Game of a Lifetime

Have you ever played a card game before? If you have, let me tell you about another game bedsides Go Fish.

I’ve been playing Rummy since I was a kid. I was taught how to play by family. My grandma has been playing for as long as I can remember and has taught me the most about the game. I’m not my grandma, but I’ll try breaking the game down for you as best I can. This game is half luck and half attentiveness.

If you’re multitasking or unfocused you probably won’t win. The objective of the game is to get 500 points. There are variations of how to play, but this is how I play.

First, you need at least one other person to play the game with you. Then you need a deck of cards. There is no limit to how many people you can have in a game but after three players you’ll want to add another deck.

Get quality help now

Bella Hamilton

Verified writer

Proficient in: Games

5 (234)

“ Very organized ,I enjoyed and Loved every bit of our professional interaction ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

For those not familiar, a deck of cards consists of four suits: Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades. Jokers also come with a deck and are utilized in this game.

After you’ve found players, the appropriate number of decks, and a place to play, it’s time to shuffle the cards. It’s best to make sure all of the cards are there before playing. I’ve had my share of games where you’re halfway in and realize there is a card missing. It doesn’t matter who shuffles to begin with.

After the first shuffle, it rotates between players clockwise. The way you shuffle is not important. I’ve been made light of for the way I shuffle. I’ve seen the “correct” way but my fingers can’t do it.

Following adequate shuffling, distribute the cards face down evenly to the players. Two players get ten cards. However, if you have more than two players give everyone seven cards. Regardless of how many people, the player going first gets one extra card in addition to the ten or seven respectively. The person going first is determined by going clockwise from the shuffler. Once the shuffler is done distributing cards to everyone including themselves, they will place the leftover pile of cards in the middle of the table. And place one card face up next to the pile. These will later be known as the draw and discard piles.

I like to organize my cards in ascending order and what I call obvious points. You get points by laying down one of three things: three or more of the same card regardless of suit, three or more of the same suit in numerical order, or laying down any card that can play off of other players' laid down cards. If you have a Joker, this card will substitute for one of the three or more cards. For example, you have two King of Spades in your hand and a Joker. You can use the Joker and lay all three cards down. If you have any of these combinations in your hand at the beginning of the game, I call those obvious points.

When it is your turn you have two options: draw two cards from the pile, or pick up as many cards from the discard pile as you like. There is an exception for the first player with the extra card at the beginning of the game. This player can only pick up the flipped-over card in the discard pile. They cannot draw two cards. The last card you pick up from the discard pile you have to play during that turn. Every player must also place one card from their hand into the discard pile at the end of their turn. If a player discards a card that can be played off of someone else’s cards, any player can say “Rummy!”. This player can now pick up said card and put it with their own cards for the points. Turn-taking in a clockwise rotation continues until someone discards without any other cards in their hand. This is known as going out. It also ends if there are no more cards in the draw pile and the player cannot use and play any card in the discard pile.

It is now time to score your points. The cards you have in your hand count negatively towards your score. This is why it is advantageous to go out. The cards are worth as follows: Ace is 15 points. Two through nine equal five points. Ten, Jack, and King are ten points. The Queen of Spades equals 40 points, all other Queens are ten points. The Joker is 50 points. Add all your points up. It is possible to have a negative score.

The cycle of shuffling, distributing cards, going out, and scoring is known as around. This continues until someone reaches 500 or more points. This person is the winner of the game. If two people reach 500, the player with the higher score wins. If there is a tie, another round ensues.

I hope you give Rummy a try. I think it is a really fun game that can be played almost anywhere. All you need is some friends and a deck of cards.