Learn About the Game Rummy
Rummy offers fast play and steady tension. The game uses a standard 52-card deck and two to six players. Each player takes a hand. The remaining cards form a stock and one card starts the discard pile. A turn starts with a draw from the stock or the top of the discard pile. Players build melds called sets of equal rank or runs in one suit. They lay down complete melds and discard a card to finish the turn. A round ends the moment a player empties a hand.
Unmatched cards count against a player at scoring. Face cards hurt more than small cards. Careful players track discards and read opponent habits. A bold draw from the discard pile can reveal plans to others. Early melds lower risk and free space for draws. Late melds hide information and surprise rivals. Strong play balances memory, timing, and nerve.
Many groups favor a variant. Gin Rummy keeps hands hidden and lets a player end the hand by knocking. Both sides then compare unmatched cards and settle points. Rummy 500 allows players to add to open melds and score during the hand. Indian Rummy uses two decks and treats jokers as wild cards. House rules set draw limits, scoring targets, and penalties. Short rounds fit small breaks and longer sets suit organized play.