Rummy is a timeless card game that blends luck, memory, and skill. Played all over the world in dozens of variations, its core rules are simple to learn, but mastering it takes time.
Also Known As: Rum, Rami (French), Rommee (German), Gin Rummy (popular 2-player offshoot)
Note: We play Rummy in our house a lot. But when writing these guides, we do proper research and it turns out many people play with slightly different variations. This article focuses on how we play (simple, straightforward rules), and I’ve also included some common variants below.
The cards used in this how to play guide are Cyclopeans Cyrconium from Stockholm17.
The Basics
- Players: 2–6
- Deck: Standard 52-card deck (Jokers optional, depending on house rules)
Cards Dealt:
In our version, we deal 7 cards per player, regardless of how many are playing.
Other variations include:
- Standard rules: 10 cards each (2–4 players)
- Faster/casual play: Often just 7 cards each
Minimum Card Group Size:
- 3 cards for both sets (same rank) and runs (consecutive cards of the same suit)
Winning:
To win, you must group all your cards into valid sets and/or runs:
- Sets: e.g. 8 8 8 or 2 2 2 2
- Runs: e.g. 4 5 6 7 or 4 5 6
- Mix of both: e.g. 8 8 8 and 4 5 6 7
You can even go out with a single 7-card run if it uses your full hand.
Discarding Rule:
In our 7‑card version, you must use all seven cards in valid groups — there’s no final discard when going out.
In standard Rummy, it appears that players usually group all but one card and then discard the last to end the round.
(Some house rules, like ours, treat going out without a discard — known as a “perfect Rummy” as the norm.)
Objective of the Game
Be the first to group all your cards into valid melds (sets or runs).
Players take turns drawing and discarding to improve their hand until someone wins.
Gameplay: Step-by-Step
- 1. Setup
- Shuffle the deck.
- Deal 7 cards to each player (or more depending on your rules).
- Place the remaining cards face down as the draw pile.
- Turn one card face up next to it to start the discard pile.
- 2. Your Turn
Play goes around the table, with each player taking a turn in order.
On your turn, you:- Draw one card — either from the draw pile or the top of the discard pile
- Optionally form your melds (see below)
- Discard one card to end your turn
- 3. Meld
In our version, you don’t reveal your cards until you’re ready to win — this is called “going Rummy”.
Variant:
In other versions (e.g. Rummy 500), players can lay down melds as they go and even add to other players’ groups.
Valid Meld Types:- Set: Three or four cards of the same rank (e.g. 7 7 7)
- Run: Three or more consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g. 4 5 6)
- 4. Ending the Round
- The round ends when one player lays down all their melds and discards one final card.
- That player wins the round and scores 1 point.
Variant:
In other versions, players score penalty points for cards left in their hand (see below).
Misc Rules & Popular House Rules
- Jokers as wildcards – Often used as substitutes for any card in a set or run
- Laying off – In some versions, you can add extra cards to other players’ melds after you’ve gone down
- Minimum meld value – Some games require your first melds to total a certain value (e.g. 30+)
- No discard when going out – Some stricter versions require players to go out cleanly, using all cards with no discard (known as a “perfect Rummy”)
Tips for Winning at Rummy
- Watch the discard pile – Pay attention to what others throw away and pick up
- Keep your options open – Mid-range cards like 6s, 7s, and 8s are great for flexible runs
- Be cautious with your discards – Don’t feed someone else’s potential meld
- Save Jokers – Use them to complete tricky sets or runs unless you’re about to go out
Additional Notes
- Rummy is usually played over several rounds
- The full game ends when a player reaches a target score (e.g. 100, 250, or 500)
- Penalty points are calculated as:
- Number cards = face value
- Face cards = 10 points
- Aces = 1 or 11 (depending on the rules)
Common Variations
- Gin Rummy – A popular 2-player version with different scoring
- Indian Rummy – Uses two decks and 13 cards per player
- Kalooki (Kaluki) – Often played for money, with Jokers and more complex melds
- Rummy 500 – Players can pick up multiple cards from the discard pile and lay off onto others’ melds
- Contract Rummy – A multi-round game where each round has different meld requirements
A Little History
Rummy’s exact origin is debated, but it’s widely believed to have evolved from the 19th-century Mexican game Conquian, considered the ancestor of modern Rummy.
The game spread throughout the US in the early 1900s and gained huge popularity during the Great Depression thanks to its simplicity and minimal equipment.
Fun Fact
No one knows for sure where the name “Rummy” comes from — but there are a few entertaining theories:
- It might come from the old British slang word “rum”, meaning odd or strange — perhaps describing how the game felt when it first emerged.
- Others believe it evolved from a gambling game called Rum Poker, which shared some early mechanics.
- And of course, some suggest the name comes from the drink rum itself — maybe the game became a favourite at the pub!
Whatever its origins, Rummy has firmly earned its place as one of the most-played card games in the world.
