How To Play Rummy Card Game: Get Started With Rummy Rules
Rummy is a card game that is played with two decks of cards with a 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 the rummy card game, the players must 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 have 10 points. The remaining cards have a value equal to their face value. For example, 5 cards will have 5 points, and so on
The Objective Of Rummy
The objective of the rummy card game is to arrange the 13 cards in valid sets and sequences. To win the game you need to make a minimum of 2 sequences, out of which one needs to be a pure sequence and the rest can be any valid sequence or set. 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. Two types of sequences are formed; a pure sequence and an impure sequence. To win the rummy game, you need at least one pure sequence in your hand.
Pure Sequence
A pure sequence is a group of three or more cards of the same suit, placed in consecutive order. A player cannot use any Joker or wild card to form a pure sequence in the rummy card game.
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)
Impure Sequence
An impure sequence is a group of three or more cards of the same suit with one or more Joker cards 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 Play Rummy Card Game?
Follow these 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 the 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 the player can also use a wild joker or printed joker of the deck to make impure sequences 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 a 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.