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How to Play Rummy Online - Rules of Rummy
Rummy Game Overview
Are you new to Rummy? Do you already find it difficult? Then, let's make things easy for you. All Rummy players know the value of having a solid strategy, which will help you how to handle your opponents. For that, you have to develop a thorough understanding of the rules and regulations of the game, and when teamed up with simple Rummy tips, they can make you the next Rummy champion.
Your first objective in Rummy should be to create a pure sequence, abiding by the rules of the Rummy game. You must declare when you arrange your cards in sequences and sets. To make sets and sequences before your opponents, you must know the valid sets and sequences. Read along to learn more about how to play rummy online.
How to Play Rummy?
Want to Play Rummy Online Multiplayer? Here are the things that you should know before you start playing:
- Generally, the number of players participating in Rummy games ranges from 2 to 6, and they play with one of two standard decks of cards, including one printed Joker per deck. In Rummy games, we use two types of Jokers; besides the printed Joker, one card is a Wild Joker. After that, by default, Other cards of the same value and from different suits become Wild Jokers, too. The cards are ranked Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K.
- At the beginning of the Rummy Games, a toss to decide which player will go first. The players get their turns drawing cards from the pile or discarding their unnecessary cards. A player needs to make at least two sequences with one valid sequence to make a valid declaration before the other opponents win the game.
- There are rules for forming sets and sequences; you must arrange three or four cards to make sets and sequences. If there is any missing card, you can use Wild Joker or Printed Joker in their place. You should arrange your cards either in 2 sets and sequences or three sequences and one set. It will help you to arrange your cards in a valid order. You may also arrange all your cards in sequences.
Sequence in Rummy
Now, you may wonder what this sequence is and how you can arrange your cards in sequences. It is an arrangement made with three or more consecutive cards of the same suit. There are two types of sequences, pure and impure sequences, and knowing how to create them may save you from penalties.
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Pure Sequence : The first thing you must learn in Rummy is how to create a pure sequence. The players need to have a pure sequence to make a valid declaration. Therefore, your first objective has to concentrate on making a pure sequence. You need three or more consecutive cards of the same suit to make a pure sequence, but the catch is you cannot use a Joker, neither the printed Joker nor the Wild one.
Player A
For example : Player A has 6, 7, 8 & 7, 8, 9 & 8, 9, 10 of Hearts, this is a Pure Sequence. While you cannot use a Printed Joker in the Pure sequence, you can use your Wild Joker, but you can only use it in its original value and suit. Use it as a replacement for a missing card. For example, check Player B Cards considering that his 5 of Diamond is a Wild Joker. You can use it to make a pure sequence with 4 and 6 Of Clubs and wild joker 5 of club with 4 and 6. Here is a suggestion. If you have limited Wild Jokers, use them to form impure sequences unless you fail to make any other pure sequence.Player B
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Impure Sequence: An impure sequence is a cluster of three or more cards of the same suit, where you have substituted one or more missing cards with printed jokers or wild jokers. For example, you can use a printed joker with Jack (J) and Queen (Q) of Spades to make an impure sequence. You may also create an impure sequence that looks like 4 of Clubs, 5 of Clubs, 3 of Spades as Wild Joker, for another impure sequence. Also, 5 of Diamonds, 6 of Diamonds, and 3 of Spades, where 3 of Spades is the Wild Joker.
Set in Rummy
Example : Player A has created 3 sets, 1st set Ace(A) of Diamond, Ace(A) of Clubs, and Ace(A) of Spades to form a set. The other 2 sets are also Valid. You can use a Printed Joker or Wild Joker to complete the set.
Player A
However, you should be careful about not forming invalid sets; Refer to Player B cards below; the player made 2 Valid sets (1st pure set, 2nd set with printed joker) and 3rd set with 6 of Diamonds, 6 of Hearts, and 6 of Hearts, then this becomes an invalid set. According to the game rules, you cannot use the same cards twice in a valid set.
Player B
Please Note : In Rummy, you're allowed to create multiple sets, but there's a rule that limits it to two sets. So, while playing Rummy, make sure not to go beyond the game's rule of having a maximum of two sets.
Joker in Rummy
The Joker cards of the Rummy game can bring dramatic plot twists. The most significant tactic every Rummy champion must master is using the Jokers properly. There are two types of Jokers—Printed Jokers and Wild Jokers, and both can increase your chance of winning.
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Printed Joker : It is a card with a printed image of Joker, and you can use it instead of a missing card in impure sequences and sets. Example: you can make an impure sequence with 3 and 5 of Spades with a printed Joker. If you have cards with the same number but different suits, you can team them up with a Printed Joker to form a set.
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Wild Joker : At the beginning of the game, a specific card is considered a Wild Joker, and automatically, the other cards of the same rank but different suits become Wild Jokers. Its function is similar to that of a Printed Joker. For example, in the following cards, the 3-number card is the Wild Joker. Therefore, if you are attempting to create an impure sequence with the 5 and 6 of Diamonds, you can use the Wild Joker (3 of Spades) in place of the missing 7 Diamonds.
Rummy Declaration Rules
You need to make a valid Declaration before your opponents to be the winner of the Rummy game. So now the question is how to proceed to make the declaration. You need to arrange the 13 cards in sequences and sets and discard the last unwanted card in the “Finish” slot before you make a declaration. You should ensure that you have at least two sequences, and one of them is a pure sequence. The player making the first valid declaration wins and receives zero points.
An invalid declaration occurs when you fail to make a pure sequence but declare your cards. In that case, the player loses by a margin of the total value of in-hand cards. You must make at least two sequences, while the second can be pure or impure. You must also arrange all your cards before making a declaration. Though forming sets is optional, you should have your cards clustered in proper combinations.
If you make an invalid declaration for a table of two, your opponent is the winner. If it is a multiplayer game, other players will keep playing until someone makes a valid declaration.
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Valid Declaration Example :
Here is an example of Valid Declaration :
Pure Sequence 8,9,10 of Hearts + Impure Sequence: 4,5 of Diamonds & Printer Joker + Set1: 4 Jacks of Hearts, Clubs, Diamond and Spades + Set2: 5 of Diamonds, 5 of Club and Wild Joker to complete set. It is a valid declaration.
One Pure Sequence : Created a pure sequence with 8, 9, and 10 of Hearts.One Impure Sequence : Created an impure sequence with 4, 5, and Printed Joker.Two Pure Set : Created 1st set with 4 Jacks Of Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds, and Spades. 2nd set is created with 5 of Diamonds, 5 of Clubs, and a Wild Joker of 6. -
Invalid Declaration Example:
Here is an example of Invalid Declarations:
5 & 7 of Hearts with Wild Joker 8 of Hearts, Impure Sequence. 5 of Hearts, Printed Joker, 7 of Hearts & wild joker 8 of Hearts, 2nd impure Sequence. Set of 3 Aces includes Diamonds, Clubs, and Spades cards. Set of 3 Six Cards including Diamond, Hearts, and Spades.This is not a valid declaration, a player has to make at least one Valid Sequence before declaring.
Point Calculation in Rummy
While playing Rummy, you should keep calculating your score, which will help you have clear insights about the game. If you are yet to figure out how the calculation of points in the Rummy game works, here is a guide for you -
- Numbered Cards: Numbered cards like 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 carry the score of their face value.
- High-Value Cards: High-Value cards like Jack, Queen, King, and Ace give you 10 points each.
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Printed Joker/ Wild Joker: The Joker Cards carry zero points.
The penalties for the Rummy players :
- If you make an invalid declaration, you get a penalty of 80 points.
- For the First Drop, your penalty points become 20, and for the middle drop, you get a penalty of 40 points. If you miss three consecutive turns, you are dropped from the game, and it is considered a middle drop for which you get a 40-point penalty.
- If two players play a Rummy game against each other and Player A makes a valid declaration first, they win and get zero points. Player B, who lost, has made some sequences and sets with four ungrouped cards that are 5 of Spades and 4 of Clubs, An Ace of Hearts, and Queen of Hearts. So the points will be 5+4+10+10 or 29.
Some Important Rummy Terms:
Deal/ Round: A deal or round begins when the cards are distributed among the players and ends when any player makes a valid declaration of their hands.
Draw and Discard Cards: In the Rummy game, when you pick a card from the closed deck or open deck, it is called Draw. When you have an unwanted card in hand and want to leave it on the pile, it is known as discarding.
Meld: When a player arranges their cards in sets and sequences, the way of dealing or arrangement is called melding.
Jokers: There are two types of Jokers in Rummy games that can help you to win and bring down your score. Use the Printed Joker and the Wild Joker as substitutes for other missing cards in an impure sequence and sets. There is one Printed Joker per set and four Wild Joker per deck in Rummy games.
Drop: If you have a bad hand in a Rummy game, you can Drop any time. A First Drop occurs when you leave the game before drawing any card. For this, you receive a 20-point penalty. If you drop after drawing one or more cards, it is known as the middle drop, and you get a penalty of 40 points. A player gets dropped from the game automatically for missing three consecutive turns. It is also considered a middle drop, and the player receives a penalty of 40 points. A drop can save you from a severe loss. Hence, you should know when to drop.
Declare: Once you have melded the cards and arranged them in sets and sequences (one pure, another impure), then you can declare your cards. To make a valid declaration, you need at least two sequences. Make sure that one of them is a pure sequence. If you make an invalid declaration, you receive a penalty.
Cash Tournaments: If you are confident of your Rummy skills, you can join cash tournaments on trusted Rummy platforms like Rummy Sarkar. You can add cash to your in-game account and join a tournament with an entry fee. You can win exciting cash rewards on winning the Rummy game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Drop in Rummy?
If you have a weaker hand, you can Drop out of the game strategically to minimize the loss. If you fail to make a pure sequence, you better drop because you will get a penalty of either 20 or 40 points.
There are two types of Drops -
First Drop: If you decide to leave the game without picking a single card, it is called First Drop, for which you receive a 20-point penalty.
Middle Drop: If you decide to leave after you have picked at least one card, it is known as the Middle Drop. For a middle Drop, you will receive a penalty of 40 points.
Besides these, if you consistently miss three turns, you are dropped from the game automatically. It is considered a middle Drop.
Can we Discard Wild Joker or Printed Joker?
Yes. You can leave wild Joker or Printed Joker in a discarded pile. As you can use Jokers in both sets and sequences, we suggest keeping Joker cards unless they prevent you from forming a pure sequence. Also, remember that no player can take a discarded Joker from the open deck.
What if we do not declare and the opponent declares their cards?
This might lead to regret because, in a Rummy game, the player who makes the first valid declaration wins. Your opponent secures victory by declaring their cards with a pure sequence along with other sets and sequences. If you have valid combinations and forget to declare, you will incur a penalty of 2 points.
What are the Points for Joker?
In Indian Rummy, both the Wild Joker and the Printed Joker have zero points. Therefore, they can help you decrease your score. If you have several high-value cards, you can make sequences and sets using Joker cards, which will cut down your score.
