When it comes to rummy, people quickly associate it with the rummy which is the 13 card rummy. Now with several online platforms available for playing rummy, its popularity is soaring high. With players evincing interests to play both online and over their mobile phones, the game has become lot more exciting and challenging.
If you are a beginner, and genuinely want to be part of this fun, then take a look at the information below which gives you a heads-up on everything you wanted to know about the rummy.
Know the game
The Classic rummy is very easy to learn and play. The game can be played with minimum 2 players and maximum 6 players. 2 decks of cards with jokers are typically used here. Each player is dealt with 13 cards at the start of the game. The player has to form sets and sequences with the cards dealt to him by drawing and discarding of cards. When you play classic Indian rummy game online, there is time stipulation.
Know the terms
In order to learn and play the rummy better, you should be aware of the terms and what they mean.
Dealing: The distribution of cards at the beginning of the game is known as dealing. In Classic Indian rummy 13 cards are dealt to each player.
Sequence or ‘Life’: The arrangement of at least 3 consecutive cards of the same suit is termed as sequence or ‘life’.
Pure sequence or pure life: When you form a sequence without using a joker, then it is called pure sequence or pure life.
E.g. 2, 3, 4 of hearts; 6, 7, 8, 9 of spades
Note: When you form a sequence using a joker then it is not a pure sequence or pure life.
Set: If you form a group of cards of the same rank but different suits, then it is called a set in Indian rummy.
E.g., Jack of diamond, club, heart and spade.
Meld: The process of arranging and cards in groups to form sets and sequences is called melding in Classic Indian rummy. You are expected to form groups of 3, 3, 3 and 4 cards of either Life or Set.
Draw and discard of cards: When your turn comes, you can draw or discard cards from the pile of cards – closed pile and open pile.
Show: After you meld the cards, you can disclose your cards to the other players by arranging in groups of 3, 3, 3, & 4 as per any valid Life or Set. This is known as show.
Let the game begin
In rummy, at the start, the 2 deck of cards along with the 2 jokers are shuffled. 13 cards are dealt to each player. The remaining cards are placed on the table face down as the ‘closed deck’. The top card from the closed deck is placed on the table face up. This becomes the ‘open deck’. One card from the ‘closed deck’ is randomly picked and all cards of the same rank from different suits become the ‘jokers’. You need to melt your cards to form life and sets. The one who manages to do it faster and declares ‘show’ is the winner.