How to Play Rummy: A Detailed Guide to Rummy Rules

1. The objective of the game of rummy is to arrange all the 13 cards in your hand in required combinations (either all sequences, or sequences and sets) and make a valid declaration before your opponents.
2. To play rummy like a pro, you have to create sequences or sequences and sets to make a valid declaration. Here are some valid declarations that you can make:
1. 2 sequences + 2 sets
2. 3 sequences + 1 set
3. All cards arranged in sequences.
3. According to rummy rules, you must create at least two sequences for a valid hand or valid declaration. And out of the two sequences, at least one must be a pure sequence.
4. If you declare without a pure sequence in your hand, you will not only lose but lose by a big margin, as the points of all the cards in your hand will be added up to calculate your penalty points

1. Indian rummy is played by two to six players using one or two standard decks of 52 cards in each plus jokers. At the beginning of a game, every player is dealt 13 cards.
2. The remaining cards form a closed deck, which is kept in the center of the table. The cards in the closed deck are not revealed to the players but kept face down. The top card from the closed deck is picked up and placed face up on the table. That forms the open deck to which players have to discard cards.
3. A random card is selected as the wild joker. All the remaining cards of the same rank/value in other suits also become wild jokers for the game.
4. On each turn, you need to pick a card from the closed deck or the open deck and discard a card to the open deck.
5. When you play a rummy game, to win, you have to arrange all the cards in your hand in sequences, or sequences and sets. There should be at least two sequences, out of which at least one must be a pure sequence, for a valid declaration. The player who makes a valid declaration first wins the game.

What is a Sequence?

A sequence is a group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit. There are two types of sequences: pure sequence and impure sequence.

Pure Sequence

A pure sequence is a group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit. No card is replaced by a joker in a pure sequence. As per rummy game rules, it is mandatory to make at least one pure sequence for a valid declaration.

Examples of Pure Sequences

A wild joker can also be used in a pure sequence in its original value, but only as a card of its original suit and not to replace any other card. Let us consider the following example: 8❤-9❤-10❤ (WJ).

However, when you have limited wild jokers, prefer using them to create impure sequences and sets instead.

Impure Sequence

An impure sequence is a sequence (3 or more cards arranged in a sequence) in which one or more cards have been replaced by a joker or jokers.

What is a Set?

Three or four cards of the same rank but different suits form a set. A set cannot have more than one card from any suit. Rummy rules allow you to use one or more jokers to replace any other card(s) in a set.

Importance of Jokers in Rummy

One of the most important rummy rules that are taught when you play rummy is how to use jokers. Jokers play a very special role in rummy and can help you win the game. There are two types of jokers used in a game of rummy: printed jokers and wild jokers.

Printed Joker

As the name suggests, a printed joker has the picture of a joker printed on it. This card can be used as a substitute for any missing card and can help you form a set or an impure sequence.

Look at the examples of an impure sequence and a set below to understand how a printed joker can be used in rummy.

Wild Joker

The wild joker is randomly picked at the beginning of the game. When the card is picked, this card along with other cards of the same rank and different suits become the wild joker of the game.

For example, if 4♦ is selected as the wild joker, 4♥, 4♣ and 4♠ will also be the wild jokers of that game.

Just like the printed joker, the wild joker can also be used as a substitute for any missing card and helps form a sequence or a set.

A wild joker can be used in a pure sequence too. Examples of pure sequence with a wild joker are as follows:

K♠-Q♠-J♠ (WJ): Here J♠ is the wild joker and it is used to complete the combination which ultimately forms the pure sequence.

4♥-5♥(WJ)-6♥-7♥: Here 5♥ is the wild joker and it connects 4♥, 6♥ and 7♥. The combination created is a pure sequence.

Rummy Rules for Making a Valid Declaration

Valid Declaration

To make a valid declaration, you have to arrange all 13 cards in your hand in sequences, or in sequences and sets. This should be done following all rummy game rules.

After arranging your cards, you have to finish the game by discarding the last unwanted card into the “Finish” slot and declare your hand. The player who makes a valid declaration first wins the game and gets zero points.

For a valid declaration, you need to fulfill the following three conditions:

Pure sequence: Making at least one pure sequence is mandatory to win a rummy game. A pure sequence consists of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit.

Please note that a printed joker cannot be used as a substitute for any card in a pure sequence. However, a wild joker can be used to create a pure sequence as long as it is a part of the suit. Any declaration made without a pure sequence is invalid and the player loses by a margin equal to the total of the values of all the cards in his/her hand.

Second sequence: Rummy rules make it mandatory to make at least two sequences to make a valid declaration in the game. So in addition to a pure sequence, you need to form a second sequence. It can be either a pure sequence or an impure one, depending on the cards you have.

As explained above, an impure sequence includes a joker acting as a substitute for any other card in an impure sequence. You can create more than two sequences too.

All your cards should be arranged: All the remaining cards that are not a part of the two sequences should be arranged in either sequences or sets. Forming a set is optional but all the cards must be a part of a valid combination.

As mentioned above, a set is a combination of three or four cards of the same rank but different suits. Look at an example of a valid declaration below.

Invalid Declaration

When you declare your cards without fulfilling any of the three conditions above, it becomes an invalid declaration. If you make an invalid declaration, you will lose the game instantly and your opponent will be declared the winner if it’s a 2-player table.

If there are more than two players at the table, the other players will keep playing until one of the remaining players makes a valid declaration. Take a look at the examples of some invalid declarations below.

How Are Points Calculated in a Rummy Game?

Common Rules for Point Calculation

Point Calculation for Losing Players

Action	Penalty Imposed
Invalid declaration (For example A declaration made without creating a pure sequence.)	80 points
First drop (When you drop out of the game before picking even your first card.)	20 points
Middle drop (When you drop out of the game any time after picking your first card.)	40 points
3 consecutive turns missed (When you miss 3 turns in a row, you will be automatically dropped out.)	40 points
Declaring a valid hand second	2 points

Example 1: Game played between 2 players (Player 1 and Player 2)

Suppose two players (Player 1 and Player 2) are playing a points rummy game. Player 1 makes a valid declaration and wins the game. Let us understand the rummy scoring of each player.

Example 2: Game played between 4 players (Player 1, Player 2, Players 3 and Player 4)

Suppose four players are playing a points rummy game and Player 4 is the winner of the game. Let us understand the rummy scoring for this game.

Point Calculation in Cash Games on Junglee Rummy

By now you might have understood how to play rummy well. However, do you know how winnings are calculated in cash rummy games? Junglee Rummy uses the following simple formulas to calculate the winning amount:

1. Points Rummy

In a cash game of points rummy, each point has a pre-decided value in rupees. The winner gets the amount lost by all the losing players at the table after the deduction of a very small Junglee Rummy fee.

The formula used to calculate the winnings in a points rummy game is as follows:

Winnings = Sum of the points of all the losing players x Value of each point in rupees – Junglee Rummy fee.

Example

Suppose there are four players playing a cash points rummy game at a ₹160 table. The pre-decided value of each point is ₹2. Player 1 wins the game, and the other three players lose by 20, 40 and 50 points, respectively.

In this case, the winnings will be calculated as: 2 x (20+40+50) = ₹220. This amount will be added to the winner’s account wallet after the deduction of the Junglee Rummy fee.

2. Pool Rummy

The following formula is used to calculate winnings in a pool rummy game:

Winnings = (Entry fee x Number of players) – Junglee Rummy fee.

Example

Suppose four players are playing a cash pool rummy game that has a fixed entry fee of ₹100. The prize pool of the game will be 100 x 4= ₹400. The winner of the game will get the following amount as the cash prize: ₹400 – Junglee Rummy fee.

3. Deals Rummy

In a game of deals rummy, the winner gets chips equal to the points lost by the losing players. The formula used to calculate winnings in deals rummy is as follows:

Winnings = (Entry fee × Number of players) – Junglee Rummy Fee.

Example

Imagine two players are playing a deals rummy game and the entry fee is ₹5 each. Player 2 makes a valid declaration. The prize pool of the game will be 5 x 2= ₹10. The winnings calculated will be as follows:

Winnings = ₹10 – Junglee Rummy fee.

Important Terms to Know for Understanding Rummy Rules

Here are some important rummy terms you should know to understand how to play rummy game:

1. What is a rummy table in the rummy game?

In online rummy, players play the game at a virtual table. Typically two to six players can play at a rummy table.

2. What does sorting of cards mean in rummy?

The sorting of cards is done at the beginning of the game. Simply click on the “Sort” button and your cards will be automatically arranged in combinations according to suit. Sorting is useful to identify potential combinations like pure sequences, impure sequences and sets.

3. What does deal/round mean in rummy?

In rummy, a deal or round begins with the dealing of cards and ends when a player successfully declares his/her hand.

4. What is dealing of cards mean?

At the beginning of rummy game cards are dealt to each player randomly. This process is known as dealing.

5. How does drawing and discarding work in rummy?

In a rummy card game, you can draw or pick cards from the closed deck (pile of cards placed face down) or the open deck (pile of cards discarded by players and placed face up).

On each turn, you have to draw a card and discard an unwanted card from your hand. These actions of picking new cards and getting rid of your unwanted cards are known as drawing and discarding, respectively.

6. What is melding in rummy?

When cards have been dealt, players have to arrange their cards in sequences, or sequences and sets. The act of arranging cards in such valid groups is known as melding.

7. What role does printed and wild jokers play in rummy?

Jokers are essential to a rummy game. There are two types of jokers: printed jokers (1 per deck) and wild jokers (4 per deck). Both types of jokers can be used as substitutes for any missing cards in a set or sequence. They help to form sets and sequences.

A random card is selected as the wild joker at the beginning of the game. The cards of the same rank in all the four suits also become wild jokers.

8. What is a drop in rummy?

You can choose to opt out of the deal/game at any time during the game. This is known as a drop. You get some penalty points for dropping out of a game/deal.

For example, in a points rummy game, you get 20 points for dropping out before your very first move in the game and 40 points for dropping out anytime after picking your first card. Dropping before you play your first move is called a first drop, and dropping in the middle of a game is called a middle drop.

9. What are chips in a rummy game?

Chips are used to play practice games on Junglee Rummy. You get free chips when you register on Junglee Rummy and you can reload chips when you run out of them.

When you join a practice game, a predefined number of chips will be deducted from your chip balance. When you win, the virtual chips won are credited to your account.

10. What is declare mean in Indian rummy?

Immediately after you finish a game by discarding one of your cards to the “Finish” slot, you have to show your cards to your opponents. This is called declaring your hand.

11. What are Cash tournaments?

Cash tournaments are tournaments that you join by paying an entry fee. The winners get real money in prizes. On Junglee Rummy, play rummy online, and also participate in cash tournaments every day throughout the year. Just add cash to your Junglee Rummy account and start playing!

To play cash tournaments, open the app and select “Tournaments” in the game lobby. Select an ongoing tournament and pay an entry fee to join the tournament.

Also check Tips and Tricks to Win Rummy Games

How to Play Rummy: FAQs

You must have understood rummy rules and concepts well, and now you must be excited to play the game. We hope that you will follow the above guidelines before playing cash rummy games. If you want to play online rummy, you should definitely try Junglee Rummy. We offer a wide variety of rummy games at your fingertips. Also, we provide a safe gaming environment for all our users. Download Rummy app on your preferred device and enter the world of unlimited fun and entertainment.

Read our blog about Checkout 14 best card games