Types of Rummy Games – A Complete Guide

 Playing cards have always been a very popular means of entertainment all over the world. Rummy occupies a special place in the world of playing cards and different cultures have modified the game which has led to the emergence of rummy variations. It is a unique card game that has a distinctive charm associated with it. With the Internet boom, online rummy is gaining popularity as it stands out among all its siblings and rules the hearts of card lovers.

The Classic Rummy game has been around for probably two centuries now. Just as there are clans and sub-clans among humans, the game has evolved in diverse ways in different parts of the globe. As such, there are numerous versions of the game prevalent across the world. However, all Variants of Rummy are essentially about card melding, i.e., grouping of similar cards. The grouped cards can be consecutive cards of the same suit, in which case the collection is called a sequence or a run; or a combination of cards with the same rank but different suits, in which case, it is called a set.

The names and rules of these formats of rummy might vary but the objective is similar and to accomplish it, players pick and discard cards. Here we provide you with a description of different rummy variations and rules associated with them.

13 Card Rummy

It is also known as Indian Rummy and is believed to be an extension of Gin Rummy and Rummy 500. It is a game of 2 to 6 players in which each player is dealt 13 cards. Players have to meld the cards into valid sequences and/or sets by picking and discarding cards. The game also allows the use of Joker cards, which can be used as substitutes for any card. One pure sequence i.e. without the use of Joker and one impure sequence i.e. which uses Joker, are necessary for a valid or acceptable declare. Each card carries points – Face cards and Aces (10 points each), number cards (same as the number on them) and Joker cards (0). The aim is to meld the cards and reduce points to zero because points carry negative value. The player who does this first is the winner.

Here is an example of a melded hand – 2♥ 3♥ 4♥… 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ Joker… 6♥ 6♦ 6♠… J♣ J♦ Joker. 2♥ 3♥ 4♥ is a pure sequence, 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ Joker is an impure sequence, 6♥ 6♦ 6♠ is a pure set and J♣ J♦ Joker is an impure set.

The 13 Card Rummy has 3 variations; namely Points Rummy, Deals Rummy, and Pool Rummy. Players can enjoy all these interesting variants of classic rummy games at the vibrant tables of Rummy Passion. Let’s go over this one by one:

Points Rummy

Also known as 80 Points Rummy, it is the simplest and the most basic format of 13 Card Rummy. A session of this game lasts just a few minutes. It is the version recommended for beginners. It is the most liked online rummy variant as it allows card lovers to refresh themselves without spending much time. There are tables with different point values, usually ranging from 10 paisa per point to Rs 100 per point. Once a player declares in this game, the winnings of the player at Rummy Passion are calculated based on the points that the losing players have accumulated, whereby:

Player Winnings = (Total Points of all Losing Players) X (Points Value) – Rummy Passion Rake

Deals Rummy

Deals Rummy is played for a fixed number of deals. Each player gets an equal number of chips at the beginning of the game. At the end of each deal, the losing players have to surrender their chips to the winner. When all the deals are over, players get ranks as per their chip count. The player who has accumulated the maximum chips is the overall winner. It is just like playing Points Rummy for a pre-decided number of times. RummyPassion.com provides the players with a choice of playing the game on 2 deals tables and 3 deals tables.

Player Winnings = (Entry Fee) X (Number of players at the table) – Rummy Passion Rake

Pool Rummy

All the players at a table collect or ‘pool in’ money to play this game. It further has two versions – 101 and 201 Pool Rummy games. It is similar to playing the Points Rummy game till all the players barring one, get eliminated from the game on collecting 101 or 201 points depending on the version. The player who is left is the winner.

Player Winnings = (Entry Fee) X (Number of players at the table) – Rummy Passion Rake

101 Pool Rummy

In this format of Pool Rummy, you have to drive your rival players to cross 101 points. As soon as a player collects 101 points, s/he has to accept defeat and go out of the game. It might require the players to play multiple deals of the rummy game.

201 Pool Rummy

Very similar to 101 Pool, in this version of online rummy, all the players get eliminated as soon as they collect 201 points each. In the end, only one winning player remains. For example, Players A, B and C decide to play 201 Pool Rummy. As the game progresses, Player B accumulates 201 points after the fourth game at which instance, he gets eliminated. Now Players A and C remain at the table. They play 2 more games and at the end of the second game, Player A also collects 201 points. In this case, Player C will be the winner.

21 Card Rummy or Indian Marriage

Quite popular in the Indian subcontinent, it is played by a lot of people at Dusshera and Diwali. The game is longer than classic rummy games and is quite interesting. It is similar to the game of 13 Card Rummy, except for a few features. It uses 3 decks of cards along with printed jokers. Each player is dealt 21 cards and it is mandatory for the players to form at least 3 pure runs and meld the remaining cards into proper sets or sequences.

A really different aspect of this game is that besides jokers, it uses ‘Value Cards’. Their usage is similar to that of jokers as they can also substitute any card. However, they are special because they hold additional points. To exemplify, if 8♠ is the wild joker, 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ will be the Value Cards for the game and players who have any of them can grab 20 points from their rival players.

In the given example, 9♠ is called Paplu; 8♠ is Titlu and 7♠ is Niche.

Another difference is that First Drop entails a penalty of 30 points and the points of value cards are not honored. A middle drop means a penalty of 75 points, but points of value cards are honored. Also, 3 cards of the same suit and same rank form a ‘Trinala’, which is considered a pure run.

The Marriage Hand: A combination of cards that has 7♠, 8♠, 9♠ is known as the Marriage Hand. The players who possess this special hand get 100 points from their opponents. The game of 21 Card Rummy requires much more concentration and skills on the part of players as compared to 13 Card Rummy.

Canasta

The word which means ‘basket’ in Spanish is a kind of rummy game that itself has different variations depending upon the number of players. However, generally, it is played by 4 players in 2 partnerships with 2 decks of cards and 4 jokers. All the 4 jokers and all the 2s are treated as wild cards. The objective for the players is to form melds with 7 cards of the same rank and ‘go out’ by playing all their cards. It is the only membership game of the rummy family that has acquired the status of a classic.

Rummikub

Played by 2-4 players with tiles instead of cards, it is a combination of Rummy and Mahjong popular in Europe and the Americas. The game was a hot favourite in the US in the late 70s. It won ‘German Game of the Year’ in 1980 and ‘Dutch Game of the Year’ in 1983. The game uses 104 tiles with numbers 1 to 13 in 4 different colours such as orange, black, red and blue. There are 2 tiles with the same number and colour. Also, there are 2 jokers. Players have a rack to store their tiles without showing the face of the tiles to their opponents. In the beginning, players have 14 or 16 tiles and upon their turn, they put down tiles from their racks into sets or runs of a minimum of 3 tiles. They just draw a tile if they cannot play. The player who first lays down all his/her tiles is the winner. A unique aspect of the game is that players are allowed to use tiles that have already been played.

Paplu or Marriage Rummy

A game of 2-5 players, it is played with 3 decks. It finds favour with card enthusiasts in Nepal, Bhutan and India. The game uses only wild card jokers and no printed jokers. Each player gets 21 cards. All the combinations must consist of only 3 cards.

The Classic Rummy game has been around for probably two centuries now. Just as there are clans and sub-clans among humans, the game has evolved in diverse ways in different parts of the globe. As such, there are numerous versions of the game prevalent across the world. However, all Variants of Rummy are essentially about card melding, i.e., grouping of similar cards. The grouped cards can be consecutive cards of the same suit, in which case the collection is called a sequence or a run; or a combination of cards with the same rank but different suits, in which case, it is called a set.

The names and rules of these formats of rummy might vary but the objective is similar and to accomplish it, players pick and discard cards. Here we provide you with a description of different rummy variations and rules associated with them.

13 Card Rummy

It is also known as Indian Rummy and is believed to be an extension of Gin Rummy and Rummy 500. It is a game of 2 to 6 players in which each player is dealt 13 cards. Players have to meld the cards into valid sequences and/or sets by picking and discarding cards. The game also allows the use of Joker cards, which can be used as substitutes for any card. One pure sequence i.e. without the use of Joker and one impure sequence i.e. which uses Joker, are necessary for a valid or acceptable declare. Each card carries points – Face cards and Aces (10 points each), number cards (same as the number on them) and Joker cards (0). The aim is to meld the cards and reduce points to zero because points carry negative value. The player who does this first is the winner.

Here is an example of a melded hand – 2♥ 3♥ 4♥… 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ Joker… 6♥ 6♦ 6♠… J♣ J♦ Joker. 2♥ 3♥ 4♥ is a pure sequence, 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ Joker is an impure sequence, 6♥ 6♦ 6♠ is a pure set and J♣ J♦ Joker is an impure set.

The 13 Card Rummy has 3 variations; namely Points Rummy, Deals Rummy, and Pool Rummy. Players can enjoy all these interesting variants of classic rummy games at the vibrant tables of Rummy Passion. Let’s go over this one by one:

Points Rummy

Also known as 80 Points Rummy, it is the simplest and the most basic format of 13 Card Rummy. A session of this game lasts just a few minutes. It is the version recommended for beginners. It is the most liked online rummy variant as it allows card lovers to refresh themselves without spending much time. There are tables with different point values, usually ranging from 10 paisa per point to Rs 100 per point. Once a player declares in this game, the winnings of the player at Rummy Passion are calculated based on the points that the losing players have accumulated, whereby:

Player Winnings = (Total Points of all Losing Players) X (Points Value) – Rummy Passion Rake

Deals Rummy

Deals Rummy is played for a fixed number of deals. Each player gets an equal number of chips at the beginning of the game. At the end of each deal, the losing players have to surrender their chips to the winner. When all the deals are over, players get ranks as per their chip count. The player who has accumulated the maximum chips is the overall winner. It is just like playing Points Rummy for a pre-decided number of times. RummyPassion.com provides the players with a choice of playing the game on 2 deals tables and 3 deals tables.

Player Winnings = (Entry Fee) X (Number of players at the table) – Rummy Passion Rake

Pool Rummy

All the players at a table collect or ‘pool in’ money to play this game. It further has two versions – 101 and 201 Pool Rummy games. It is similar to playing the Points Rummy game till all the players barring one, get eliminated from the game on collecting 101 or 201 points depending on the version. The player who is left is the winner.

Player Winnings = (Entry Fee) X (Number of players at the table) – Rummy Passion Rake

101 Pool Rummy

In this format of Pool Rummy, you have to drive your rival players to cross 101 points. As soon as a player collects 101 points, s/he has to accept defeat and go out of the game. It might require the players to play multiple deals of the rummy game.

201 Pool Rummy

Very similar to 101 Pool, in this version of online rummy, all the players get eliminated as soon as they collect 201 points each. In the end, only one winning player remains. For example, Players A, B and C decide to play 201 Pool Rummy. As the game progresses, Player B accumulates 201 points after the fourth game at which instance, he gets eliminated. Now Players A and C remain at the table. They play 2 more games and at the end of the second game, Player A also collects 201 points. In this case, Player C will be the winner.

21 Card Rummy or Indian Marriage

Quite popular in the Indian subcontinent, it is played by a lot of people at Dusshera and Diwali. The game is longer than classic rummy games and is quite interesting. It is similar to the game of 13 Card Rummy, except for a few features. It uses 3 decks of cards along with printed jokers. Each player is dealt 21 cards and it is mandatory for the players to form at least 3 pure runs and meld the remaining cards into proper sets or sequences.

A really different aspect of this game is that besides jokers, it uses ‘Value Cards’. Their usage is similar to that of jokers as they can also substitute any card. However, they are special because they hold additional points. To exemplify, if 8♠ is the wild joker, 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ will be the Value Cards for the game and players who have any of them can grab 20 points from their rival players.

In the given example, 9♠ is called Paplu; 8♠ is Titlu and 7♠ is Niche.

Another difference is that First Drop entails a penalty of 30 points and the points of value cards are not honored. A middle drop means a penalty of 75 points, but points of value cards are honored. Also, 3 cards of the same suit and same rank form a ‘Trinala’, which is considered a pure run.

The Marriage Hand: A combination of cards that has 7♠, 8♠, 9♠ is known as the Marriage Hand. The players who possess this special hand get 100 points from their opponents. The game of 21 Card Rummy requires much more concentration and skills on the part of players as compared to 13 Card Rummy.

Canasta

The word which means ‘basket’ in Spanish is a kind of rummy game that itself has different variations depending upon the number of players. However, generally, it is played by 4 players in 2 partnerships with 2 decks of cards and 4 jokers. All the 4 jokers and all the 2s are treated as wild cards. The objective for the players is to form melds with 7 cards of the same rank and ‘go out’ by playing all their cards. It is the only membership game of the rummy family that has acquired the status of a classic.

Rummikub

Played by 2-4 players with tiles instead of cards, it is a combination of Rummy and Mahjong popular in Europe and the Americas. The game was a hot favourite in the US in the late 70s. It won ‘German Game of the Year’ in 1980 and ‘Dutch Game of the Year’ in 1983. The game uses 104 tiles with numbers 1 to 13 in 4 different colours such as orange, black, red and blue. There are 2 tiles with the same number and colour. Also, there are 2 jokers. Players have a rack to store their tiles without showing the face of the tiles to their opponents. In the beginning, players have 14 or 16 tiles and upon their turn, they put down tiles from their racks into sets or runs of a minimum of 3 tiles. They just draw a tile if they cannot play. The player who first lays down all his/her tiles is the winner. A unique aspect of the game is that players are allowed to use tiles that have already been played.

Paplu or Marriage Rummy

A game of 2-5 players, it is played with 3 decks. It finds favor with card enthusiasts in Nepal, Bhutan and India. The game uses only wild card jokers and no printed jokers. Each player gets 21 cards. All the combinations must consist of only 3 cards.

Also learn about solitaire card game. click here to know about Microsoft solitaire cards game.