How to play Rummy
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Rummy is a game of strategies, and if you can strategize your Joker cards, the game might take a 360-degree turn for you. There are rules for using the Joker Cards, and when combined with some tips, they can become your best buddies.
- Printed Joker: Printed Joker is a card that comes with every standard card deck and has an image of Joker printed on it. In a game, there can be one of two Joker available, depending on how many decks you are using. You can use this card in impure sequences and sets if you find a missing card while melding them.
- Wild Jokers: In Indian Rummy, we use Wild Joker cards. The players choose a particular card as Wild Joker at the beginning of the game, and automatically, other cards of the same ranking from different suits turn into Wild Joker. For example, if 3 Of Spades is the Wild Joker, 3 Of the Clubs, Hearts, and Diamond will also become Wild Jokers. Like Printed Joker, you can use the Wild Jokers instead of unavailable cards in impure sequences and sets.
Though both the cards have the same value, there is another difference between these two types of Joker Cards regarding their use in pure sequence: You can never use a Printed Joker in a pure sequence, but you can place a Wild Joker in a pure sequence matching its original value and suit. For example, if you have 6 of Hearts as the Wild Joker, you can make a pure sequence with 4 and 5 of Hearts or 7 and 8 of Hearts. But, printed Joker cannot be used in this sequence if you want to keep it as a pure sequence.
- Use of Joker Cards to Make Impure Sequences:
Let’s discuss it with examples:
Example 1: Suppose you have two consecutive cards, like 5 of Spades and 6 of Spades. If you have a printed Joker or a Wild Joker, then you can use it to substitute 4 of Spades or 7 of Spades.
Now, the final arrangement will be -
With Printed Joker: Joker, 5 of Spades, 6 of Spades or 5 of Spades, 6 of Spades, Joker
Example 2: If you have three cards from the same suit and cannot form a pure sequence because a card is missing when arranged consecutively, then you can use a Printed Joker or Wild Joker to make an impure sequence. For example, if you have 3 of Clubs, 4 of Clubs, and 6 of Clubs, you can use a printed Joker or a Wild Joker (here, 9 of Spades) to replace the missing 5 of Clubs and complete the sequence.
Final arrangement:
With Printed Joker: 3 of Clubs, 4 of Clubs, Printed Joker, 6 of Clubs
With Wild Joker: 3 of Clubs, 4 of Clubs, 9 of Hearts(Wild Joker), 6 of Clubs
Example 3: If you are lucky and get both the Printed Joker and the Wild Joker, you can use them in two sequences. For example, if you have Q and K of Diamonds, you can place a Printed Joker with them. On the other hand, let’s assume you have 7 of Clubs, 9 of Clubs, and 6 of Clubs as Wild Joker in this game, which you can use in an impure sequence.
Final arrangement:
Printed Joker, Q of Diamonds, K of Diamonds; 7 of Clubs, 6 of Spades (Wild Joker), 9 of Clubs.
Example 4: If you have 3, 5, and 7 of Diamonds suit and have two printed Jokers in hand, then you can make a sequence combining them. They will work as the replacement of missing cards that are 4 and 6 of Diamonds.
So, the final arrangement of the impure sequence is:
3 of Diamonds, Printed Joker, 5 of Diamonds, another Printed Joker, 7 of Diamonds.
- Using Joker Cards to Make Pure Sequences
You must arrange three or four consecutive cards from the same suit while creating a pure sequence. Though you cannot use a printed Joker in this arrangement, you can still include your Wild Joker in the sequence, considering if it fits the rank and has the same suit as the rest of the cards. For example, if you have 6 and 7 of Hearts, you can use 8 of Hearts as a Wild Joker to form a pure sequence. You can check the other two pure sequences, where 8 number cards used to form a Pure Sequence.
- How to Use Joker in Sets
Here are some examples to show how you can use Jokers to make sets -
Example 1:If you have 5 of Clubs and 5 of Hearts, then a set can be made using a printed Joker or a Wild Joker. The final arrangement will be:
5 of Clubs, 5 of Hearts, and Printed Joker.Example 2:If you have cards 6 of Diamonds, and Hearts you can use your printed Joker or Wild Joker card to extend the set.
Then it will look like:
6 of Diamonds, 6 of Hearts, and 6 of Spades (Wild Joker); or, 6 of Diamonds, 6 of Hearts, and Printed Joker to complete the set.
- You can use both Printed Jokers and Wild Joker to form sequences and sets. When you are making sequences with Jokers, they are called impure sequences. You cannot use a printed Joker in a pure sequence at any condition. But, if you utilize a Wild Joker in pure sequence, you can only use it considering its original rank. Its suit should also match the suit of the consecutively arranged cards of the pure sequence.
- If you have formed a set with four cards, like with 5 of Spades, 5 of Clubs, 5 of Diamonds, and 5 of Hearts, you cannot extend the set by adding a Joker. Your set should have only four cards and not more.
- Create a sequence of 3-4 consecutive cards. If a missing card prevents you from creating it, you can use the Joker Cards as its replacement. However, you cannot substitute a Single Joker Card for multiple missing cards. This rule is also applicable for sets.
- Create a pure sequence before you plan to make a sequence using a Printed Joker or a Wild Joker. It is mandatory to have at least two sequences for a valid declaration, where one of them must be a pure sequence. Therefore, while melding, your priority should be combining a pure sequence.
- The first and most useful trick is to use the Jokers with high-value cards. In a Rummy game, you need to keep your score low. The high-value cards like 10s and Face cards like A, K, Q, and J all carry 10 points. It might increase your score. When you have unarranged high-value cards, you can combine them with a Joker. It will bring down your score.
- Use a Joker to create a valid and impure sequence as soon as possible during your game. In Rummy, the penalty is decided based on the ungrouped cards left. Since you don't know when your opponent is almost ready to declare, forming a sequence with a Joker will reduce your score and cushion the risk of high penalty points.
- If you can make a pure sequence without a Wild Joker, it is better to use it to form an impure sequence. However, creating a Pure Sequence should be your priority because you will make an invalid declaration without it.
Why is Joker Important in Rummy?
In Indian Rummy, Printed Joker and Wild Joker Cards are used. If you have a missing card while forming a sequence or set, you can replace it with a Joker Card. Joker cards carry zero values. Therefore, they can lower your score, which decreases your risk of a heavy penalty. With Joker Cards, you can only form impure sequences and sets.
How Many Types Of Jokers Used In Rummy?
There are two types of Jokers used in Rummy games; one is a Printed Joker, which is a card with a Joker image Printed that comes with the Card deck. Another is the Wild Joker, decided by the players at the beginning of the game.
How Many Jokers Are There In Rummy Deck?
A standard Deck of 52 cards comes with one Printed Joker, making the Set of 53 cards. However, you can use Wild Joker, randomly chosen at the beginning of the Rummy game. Once this card is selected, cards of the same rank from all the suits become Wild Joker Cards.
What If A Printed Joker Comes As A Wild Joker?
If printed Joker comes as wild Joker in Rummy, Ace (A) card will become wild Joker.
Can We Use Joker In Pure Sequence?
You cannot use a Printed Joker in pure sequence in any way, but a Wild Joker in Pure Sequence, but its original value and suit have to match the consecutive cards you are making the sequence with. If 3 of Spades is a Wild Joker, you can create a pure sequence with the 3 of Spades, 4 of Spades, and 5 of Spades.
Can We Use Joker In A Set?
You can use Joker in a set; if you have the same cards of two suits, you can combine them with a Printed Joker or a Wild Joker to make a set. You can also use the Joker Cards to extend a pre-made set.
Can We Use Three Jokers As A Set Or Sequence?
As per the standard Rummy rules, you cannot use more than two Joker Cards to make sets and sequences.
What Is The Value Of Joker In Rummy?
In Rummy games, the scoring system is based on penalty. So, the player’s objective remains to reduce the score to zero. Both the Printed Joker and the Wild Joker Cards carry the value of zero points. Therefore, use your Joker Cards with high-value cards to form a sequence. It brings down the score.
