How to Play Rummy Online

The main aim of the rummy game is to organize all 13 cards in the required sequences, or in sequences and sets. To make a valid declaration, players must form at least two sequences, one of which at least one must be a pure sequence (a group of consecutive cards of the same suit without any card being replaced by a joker). The rest of the cards can be arranged in sequences or sets. A hand is considered invalid without a pure sequence, making this rule crucial to winning the game.

New to rummy? Here’s a quick overview of the basic rules to help you get started:

1. The game is typically played by 2 to 6 players.
2. If there are only two players, one standard deck along with a printed joker is used. For more than two players, two decks and two printed jokers are used.
3. Every player receives 13 cards at the beginning of the game.
4. One card is randomly chosen as the wild joker. All cards of that rank (from all suits) act as jokers for that game.
5. The remaining cards form the draw pile/closed deck and are placed face down on the table.
6. The first card from the closed deck is placed face up to create the discard pile/open deck.
7. Players must pick a card from either the closed deck or the open deck on each turn and discard one card to the open deck.
8. Jokers (wild or printed) can be used to form sequences and sets, but no card can be replaced by a joker in a pure sequence.
9. To win, a player has to declare first after forming at least two sequences, one of which must be pure, and arranging all 13 cards in sequences, or in sequences and sets.

In rummy, sequences are the foundation of a winning hand. There are two types of sequences every player must understand: pure sequences and impure sequences.

Pure Sequence

A pure sequence combines three or more consecutive cards of the same suit. No joker (printed or wild) can substitute any card in a pure sequence.
Examples:

1. ♠️A-♠️2-♠️3
2. ♥️6-♥️7-♥️8-♥️9

Impure Sequence

An impure sequence consists of three or more cards of the same suit in consecutive order, but one or more cards are replaced by a joker/jokers, which could be either printed or wild.
Examples:

1. ♠️4-♠️5-Joker (The joker has replaced ♠️6.)
2. ♥️8-♥️9-Wild Joker (The wild joker has replaced ♥️10.)
3. Another example, if 3♠ is a wild card joker in a game, you can use it to replace the missing 10 of Hearts to form the impure sequence: 8♥-9♥-3♠ (Wild Joker)-J♥.

Along with sequences, forming sets is an important part of forming a winning hand in rummy. A set is made by grouping three or more cards of the same rank but different suits. Jokers, both printed and wild, can substitute missing cards in a set.

Without any joker:
1. ♠️6-♦️6-♣️6-♥️6
2. ♦️7-♣7-♠️7

With jokers:
1. ♥️3-♠️3-PJ (Printed joker)
2. ♣️9-♦️9-WJ (Wild joker)
3. ♣️9-♦️9-♠️9-PJ (Printed joker)

Note: If two or more cards in a set belong to the same suit, the set becomes invalid. Such a mistake can lead to a faulty declaration.
Examples of invalid sets:

1. ♣️7-♣️7-♦️7 (♣️7 is repeated.)
2. ♦️6-♠️6-♦️6 (♦️6 appears twice.)

So always double-check the suits while forming sets to avoid losing due to an invalid declaration.

Making a declaration is the final move in rummy. But to win, it must follow all the rules. The first player to make a valid declaration scores zero points and wins the game/hand, while an invalid declaration results in the highest possible penalty.

Valid Declaration

A declaration is considered valid only when all 13 cards are grouped into acceptable combinations, following these conditions:

At Least One Pure Sequence: A valid hand must include at least one pure sequence (three or more consecutive cards of the same suit, without any joker acting as substitute).
A Second Sequence: The second sequence can be pure or impure. You must have at least two sequences.
Remaining Cards in Valid Sets/Sequences: The rest of the cards should be arranged in valid sets or sequences. Once that objective is achieved, discard one of your cards to the “Finish” slot to declare your hand.

Examples of Valid Declarations

Example 1:
• 4♠️-5♠️-6♠️-7♠️ (Pure sequence)
• Q♦️-K♦️-Printed Joker (Impure sequence)
• 7♣️-7♦️-7♥️ (Set)
• 4♣️-4♦️-Wild Joker (Set)

Invalid Declaration

A declaration is invalid when it breaks any of the rules above. An invalid declaration results in the maximum penalty (up to 80 points in a points rummy game).
Examples of Invalid Declarations

Example 1:
• 5♦️-6♦️-7♦️-8♣️ (Invalid group because of mixed suits)
• 2♣️-3♣️-Wild Joker (Impure Sequence)
• 6♠️-6♦️-6♥️ (Set)
• 10♠️-10♦️-Printed Joker (Set)

Whether you are new to rummy or need a quick refresher, here are some essential terms that will help you understand and enjoy the game better:

• Closed deck: The stack of face-down cards from which players can draw cards.
• Open deck: The face-up pile of cards to which players discard one unwanted card on each turn.
• Set: A group of three or more cards of the same rank but different suits (e.g., 8♠️-8♥️-8♦️).
• Sequence: A group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 5♦️-6♦️-7♦️).
• Pure sequence: A sequence without any joker/wild card replacing any other card in it.
• Impure sequence: A sequence with a joker/jokers replacing any other card(s) in it.
• Joker: A wild card used to replace a missing card in a sequence or set.
• Declaration: The act of announcing you’ve arranged all 13 cards correctly and are ending the round by showing your cards.
• Drop: Choosing to exit the round voluntarily.
• Deadwood: The total points of unarranged cards in your hand at the end of a round.
• Deal: A complete round of the game, ending when a valid declaration is made.
• Score: Your total points. In rummy, points have a negative value and the objective is to win by scoring zero points.

In Indian rummy, your goal is simple: keep your score zero or as low as possible. Points are calculated at the end of each game, and the player who makes a valid declaration first gets zero points, while others get penalty points based on the cards in their hands.

Penalty Points in a Points Rummy Game