You dispose of cards by building melds which are made up of sets, three or four of a kind and the same rank; or runs, three or more cards in sequence and same suit. An example set is the 7 of diamonds, 7 of hearts and 7 of spades. In a rummy card game, the first step is to arrange the cards in original hand in a specific order to avoid confusing when discarding cards. Best way is to organize related cards of consecutive order together an unrelated ones at another side.

1. Snowbird Rummy Rules
2. The Rules Of Rummy
3. Rummy Card Value
4. Rummy 13 Card Game Rules

1. A player goes 'rummy' when they get rid of all cards in their hand at once, without previously having put down or laid off any cards. In this event, every other player pays double.
2. To make a valid declaration, you need to have at least two sequences, one of them being a ‘Pure Sequence’ and rest of the cards melded into sets or sequence. What is a pure sequence? Pure sequence is also known as ‘life’ in rummy. It is nothing but a sequence without using substitute ‘Joker’ cards.
3. 2 ♥ 3 ♥ 4 ♥ is a pure sequence, 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ Joker is an impure sequence, 6 ♥ 6 ♦ 6♠ is a pure set and J♣ J ♦ Joker is an impure set. The 13 Card Rummy has 3 variations; namely Points Rummy, Deals Rummy, and Pool Rummy.

OBJECTIVE OF CONTRACT RUMMY: Get rid of our cards by melding, laying off, or discarding by satisfing each rounds contract.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 3-5 players; 4 is optimal

NUMBER OF CARDS: 52-card deck + 1 joker

RANK OF CARDS: A (high), K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, A (low)

TYPE OF GAME: Rummy

AUDIENCE: Adult

INTRODUCTION TO CONTRACT RUMMY

Contract Rummy is the name given to a family of Rummy variants with the similar features: the game is comprised of a particular number of deals and each deal is defined by a contract, that is the pattern of melds that must be achieved in order to lay down your cards.

The first version of Contract Rummy is believed to be Zioncheck, created by Ruth Armson. Popular Contract Rummy variations are: King Rummy, Continental Rummy, Shanghai Rummy, Liverpool Rummy, Progressive Rummy, and Carioca Rummy.

THE CARDS & THE DEAL

Contract Rummy games with greater than 5 players are played with 2 decks + 2 jokers. Jokers act as wild cards and may be used to substitute any card.

To choose the first dealer, shuffle and cut the deck. Each player will then draw a card, the person who draws the lowest value card deals first. The deal moves to their left.

There are seven deals total in Contract Rummy. In the first four deals, players receive 10 cards each. In the remaining deals, players receive 12 cards each. The dealer starts to their left and moves clockwise. Cards are dealt one at a time, face-down. Once all the cards for the deal are dealt, the remainder of the deck forms the stock pile. The top card of the stock is flipped over and placed beside it to form the discard pile.

THE CONTRACTS

Deal 1: 10 cards, 2 sets

Deal 2: 10 cards, 1 set and 1 sequence

Deal 3: 10 cards, 2 sequence

Deal 4: 10 cards, 3 sets

Deal 5: 12 cards, 2 sets and 1 sequence

Deal 6: 12 cards, 1 set and 2 sequences

Deal 7: 12 cards, 3 sequences

Fulfill the contracts by setting down the appropriate melds for that deal.

If the contract requires multiple sequences, they may not be from the same suit.

The seventh round/deal typically requires all cards be melded at once, this means a meld can be greater than 4 cards.

THE PLAY

The play begins with the first player to the left of the dealer and moves clockwise. A turn has three parts:

1. Players may draw the top card from the stockpile, keeping it secret from other players, and adding it to your hand. Players may also draw one or more cards from the discard pile. You can take cards from within the discard pile if (not on top of it): the card is immediately melded (see below) and you take all the cards above the card you choose to meld.
2. Players may meld combinations of cards in their hand by placing them face-up on the table. Players may also ‘lay off’ their cards on pre-existing melds, whether it is their own or other players. Melded cards are scored for the player who melded them, so, if you wish to add your card to someone else’s meld place it in front of yourself. Rules for melding are outlined below.
3. Players may discard. Unless every card in your hand was used to meld you must discard one card face-up on top of the discard pile. If you drew a single card from the top of the discard pile you are not permitted to discard that card. However, if you drew multiple cards from the discard you may choose one of those to discard again.

How to form a Meld:

• A meld can be a set of 3 or 4 cards of equal value. For example, King of Hearts, King of Spades, and King of Diamonds. In games with more than one deck, the meld can not have 2 cards in a group from the same suit. For example, you can not have 2 five of diamonds and one five of hearts, they must be all different.
• A meld can be a sequence of 3 or more cards that are both consecutive and from the same suit. For example, if all the cards are spades, 3-4-5-6 is a valid meld.

Melds can be added onto if it extends the sequence. This process is called ‘laying off.’ Jokers act as wild cards and can be used to substitute any card in a meld. The rank of the Joker must be announced and remain unchanged through the course of the game.

JOKERS

Jokers, as mentioned above, are wild cards that may be used to substitute any card needed to complete a meld. Players must state the suit and rank of the card they wish to replace it with.

If a player has met their contract on a previous turn, if another player uses a joker in a sequence to substitute a card they have in hand, while they lay off they may exchange those cards and take the joker. The joker, however, must be used during that turn and cannot be saved for later.

Jokers played in sets are dead and cannot be reclaimed.

SCORING

A player ‘goes out’ if they have fulfilled the contract of that round and played all their cards. If this happens, the hand is over for all players, and hands are scored. Players collect penalty points for cards in hand.

Face Cards (K, Q, J): 10 points each

Aces: 15 points each

Joker: 15 points

Number Cards: Face Value

The game ends after all 7 deals. The player with the lowest number of points is considered the winner.

REFERENCES:

http://www.rummy-games.com/rules/contract-rummy.html

https://www.pagat.com/rummy/ctrummy.html

Rummy 500 goes by many interesting names, such as 500 rum, pinochle rummy, and Persian rummy. It is an accelerated version of traditional rummy, designed for a heightened experience.

Interestingly, you don’t have to endure your destine in rummy, as it allows you to make amends by picking up new cards and discarding unsuitable ones! This game can be a lot of fun as you pick what you want and put your brains against competing players!

A Brief History

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Rummy is a lot like life. Life deals you all sorts of hands as you go along. The difference is that life may not offer you a chance to make amends, but rummy does. Rummy is one of the oldest card games and is enjoyed by adults of all ages. The essential aim of rummy is to arrange your cards into sets or sequences.

The ancestry of rummy dates back centuries with many perspectives surrounding its most likely roots. Just as playing Canasta, rummy has its most likely origins in the game of Conquian. It is believed to have originated as early as the 1860s. While some historians argue that Conquian is a Spanish game akin to rummy, others disagree and believe it was developed in American and possibly then moved to Mexico as well.

Some historians suggest that poker planted the seeds of rummy a long time ago. They have drawn similarities in the sequential pattern of cards that poker uses, and the sets that rummy employs as well. Card games are popularly known ‘Rum Poker’ give further weight to this hypothesis, with rummy 500 probably developing as an offshoot it.

Another vastly different supposition is that rummy developed in Asia, from Mah Jong, a Chinese card game or Hanafuda, a Japanese one. Just as how you play Canasta with fun, make sure to enjoy this game as well.

The fascinating aspect of these varied views is that rummy has been a game that multiple generations of players have enjoyed. Its worldwide popularity and appeal are have stood the test of time, and it remains a fun and engaging game to this day.

Rummy 500 – Rules, Tips, and Strategies

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Rummy 500 is a more exciting version of good old rummy. It’s a race to the quickest 500 (which explains why it is often called ‘speed rummy’). Read on to master the rules and techniques and ace your rummy game –

Speak Like A Rummy 500 Pro

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Any rummy 500 players must understand a few basic terms of the game. Take a look at a few terms that are used in the game. Memorize these, and you’ll be speaking like a pro rummy player in no time! All players must strive to arrange their dealt cards into sets or sequences.

A set is also called a meld, a book or a run. It implies 3 cards together, which have the same rank or value. These may belong to different suits. A set always has 4 cards.

Additionally, if the cards in a set share the same suit, it becomes invalid (and you don’t want that!). For example, 3 of Aces, with 1 each of spades, diamonds, and hearts, constitute a valid set.

What Is A Sequence?

A sequence differs from a set, in that all the cards belong to the same suit. However, these cards are differently ranked, and in order. For example, 3, 4, and 5 ranked cards belonging to hearts. Additionally, a sequence can be pure or impure.

A pure sequence is one that lacks a joker card, while an impure sequence has one in it. A pure sequence is also called ‘life’ to denote the winning streak it may hold for you.

Similarly with speed card game and spit card game, here’s what you need to organize a game of rummy 500 –

Snowbird Rummy Rules

• Contact your players. These may range from 2 to 6 or 8 players. Find a comfortable setting and arrange for music or food, and get ready for a time of relaxation and companionship
• A conventional deck of 52 cards (increase this to 2 decks if there are more than 5 players)
• At least 2 joker cards (for 2 decks) Choose a person to deal and then deal the cards out as per the number of players. Games with 2 players, receive 7 cards each, while those with 3 or more players will receive 13 cards each.
• The dealer hands out cards and a bonus card is given to the player on his or her left side, which is discarded, to begin the discard pile. The winner of the current hand then deals for the next round, and so on.

Get Your Rummy 500 Game On

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The aim of rummy 500 is similar to conventional rummy. Each player must try to arrange their cards into sequences or sets or 3 or 4 cards. This process is also called ‘melding.’ The players compete to reach the highest score of 500 as the name suggests. Take a look at a few steps to get your game going-

• Once the cards are dealt, they are arranged into a ‘stock’ and a discarded card pile. The stockpile consists of cards leftover after dealing. The stockpile (also called a ‘draw’ pile) is a closed deck or facedown while the discarded pile is faceup or an open deck of cards.
• As the game progresses, you and the rest of the players pick the topmost card from the facedown stockpile. The card is unseen and added to the player’s hand. Alternatively, a player may choose to pick up a card from the discarded pile.
• If a lower card in the discarded stack is chosen, the cards lying above it must be included as well and added to the player’s existing hand.
• Simultaneously place a card into the discarded heap. The cards that are cast off are placed facing upwards so that all players can get a clear view of them.
• The players now attempt to meld or make runs and sequences. Your turn ends when you discard a card, and the game progresses to the next player. The player, who finishes all of his or her cards the soonest is the winner.

Making A Valid Declaration

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The Rules Of Rummy

You can make a run for the rummy 500 trophies if the aim of the game is met. This implies that all the cards are organized into sets and sequences. To ensure that the coveted win is yours, ensure that in a 13 card game, you have at least 2 sequences with a minimum of 1 pure sequence (without a joker).

How To Score Your Cards

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If you are the first to finish all your cards, all your melded cards will be counted to give the final score. Therefore, all cards with a face constitute a score of 10. Jokers and also Aces which are used at a high rank, give a score of 15 each. If aces are used low, they score 5 points, and all the numbered cards are scored as per their numbered value.

In a 13 card game of rummy, a player can only get a maximum score of 80 points, irrespective of melding. You can add a twist to your game by throwing in an ‘opponent’s hand rule,’ in which the score of each player’s remaining cards is added to the winning player’s score, thus augmenting it!

The gameplay ceases as a player discards his or her last leftover card. The points are then calculated by counting the score of the melded cards and deducting the remaining cards that are not melded. If the stockpile runs out of cards before anyone can make a successful play, no score is determined, and the next round is started.

Tips To Take Your Rummy 500 Game To The Next Level

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• The joker power play – Wild joker cards can be used to amplify the fun in rummy 500. Thus, wild jokers can be used to your advantage as they replace any other card in the game, and can help you make a set or sequence (although it will be an impure one).
• The Aces card is flexible. Accordingly, it may be used as a low rank before a 2, or as a high rank, after a king. Decide on the rules before you start! So, keep an eye on the other players’ card choices, keep looking to see what they discard and pick up, to get an idea of their melding.
• Lastly, pick up high cards at the beginning of the hand but be careful because as the hand is nearing the end, you could be stuck with a low score! Balance out the advantages of picking up more cards from a discarded pile, versus picking up cards that add value to your meld.
• Aces are a good choice to pick up, as they can be added conveniently to a sequence or suit.

Rummy 500: Value Your Card Choice

Ultimately, Rummy 500 is an entertaining game that will help you combat boredom. Also, it relies on rules and anticipation of the end game, giving you the right mix of fun and mental stimulation. So set-up your casino and card themed party decorations now and have fun!

Rummy Card Value

As you advance in your knowledge of the strategies, you can look forward to a more rewarding experience with friends and family. Thus, learning more about customized card playing gives you a better edge in any other card game.

Rummy 13 Card Game Rules

Featured Image: CC by A-SA 3.0, David Lazich, via Wikipedia Commons