RE: "Rummy is my name,
Rummy is my game."
   
Dear Rummy Player,
Let me take a moment to
introduce myself as a serious Rummy addict. I have always believed Rummy to be
the most sophisticated, skill oriented card game. Did you know that amongst the best
card games such as Poker, Bridge, Euchre, Hearts, Spades, Cribbage, Whist,
Solitaire and Blackjack, Rummy is the most popular and that there are more
variations of Rummy than Poker?
I want to hear from Rummy
addicts like myself - which Rummy games do you like to play? I also welcome
contact from software developers and article writers. Contact me via the email below (non
clickable to avoid spam). Remember to check back next year for some awesome,
competitive Rummy gaming!
| Mr. Rummy |
|
 |
Key Gin
Rummy Terminology
|
Term |
Definition |
|
Discard |
The pile where
cards are discarded (face up) |
|
Up Card |
Card at the
top of the discard pile (face up) |
|
Stock |
The pile of
cards in stock (face down) |
|
Top Card |
Card at the
top of the stock pile (face down) |
|
Meld |
Cards arranged
into a set or sequence |
|
Set (Group) |
At least three
cards of same rank |
|
Sequence (Run) |
At least three
cards of same suit arranged in consecutive rank |
|
Deadwood |
Cards which
are left unmatched and not included in any meld |
|
Deadwood Count |
The value of
the unmatched cards added together |
|
Wild Card |
Jokers can be
wild in some games, and can be used as any card to complete a set or
sequence but not in laying off. |
|
Gin (Ginning) |
When a player
is able to meld his entire hand with no deadwood. He places one card
face down and scores the value of the opponents deadwood plus a 25 point
"gin" bonus. |
|
Knock
(Knocking) |
A player
knocks when his deadwood count is less than 10 points. He
discards one card and displays his melds. He scores the opponents
deadwood count minus the value of his own deadwood count. Thus if the
knocker has 9 points of deadwood, and opponent has 19 points of
deadwood, he scores 10 points. |
|
Laying Off |
The opponent
then spreads his own hand and is permitted to "lay off" any unmatched
cards which match the knocker's matched sets (not his unmatched cards).
No laying off is permitted when it is a gin hand, only where it is a
knock hand. |
|
Undercutting |
When a player
knocks and the opponent's deadwood is the same or less than the
knocker's, the opponent "undercuts" and scores a 25 point
bonus plus
the difference in the deadwood. For example, if the knocker has 9
points of deadwood and the opponent has 5 points of deadwood, the
opponent scores 25 points (undercut bonus) plus 4 points (the difference
in the deadwood counts). The opponent would thus score 29 points. |
|
End Of Hand |
In Gin play
continues until a player gins, knocks, or until there are only two cards
left in the stock pile. In the latter case, the hand is over and ends in
a tie - no points are scored. However in Straight Rummy, the discard
pile is turned over, shuffled and becomes stock so play can continue.
(Also see
Rummy Glossary) |
Other Rummy games,
popular in the USA and
around the world:
|
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. |
|
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.... |
The following is the standard amongst
most Rummy games:
|
(1) Players
draw cards to decide the dealer, lowest card deals first - dealer
shuffles, cuts and deals. |
|
(2) Cards are dealt face
down to each player and the last card is the upcard to start the discard
pile. |
|
(3) Aces are
always low and do not go "round the corner" (A-2-3 is valid but not
Q-K-A or K-A-2). |
|
(4) Aces
score 1, Faces score 10, the rest score their rank (aka spot, index or pip) value. |
|
(5) Players
are not allowed to examine previous discards.
Rummy.com |
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 |
52/54 |
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* |
|
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* |
|
*The word "Rummy"
is usually appended to this word but has been omitted in this instance to
save space in the table. |
|
**Names
listed under this heading are either alternative names for, or slight
variations on, the corresponding game. |
Rummy -
(aka Basic Rummy, Standard Rummy or Straight Rummy) this 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 -
(aka 500 Rummy, 500 Rum) this can be 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 -
this is a popular version of Rummy in the United States. It is a two player game
played with 52 cards where laying off is sometimes included. 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.
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