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Each game has its own specific rules but there
are common traditions which apply to various
Rummy card games
where concerns the dealing process,
terminology, in game actions, drawing,
discarding, melding, sets,
sequences, laying off, scoring and going out.
Players should refer to the
Glossary
for information on terminology and each
individual game rules page for details
specific to that particular game:
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.
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.
Discard Pile - This
is where players place an
unwanted card. The pile is
face up and only the top
card is seen. Players can
also draw from this pile but
cannot examine previous
discards in most games
(except in Rummy 500).
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.
Knocking - In Gin, a
player knocks when his
deadwood 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.
Laying Off
- This is when a player is given a
chance to lay off unmatched cards
against melds which have been
placed on the table. In Gin, this
can only happen at the end and is
not permissible if the winner went
gin.
Up Card - The last card to be dealt is the up card (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.
Card Scoring - Mostly
aces score 1, faces score
10, the rest score their
rank (aka spot, index or
pip) value. Scoring varies
greatly between different
Rummy games and scoring
should be considered on a
game by game basis.
Stock Pile - Players
can draw a single card from
the stock pile on a turn.
This pile is face down and
none of the cards are seen
so drawing from stock
involves a higher degree of
risk, chance or luck than
the discard pile.
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.
Undercut - In Gin, if
a player knocks when his
opponent has less deadwood,
then his opponent
"undercuts" him and scores a
25 point bonus plus the
difference in the deadwood
scores between the two
players.
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.
*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 card game.
Rummy -
(Standard 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) 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 game for two
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.
There is no wild card option
and 100 points are required to
win. Often played at the
casino or club with higher
target scores.
Contract Rummy
- (Liverpool Rummy) a popular
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. Play continues
until one player has no cards
remaining.
Kalooki
- (Kaluki) this
game is played
with two decks.
The object
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.
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.
Interesting scoring with
penalties and bonuses
depending on card values.
LEARN MORE ABOUT RUMMY GAMES around the
world
The most important or perhaps relevant
Rummy card games are Bolded
on the right. Alternative names are
shown in (brackets). Where possible and
where known, games are listed with the
country of association, of origination
or in which it gained popularity in
italic. Also, be sure to learn
more about the
history
and the
variety of card games.
