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"Poker
Is Great But One Day Rummy Will Rule The World..." |
Dear Rummy
Player,
   
We want to
hear from those who are knowledgeable about the rules of Canasta as we are
currently hiring game writers. We also want to hear your views on what you
think would be the best 3 or 4 word slogan or tagline for the Rummy.com logo -
see that poll on the right hand side and vote or give your suggestion in the
suggest box! Feel free to get in touch
via the email below (non clickable to avoid spam).
Remember to check back next year for some
awesome, online Rummy gaming!
| Mr. Rummy |
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The following are
general principles of Rummy games:
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Each game has
its own specific rules but we have given some of the common traditions
here of most Rummy games where concerns the dealing process,
terminology, in game actions, melding, sets, sequences, laying off,
scoring and going out. Players should refer to each individual game rules
page for details specific to that particular Rummy game. |
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The Deal
- Players draw cards to decide the dealer, lowest card deals first.
The dealer shuffles, cuts and deals the cards to each player, face down,
starting with the player to the left of the dealer and dealing
clockwise to each. |
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Up Card
- The last card to be dealt is the upcard (also known as the top card) which is
placed at the top of the discard pile to start the discard
pile. This card is usually visible to all players and lies on the
discard pile, face up. |
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Aces Low
- Aces are low in games such as Rummy and Gin and do not go "round
the corner" (A-2-3 is valid but not Q-K-A or K-A-2). In most Rummy games
where Aces are low, they always score just one point. |
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Card
Scoring - Aces score 1, Faces score 10, the rest score their rank (aka spot, index or pip) value.
Scoring varies greatly between Rummy games and scoring should be
considered on a game by game basis. |
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Discard
Pile - This is where players place an unwanted card at their turn in
a hand of Rummy. The discard pile is face up and only the top card is
seen. Players can also draw from from this pile but cannot examine previous discards. |
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Stock
Pile - Players can draw a card from the stock pile on a turn. The
stock pile is face down and none of the cards are seen so drawing from
stock can involve a higher degree of risk, chance or luck than drawing from
the discard pile. |
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Melding
- The process by which cards are placed together to form a set (at least
three cards of same rank) or sequences (at least three cards of same
suit in consecutive rank). A player can form melds of sets or sequences. |
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Wild Card
- In some games, the Joker is a wild card and can be substituted for any
card in a meld and is therefore very useful. Wild cards cannot be used
in laying off and in most Rummy games they have no points value. |
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Knocking
- In Gin, a player knocks when his deadwood count is less than 10
points. He gains the value of his opponents deadwood score minus his
own. If melds his hand with no deadwood, he "goes gin" and scores a bonus. |
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Undercut
- In Gin, if a player knocks when his opponent has less deadwood, then
his opponent "undercuts" him and scores a 25 point "undercut bonus" plus
the difference in the deadwood scores between the two players. |
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Laying Off
- In Gin, when a player knocks the opponent is given a chance to lay off
any unmatched cards against the melds which the winner has placed on the
table. Laying off is not permissible if the winner went gin. |
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Deadwood
Count - The term "deadwood" is used, particularly in Gin
Rummy, for cards which
are not included in any meld and are therefore unmatched. The deadwood count is
the total value of those cards added together at the end. |
Some of the most popular
Rummy games and their features:
|
Rummy game |
Deck |
Cards |
Cards each
player dealt |
Jokers |
Laying off |
Target |
Also known as** |
|
Rummy |
1 |
52 |
10 cards (2
play), 7 cards (3/4 play), 6 cards (5/6 play) |
No |
Yes |
100
pts |
Basic*,
Standard*,
Straight*,
Regular* |
|
Rummy 500 |
1
or 2 |
52/54 104/108 |
13 cards (2
play), 7 cards (3+ play) |
Yes/No |
Yes |
500 pts |
Persian*,
500 Rum,
500*,
Pinochle Rummy |
|
Gin Rummy |
1 |
52 |
10 cards |
No |
Yes/No |
100
pts |
Gin,
Gin Poker,
Celebes*,
Indian* |
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Contract Rummy |
2 or 3 |
105/158 |
10 cards (first
3 rounds), 12 cards (last 4 rounds) |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
Liverpool*,
Shanghai*,
Progressive*,
Joker* |
|
Kalooki |
2 |
106 |
13 cards |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
Kaluki,
Kalookie,
Caloochi,
Kalukie |
|
Canasta |
2 |
108 |
15 cards (2
play), 13 cards (3 play), 11 cards (4+ play) |
Yes |
No |
5000 pts |
Burraco,
Samba,
Bolivia,
Basket* |
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*The word "Rummy"
is usually appended to this word but has been omitted in this instance to
save space in the table. |
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**Names
listed under this heading are either alternative names for, or slight
variations on, the corresponding game. |
Rummy
-
(Basic Rummy,
Standard Rummy, Straight Rummy) a 52
card version of the game most commonly played with 100 points required to win.
For 2 players, 10 cards are dealt to each player. With 3 - 4 players, 7
cards and with 5 or 6 players, just 6 cards
are dealt. Some people play this game with jokers as wild cards.
Rummy 500 -
(500 Rummy, 500 Rum) played with 52 or 104 cards with two
packs (54 and 108 if wild cards are used) for three or more players. Seven
cards are dealt to each player in Rummy 500 (13 cards if there are only 2
players). Wild card jokers are often used and it is a straight 500 points to
win the game.
Gin Rummy -
(Gin) a popular two player game played with 52
cards. Just 10 cards are dealt to each player and you can knock if you have 10
points or less of deadwood (unmatched cards). There is no wild card option
here and 100 points is required to win. Gin Rummy is often played at the
casino or club with higher target scores.
Contract Rummy -
(Liverpool Rummy) a popular Rummy game played with 2
or 3 decks. There are a series of deals, each of which have a unique set of
requirements in the sense that a particular type of meld needs to be achieved
for going out in that particular deal. Play continues until one player has no
cards remaining.
Kalooki -
(Kaluki, Kalookie) this game is played with
two decks. The object of a hand of Kalooki is to be the first player to play
all the cards in your hand by melding them or "calling up". All the other
players score penalty points based on the card values left in the hand at the
end of play. Anyone over 150 penalty points is eliminated.
Canasta -
(Basket Rummy) a complex but popular Rummy game
which is played with two decks and 2 to 6 players. The initial meld must
reach a minimum count and the discard pile is frozen until that is achieved.
The game has interesting scoring with penalties and bonuses depending on card
values. The goal is to obtain the best score.
Other Rummy games,
popular in the USA and
around the world:
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We have listed what we consider to be
the most popular Rummy games below. The most important or perhaps
relevant Rummy card
games are bolded. Alternative names are shown in (brackets).
Where possible and where known, Rummy games are listed with the country
of association, of origination or in which it gained popularity in italic. |
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Rummy (aka
Basic Rummy,
Standard Rummy,
Regular Rummy,
Straight Rummy),
Rummy 500 (aka
Pinochle Rummy,
Persian Rummy),
Gin Rummy - USA,
Conquian - Spain,
Canasta
- Uruguay (aka Kanasta - Poland,
Samba,
Bolivia,
Burraco), Rumino - Italy, Remi - Indonesia,
Tonk - USA, Kalooki (aka
Kalookie,
Kaluki) - Israel,
Contract Rummy (aka
Liverpool Rummy,
Progressive Rummy,
Joker Rummy,
Shanghai Rummy,
Rummy King),
Carioca
Rummy - Argentina, Bonanza Rummy,
Tile Rummy (aka
Rummi,
Rummikub
- Netherlands, Rummycub,
Rummicube,
Rummy O,
Rummy Academy - France, Okey - Turkey,
Mahjong - China), Hanafuda - Japan, Robbers Rummy - Germany,
Russian Rummy -
Russia, Indian Rummy
- India, Royal Rummy (aka
Rummy Royal,
Michigan Rummy,
Tripoley - USA,
Rummoli - Canada,
Caliente - Australia,
Poch
- Germany), Oklahoma Rummy, Thai Rummy - Thailand,
Vegas Three Card Rummy,
Fortune Rummy,
Mummy Rummy, Crazy Rummy.... |
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