How to Play Rummy Card Game: Get Started with Rummy Rules

Rummy is a card game played with two decks of cards and a total of two Jokers. To win the rummy game, a player must make a valid declaration by picking and discarding cards from the two piles given. One pile is a closed deck, where a player is unable to see the card they are picking, while the other is an open deck formed by the cards discarded by the players. To win at rummy, players have to group cards into valid sequences and sets.

In rummy, the cards in each suit rank low to high starting with Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, and King. Ace, Jack, Queen, and King each have 10 points. The remaining cards have a value equal to their face value. For example, a 5 card will have 5 points, and so on.

🎯 The Objective of Rummy

The objective of rummy is to arrange the 13 cards in valid sets and sequences. To win the game, you need to make a minimum of 2 sequences, one of which must be a pure sequence, and the rest can be any valid sequence or set. Without a pure sequence, you cannot make a valid rummy declaration. This is one of the most important rummy rules.

🔢 How to Form Sequences?

In rummy, a sequence is a group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit. There are two types of sequences: pure sequence and impure sequence. To win the game, you need at least one pure sequence in your hand.

✅ Pure Sequence

A pure sequence is a group of three or more cards of the same suit, placed in consecutive order. To form a pure sequence, a player cannot use any Joker or wild card.

Examples of pure sequences:

• 5♥ 6♥ 7♥ (Pure sequence with three cards, no Joker or wild card used)

• 3♠ 4♠ 5♠ 6♠ (Pure sequence with four cards, no Joker or wild cards used)

❌ Impure Sequence

An impure sequence is a group of three or more cards of the same suit with one or more Joker cards used.

Examples of impure sequences:

• 6♦ 7♦ Q♠ 9♦ (Here, Q♠ has been used as a wild Joker replacing 8♦ to form an impure sequence)

• 5♠ Q♥ 7♠ 8♠ PJ (Impure sequence with Q♥ as wild joker replacing 6♠ and the Printed Joker replacing 9♠)

🃏 How to Form Sets?

A set is a group of three or more cards of the same value but of different suits. When forming sets, you can use wild cards and Jokers.

Examples of sets:

• A♥ A♣ A♦ (All Aces are of different suits, making a valid set)

• 8♦ 8♣ 8♠ 8♥ (Set formed with four 8 cards of different suits)

• 9♦ Q♠ 9♠ 9♥ (Here, Q♠ has been used as wild joker replacing 9♣ to make set)

• 5♦ 5♣ 5♠ PJ (Printed joker replacing 5♥ to make set)

• 5♦ 5♣ Q♠ PJ (Q♠ used as wild joker replacing 5♠ and Printed joker replacing 5♥)

• 5♦ 5♣ PJ Q♥ Q♠ (Set of 5 cards with Printed joker & Q♥ as wild joker replacing 5♠ 5♥ and one more wild joker Q♠ to complete 13 cards grouping)

Typical Example: 2♥ 3♥ 4♥ 5♥ | 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ 8♣ | 5♦ 5♣ PJ Q♥ Q♠ (Set of 5 cards is made to complete the grouping of 13 cards and make a valid declaration)

Note: A set is formed with the same card of different suits. However, you can’t use two or more cards of the same suit. This is considered an invalid declaration. Also, note that a set can have more than four cards. So, if you have a set of four cards and you are using an additional Joker, then in total it becomes a 5-card group and still be a valid set. At no given time, the hand can have more than 13 cards.

🃏 How to Play Rummy Card Game?

Follow these simple rummy rules and instructions to know how to play the game from start to end:

1. Rummy is played between 2 to 6 players with 2 decks of cards. Each player is dealt 13 cards, and a random card is selected as the wild joker or joker card of the game.

2. The player has to draw and discard cards to form valid sets and sequences of the 13 cards in hand, where the player can also use wild joker or printed joker of the deck to make impure sequences and sets.

3. As per Indian rummy rules, once a player arranges 13 cards in valid 2 sequences, including 1 pure sequence and more groups (sequences or sets), one can make a declaration and win the game.

💡 Quick Tips to Win the Rummy Card Game

Just as it’s important to know the rummy rules, it is also necessary to play carefully and with focus. Here are quick tips to win the rummy game and stay a step ahead of your competitors:

• Form the pure sequence at the very beginning of the game. Without a pure sequence, a player cannot make a declaration.

• Discard cards with high points like Ace, Jack, Queen, and King. Replace these cards with Joker or Wild Cards. It reduces the point load in case you lose the game.

• As much as possible, avoid picking from the discard pile. It gives away what hand you are trying to form.

• Look out for smart cards. For example, a 7 of any suit can work with 5 and 6 of the same suit and also 8 and 9 of the same suit.

• Jokers play an important role in rummy. Try using them to replace high-value cards. Remember, Joker and wild cards cannot be used to form a pure sequence.

• When you are ready to make a declaration, check and recheck your cards and then press the button. An invalid declaration can turn even a winning game into a complete loss.

📘 Common Terms Used in Rummy Rules

Here are some common terms of Indian Rummy that every player needs to know before they start playing:

🃏 What is a Rummy Table?

It is the table where the game of rummy is played. Every rummy table can sit two to six players for each game.

🃏 What is Joker and Wild Cards?

In each rummy deck, there is a Printed Joker, and there is a Wild Card that is selected at random at the beginning of the game. The role of both these types of cards is the same. Jokers are used to form sets and impure sequences. A Joker card can replace the desired number when forming the groups. This is a valid formation in a rummy game.

🃏 What is Sorting of Cards?

Sorting of cards is done at the beginning of the game. This is done to arrange your cards to help you form your sets and sequences, reducing the probability of mixing the cards. Once the cards are displayed, you can hit the Sort button and start playing.

📊 Examples of Valid and Invalid Declarations

Example 1: Invalid Declaration

• K♥ K♠ K♦ | 6♥ 7♥ Joker | 9♠ 10♠ J♠ Joker | 5♠ 5♥ 5♦

A valid declaration requires 2 sequences, one of which must be a pure sequence. This example shows that there are 2 sequences, but both are impure sequences (sequences with joker), and the pure sequence is missing. It is compulsory to have a pure sequence before you make a declaration.

Example 2: Invalid Declaration

• Q♥ Q♠ Q♦ | 6♥ 7♥ 8♥ 9♥ | 5♠ 5♥ 5♦ | 10♠ 10♥ 10♦

Sequences are very important for a rummy card game, and you need a minimum of 2 sequences, one of which must be a pure sequence. In this example, there is a pure sequence; however, the 2nd sequence is missing, and hence it is an invalid declaration.

📋 Useful Chart - How to Play & Rummy Guidelines for Valid Rummy Declaration

Handy Directions to Follow While Declaring with 13 Cards:

PURE SEQUENCESET 1 & SET 2COMPULSORYNOT COMPULSORY

Made with 3 or more cards without Joker. Can make to fulfill minimum 2 sequence requirement.

Made with 3 or 4 cards with or without Joker. Can make to complete 13 cards valid grouping.