding the cards’ points that are not in any sequence or set. All the points are added if a player lacks a pure sequence.
A player can get a maximum of 80 points. If the hand score is 85, you are still charged with a penalty of only 80 points.

Rummy Point Calculation for Losing Players

Find out all about the point calculation for players who have lost through the table given below:

A player does not have two sequences, including a pure sequence	The value of cards added and capped at 80 points
Wrong Declaration	80 points
A player has created two sequences, including a pure sequence	Calculation of the value of cards outside the sequence
Middle Drop	40 points
First Drop	20 points
Three consecutive misses	A middle drop with a loss of 40 points
Leave Table	It is a middle drop if a player leaves the table after picking from a closed deck. It is a first drop if a player has not picked any card.

How are Your Winnings Calculated in Rummy?

Calculating the winnings in Rummy cash games depends on the variant being played. Below are the formulae to calculate the winnings in some Rummy variants.

Winnings Calculation in Points Rummy

Calculating the winning is calculated in a pre-decided value. The formula for it is the following -

Winning Cash = (Sum of all points of opponents ✕ Rupee value of the point) - Rummy Circle fee.

Example - Five players are playing points Rummy for cash on the Rs 960 table. Every point has a pre-determined value of Rs 5. One player will be the winner, and the remaining will lose. The losing points for the players will be 52, 46, 29, and 62, respectively.

Winnings = 5 × (52 + 46 + 29 + 62) = Rs 945

Rs 945 will be reflected in the player’s account after deducting the fee.

Winning Calculation in Deals Rummy

The winner will get all the chips at the end of each deal in Deals Rummy, and here’s how it is calculated -

Winnings = Sum of all opponents’ points, assuming that each chip equals a point

Example - If there are 4 players on the table and player 3 declares his hand, the other players will lose with 10, 20, and 30 points, respectively. The the winner’s chips comes to 10 + 20 + 30 = 60 chips

Winnings Calculation in Pool Rummy

Below is the formula for calculating the winnings in Pool Rummy -

Winnings = (Entry fee ✕ Number of players) - fee

Example - The prize pool is formed with the fixed entry fee that players pay for the tournament. If 4 players join a pool rummy with Rs 40 as the entry fee, the prize pool will be Rs 160.

The winner will get Rs 40 ✕ 4 = Rs 160

Rummy Game Rules for Different Variations

The major Rummy card game rules remain the same for most variations. But the difference is in the pre-decided Rupee amount or the points calculation. The game rules for the different Rummy variations include the following:

Deals Rummy Rule

The number of deals and chips in this variant are pre-decided and are generally played in 2-decks of cards between 2-6 players.

13 Card Rummy Rule

The 13-card Rummy includes making sets and sequences and declaring them before your opponent to win the game. Many variants come under 13-card Rummy, which includes points, pool, and deals Rummy. But the primary difference between the 21-card and the 13-card Rummy is the one compulsory pure sequenced needed in the 13-card Rummy.

Rummy 500 Rules

Points are generally unfavourable in most Rummy games but positive in the Rummy 500. Any player can be the winner if they reach 500+ points first.

Points Rummy Rule

Every player joins the game using a pre-decided amount in the points Rummy. The winner will get all the cash by receiving zero points based on the total point value of the opponent.

21-card Rummy Rules

The 21-card Rummy is played among 2-5 players in 3 standard decks, including a printer Joker in each deck. Twenty-one cards are given to every player, with a wild Joker allotted randomly from the cards’ deck. Every player must arrange the cards into valid sets or sequences from the open or closed deck and discard a hard card to the open deck.

Pools Rummy Rules

The winner in Pool Rummy is chosen when a player declares a valid set, including pure and impure sequences. The points of the other players are calculated after the valid declaration.

Gin Rummy Rules

Gin or Gin Rummy is a traditional card game with a standard 52-paying card deck with Aces low and Kings high and 2 players. Cards are valued numerically in Gin Rummy, where the face cards are worth 10 points, and Aces are only 1. But, a player can win in Gin Rummy only if they are the first to reach 100 points. Furthermore, if you want to read Gin Rummy Tricks explore from here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Rummy Rules

What are the Rummy rules for a 2-player game?

A 2-player Rummy game is called a head-to-head Rummy, where each player is given 7 cards in a 7-card Rummy or 10 cards in a 10-card Rummy. This variant is fast-paced Rummy, where you can win by forming valid sequences and sets.

What is the golden rule of Rummy?

The golden rule of Rummy is to always form a pure sequence first. There will be no wins and declarations until a pure sequence is made. And the pure sequence should be of cards from the same suit without a Joker.

How is the winner decided in Rummy?

The rule of deciding the winner in Rummy differs for each variant. Generally, a valid declaration must be made before the other players become the winner of the game.

In Rummy, is Ace high or low?

Ace can either be low or high in Rummy, but not both simultaneously. If the runs are A-2-3, the Ace is low, but if the runs are A-K-Q, then the Ace is high.

What is the difference between 13 cards & 21 cards Rummy?

Several differences exist between the 13-card and 21-card Rummy. The most common difference between both variants is the number of cards. One uses 13 cards, and another uses 21 cards. But the 13-card Rummy is also an agile and quicker format, whereas the 21-card Rummy needs more attention to detail and concentration.