Beginner’s Handbook to Rummy: A Comprehensive Primer

Rummy is a fascinating and captivating card game. It can get you hooked and have you coming back for more. If you are playing Rummy online, you not only enjoy the game but also get rewarded. 

But before you get to the enjoying and rewarding part of the game, you have to learn how to play Rummy. Comprehending all the rules and regulations is crucial to get started. While Rummy has multiple variants, you can start by perfecting one variant, the classic Rummy game.

In this blog, we will comprehensively discuss Rummy for beginners!

Objective of Rummy

Rummy may have different variants, but the objective of Rummy stays the same. The primary objective of Rummy is to combine and create valid melds of cards by creating sets and sequences and to keep your overall score as low as possible. 

When you learn how to play Rummy variants, you will see that different variants test different cognitive skills. For example, points Rummy needs speed, pool Rummy needs precision in decisions, Indian Rummy demands strategy and skills, and 21-card Rummy asks you to be smart to avoid penalties.

The basic rules, however, remain the same. Let’s understand!

How to Play Rummy? – Basic Rules 

• Setup and Dealing 

Typically, Rummy is played with two 52-card decks. These decks include wildcards and the Joker. An average Rummy game is played between 2 to 6 players.

The dealer shuffles the pack and distributes the cards according to the variant rules. The remaining card pile is the draw pile and one card from the deck is kept at the centre facing up, forming the discard pile. 

It is your responsibility to set the cards in your hand in your preferred sequences/runs and sets. 

• Discard and Draw 

The next step is to draw from the closed and discard pile (after the first round) and discard one card from your hand. You can choose among the two stacks of the cards. If the discarded pile holds a valuable card, you can draw from that group. 

Ensure that you are not discarding useful cards. Discard only those cards that do not fit your strategy or in the set and sequence.

• Sets and Sequences

Creating valid melds includes combining cards to make pure and impure sets and sequences.

Sequences: When you combine cards of consequent values from the same suit, you create a sequence. The first sequence should be pure, i.e., it shouldn’t include the Joker card. Other sequences can be impure.

Sets: Combining cards of the same value from different suits is called a set of cards. If you include a Joker card in this combination, you create an impure set. Otherwise, it is a pure set.

• Declaring and Dropping 

When you have one pure sequence, two spare sequences, a set or two, and one excess card in your hand, you can declare your melds by putting down that card and declaring “Rummy”!

If you want to save yourself from further loss of points, you can drop out of the game in some variants either on your turn or at the start of the round.

Primary Types of Rummy

1. Gin Rummy
2. Indian Rummy
3. Points Rummy
4. Deal Rummy
5. Pool Rummy
6. 21-card Rummy
7. Canasta Rummy
8. 500 Rummy

Ending Note 

Beginning your online Rummy journey the right way is necessary. Learn how to play Rummy, inculcate the rules into your gameplay, practice consistently, find your way into other types of Rummy games, and get rewarded online. 

We hope you have a great time learning and playing Rummy!