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Official Rules of Rummy
Official Rules Of Rummy
The official rules of rummy require that there be at least 2 players, but Rummy variations can accommodate up to 6. This article will look at the overall official Rummy Rules as well as provide links to other game specific rule variations.
In Rummy, there are 2 methods of determining the winner. The first tallies the points earned by each player at the end of a set number of hands (agreed upon by all players before the first hand). The second method establishes a target score and the first player to reach that score wins the game.
Rummy involves card distribution to the players. When there are 2 players, each receives 10 cards. When 3 or 4 people play, each receives 7 cards. Finally, when 6 people participate, each player receives 6 cards.
Playing To Win - Goals in Rummy
Each player has the goal of getting rid of their cards. They can do so in 3 different ways:
- melding (which is optional)
- laying off (also optional)
- discarding (required)
Melding involves getting rid of cards from your hand that comprise a numeric sequence in the same suit or a group of same numbers (i.e. 7-7-7). Laying off your cards involves disposing of them by building onto existing melds (for example, a Queen may be added to a meld consisting of 3 Queens). Discarding involves placing one of your cards facing up onto a discard pile at the end of each turn. View our Rummy glossary for more terminology.
How Play Begins
A player begins his turn by drawing 1 card from the “stock” or discard pile and adding it to his hand. Then, that player has the opportunity to either meld or lay off cards. He’s not required to do either, even if he is able.
At the end of the turn, he chooses a card from his hand to discard (this can be the same card he drew from the stock). If the stock is completely drawn, the pile of discarded cards is overturned and becomes the new stock. The hand ends when 1 player gets rid of all of his cards.
At the end of each hand, the players add the values of the cards they’re still holding. Face cards are 10 points, Aces are 1 point, and numbered cards are counted at their face value. Those points are then added to the score of the player who won the hand.
The game progresses until the target score is reached by a player or the set number of hands has been played.
Official Rules of Rummy Games
Rummy comes in many different variations. We are compiling links and information on the different rules of rummy game variations here.
- Gin Rummy Rules
- Oklahoma Gin Rummy Rules
- Michigan Rummy Rules
- Hollywood Rummy Rules
- Shanghai Rummy Rules
- Kalooki 51 Rules
- Kalooki 40 Rules
- Rummy 500 Rules
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