Some of the most popular Rummy games people play today are:
- i) 7 Card Rummy
- ii) 13 Card Rummy (or Indian Rummy)
iii) 21 Card Rummy.
We’ll discuss 7 Card and 13 Card Rummy in today’s post. But let us first learn more about them below.
Origins of Rummy
In the 17th century, Mexican people played a game called Conquian. When this game spread to the USA and Europe, it was known as Rummy. Then in 1909, Elwood Baker established his version called Gin Rummy.
Some other Rummy games that are equally popular today are:
- i) Canasta
- ii) Contract Rummy
iii) Kaluki
- iv) Dummy Rummy
- v) Indian Marriage Rummy.
How These Rummy Games Differ From Each Other
Some key differences include:
- i) Not all games involve the use of Joker cards
- ii) The Joker card carries different points in different games.
iii) Not all games have a fixed number of rounds.
Furthermore, each game has a different number of rounds. For example, Contract Rummy has seven rounds, while 13 card Rummy does not have a fixed number of rounds.
You must also be able to form valid card groups called sequences or sets quickly and correctly.
Diving Into 13 Card Rummy
It is one of the most popular Rummy games in India. A group of 2 to 6 people can play this game. You should aim to form or meld valid groups of cards (sequences or sets) and score the lowest points possible.
In other words:
- i) A set is a combination of three or four cards of the same suit or rank. For example, three Number Eight Cards or four King Cards form a valid set.
- ii) A sequence is a combination of three or four consecutive cards of the same suit. For instance, a combination of Number Two of Hearts, Number Four of Hearts, and Number Three of Hearts forms a valid sequence.
Setting Up The Game
Each player draws a card from the 104 cards before they begin the round to select the dealer. The player who draws the lowest-value card becomes the dealer. When you play an online game, a button will denote the dealer.
The dealer then hands each player 13 cards.
The remaining cards form the draw stockpile, from which the topmost card is kept face up next to it to form the discard stockpile.
Playing a Round
The player seated or present on the dealer’s left starts the round by drawing a card from the ‘draw’ pile or the ‘discard’ pile. They have to discard a card from their hand after drawing a carf from the ‘discard’ pile.
The game proceeds clockwise afterwards, with each player drawing or discarding a card.
In each round of 13 card Rummy, you should aim to meld two valid card sequences (pure and impure) or sets by grouping low-value cards*. A pure sequence is a normal combination of three or four consecutive cards in the same suit.
*Note: Low-value cards refer to cards like the cards from Number Two to Number Six, Joker (which carries 0 points).
An impure sequence involves a Joker card, which is used to replace a missing card.
For example, when you combine a Number Two of Hearts, a Number Three of Hearts, a Joker and a Number Five of Hearts, it is an impure sequence.
Here, the Joker is used to substitute the missing Number Four card.
After each player has melded the desired sets and sequences and has no cards left, they declare these and tally their points.
Calculating The Points
A pure sequence in 13 card Rummy carries 0 points.
Apart from that, face cards like the King, Queen, Jack and Ace carry 10 points each. The cards from Number Two to Number Nine carry 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9 points, respectively. The Joker carries 0 points.
You should be aware that ‘dropping’ or exiting the game can lead to a penalty of 20 points if you leave before choosing any cards and 40 points if you leave after selecting cards. If you get 80 points or less, then you lose the game.
So the winner is the player who accumulates the lowest points and has discarded all the cards. If you have some cards that you couldn’t group into valid sets or sequences, then those points will be added as well.
Why The Game Appeals to Experienced Players
Expert players or veterans love this game since it requires:
- i) Strategic thinking
- ii) Observation
iii) Analytical skills
Furthermore, 13 card Rummy has three variations (Deals Rummy, Pool Rummy and Points Rummy) with distinct rules, which are fun and challenging.
Exploring 7 Card Rummy
This game is played by 2 to 6 players who use a standard deck of 52 cards involving 2 Jokers.
Like 13 card Rummy, you should aim to meld valid card sets or runs and discard all your cards to become a winner. This game doesn’t have a fixed number of rounds.
A set is a group of 3 or more cards with the same value or rank. On the other hand, a run is a group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit.
For instance, a combination of a Number Four of Hearts, a Number Five of Hearts, a Number Six of Hearts, and a Number Seven of Hearts forms a valid run. On the other hand, a combination of three Number Five Cards is a set.
Setting Up The Game
You should choose a dealer before selecting the game. Everyone draws a card from the deck of 52 cards to select this person. After that, the player who gets the lowest-value card becomes the dealer.
The dealer hands 7 cards to each player, and the remaining cards form the draw pile. The topmost card from this pile is kept face up and next to the draw pile to form the discard pile.
Playing a Round
The player who sits on the dealer’s left starts the round by discarding their card after drawing a card from the discard pile or drawing a card from the draw stockpile. After this, they should meld the 7 cards into valid sets or runs, as per the 7 Card Rummy Rules.
Calculating The Points
After you’ve melded your cards into valid sets or runs, you should declare and tally your scores.
The face cards like the King, Queen and Jack carry 10 points each, while the Ace face card carries 1 point.
On the other hand, the cards from Number Two to Number Nine carry 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9 points, respectively. The Joker carries 0 points, as per the 7 Card Rummy Rules.
How Beginners Can Master The Game
As a beginner, you should aim to study your opponents’ moves and understand the pattern of drawing and discarding cards. This observation will help you understand which set or run to form by discarding or adding a card to your hand.
Furthermore, you should understand the different types of sets or runs you can make in this game to take better decisions. This knowledge will help you win the game.
The Final Word
So, as you can see, 13 card Rummy is for skilled people due to the complexity of decisions involved, while 7 card Rummy is for beginners due to its relative simplicity.
You should also play multiple practice games on reputed websites before you play a real game.
That’s because practice makes perfect. We wish you a pleasant experience!