Game: Rummy

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ZackStack — 2008-08-21T02:57:03+00:00

Learning the family game starts young!

Thread: May I? - Rummy Variant

ZackStack — 2008-06-27T19:51:19+00:00

My family always played a game called “May I?” which I recently found out is a Rummy variant. I have always enjoyed this game and thought I would share:

3 to 6 players – 6 Rounds of Play

Set up: For 3-4 players shuffle together two standard decks with the jokers. For 5-6 player use three decks. Aces are always high. Jokers are wild.

Deal 11 cards to each player in each round. Place one card up in the discard pile next to the draw pile and play proceeds to the dealer’s left. The player to the dealer's left will deal the next round.

Rounds: Each round there is a different collection necessary to lay down.
Round 1 – One set (3 cards with the same value) and one run (4 cards in a sequence with the same suit) [7 cards to lay down]

Round 2 – Two Runs [ 8 cards to lay down]

Round 3 – Three Sets [9 cards]

Round 4 – Two Sets and One Run [10 cards]

Round 5 – One Set and Two Runs [11 cards]

Round 6 – Three Runs [12 cards]

Play of Cards – At the beginning of each player’s turn they must either draw the top discard showing on the pile, or draw the top card from the deck. If the player has completed the appropriate runs and sets(groups) for the round they may lay down the groups in front of them. Once a player has laid down they may play additional cards from their hands on their groups and other player’s groups****. When done with their turn the player discards any one card from their hand.

* Cards played on groups will fit the set or expand the run. (in case it needed to be stated)

*You may not play on laid groups until you have laid down.

*You may not lay down additional groups beyond those required for the round (ie: collecting a forth set in round 3 does you no good)

*Jokers may be replaced in a run and will move “up” in the run unless there is already an Ace at the top, then they will move down. They will stay with the run and may not be replaced once a run is full.

May I? – Each player may successfully “May I?” twice in every round*. When a discard is laid on the discard pile any player may ask “May I?” to take the card**. The player whose turn it is can say “No” and take the discard into their hand as normal. Or they may allow the asking player to take the discard, and then the asking player also draws two additional cards from the deck. Then the player whose turn it is must also draw their one card from the deck.

*Note - The easiest way to see if you’ve expended you May I’s is to count your cards. If you are holding 17 then you may not “May I” (people who have laid down really shouldn’t be calling May I….

**Note – If multiple players “May I” for the same card, the first to speak is allowed the card. If the asking was too close to call the player whose turn it is chooses who “won”.

Going Out – A player may not discard their last card and must go out by playing out. This can either be accomplished by laying down all your cards when you lay down, or by having a hand of one card that can be added to a group on the table (a “play card”) and drawing another play card so you may play both to empty your hand. The round ends when a player Goes Out.

Scoring – The player that went out scores 0 points.
Other players count their hands with these points:
2-7: 5 points
8-K – 10 points
A – 20 points*
Joker – 50 points

*Note – I have always felt that the Ace should be able to be used high or low to justify its point cost, but have been unable to convince my family to try it that way…

The player with the least points after the final round wins.

Thread: Re: Game description is for 500 Rum, not Rummy.

droberts441 — 2008-02-05T04:05:50+00:00

I know this is an old post, but in case others come along... I agree with most of what you said about 500 Rum. I changed the game description, and put the 500 Rum parts in parenthesis (I hadn't read this forum unfortunately). My rule books all show that King is always high, and Ace low, with variants having Ace low or high. There are a couple other minor rules that I would consider variants. But I agree with the main premise that the rule description was for 500 Rum.

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rseater — 2007-10-31T05:38:20+00:00

An old Rummy deck from 1942.

Thread: Power Cards

Shade_Jon — 2007-10-16T22:19:16+00:00

You can find dozens of rummy games on Pagat. Typical Rummy games include the following mechanics:

- Draw the top card from the discard pile or deck, and then discard a card.
- Meld sets of cards from your hand onto the table, either three of a kind or a three or four card straight flush.
- After melding, you may add additional cards to your own or your opponent's melds.
- First one out scores the remaining cards left in opponent's hand. Melds may also score points for each player.

The following variant can be used to jazz up almost any Rummy game.

Materials needed

blank cards (or pieces of paper), pen.

Setup

Create the following cards:

* DRAW: Draw three cards, choose one, and put the other two back on top of, or at the bottom of, the deck.
* DRAW: Pick any single card from the discard pile.
* OPP: Prevent an opponent from drawing either from the deck or discard pile this turn.
* TURN: Name a card. Hand opponent a card from your hand. Opponent must give you the named card in exchange for yours, if he or she has it. Otherwise, opponent gives you any card in exchange for yours.
* TURN: Take another turn.
* PLAY: Change the suit of one of your cards.
* PLAY: Shift one card up or down up to two ranks (e.g. from 9 to jack, or vice versa)
* OPP: Prevent your opponent from melding this turn.
* PLAY: Add 50% value to one of your melds.
* TURN: On your first turn only, name a rank. Cards of that rank do not score points this round.
* TURN: On your first turn only, name a suit. All cards melded of that suit this round net you an additional two points.
* DRAW: Opponent flips a coin. You call it. If you called correctly, draw an additional card. Continue flipping and calling until you lose a toss. Discard down to the correct hand size at the end of your turn.
* TURN: Discard all of your cards and pick the same number of new ones. Opponent does the same.
* TURN: Mix hands with opponent. Each player takes back as many cards as he or she started with.
* TURN: Look at the bottom card of the deck and show it to all players. Remix and cut the deck. Opponent may not meld with that card. You may use that card as a wild card.
* TURN: Look at opponent's hand.

Add other cards as you think of them.

Rules

Deal each player one Power card before each round (two, if you're feeling wild). Each card may be used once and is then discarded. Unused cards at the end of the round are discarded. Reshuffle and deal again for the next round.

Alternatively, you can hold on to unused cards for the next round, thereby accumulating several.

Alternatively, before each round flip open N+1 cards, where N is the number of players. Hold an auction for first pick, second pick, and so on. The last player to pick takes his or her choice of card for free. Payment is in points.

DRAW: this card replaces your regular draw.
TURN: this card is used any time on your turn.
OPP: this card is used in response to an opponent's action on his turn.
PLAY: this card is used when you play a meld.

Thread: A hand where we exhaust the deck!

DrCoffee — 2007-05-31T16:57:44+00:00

My wife, Emily, and I had just finished an extremely close game of RoboRally, but deemed it still a bit too hot to go outside and work in our gardens so we pulled out what is quickly becoming our go to game, rummy.

I played rummy a lot as a child, and was shocked (*shocked!*) to discover a few weeks ago that Emily had never played. I explained rules (or at least the rules that had been taught to me..) and she quickly proceeded to beat me rather decisively. Since then, we've found ourselves playing quite a bit, despite the fact that I don't think I've taken a single game! Besides the fact that she always wins (a plus, in her mind at least), the game requires virtually no setup, and a deck of cards is always close by.

A note on the rules we were playing with: single deck, Aces worth 15 (can be high OR low, so no Q-K-A-2-3 wraparound nonsense but Q-K-A is ok as well as A-2-3) 10-J-Q-K are worth 10, everything else 5, no jokers, every card in the discard pile is visible, you must discard in order to go out, play to 500.

The game started out with me going out very quickly on the first two hands and Emily scoring a 0 and -10 to start. I couldn't help but smile, was this going to be the game where she finally got her comeuppance? Of course, since I went out quickly, I wasn't exactly racking up the points, but my 90 to -10 lead after two hands seemed impressive...

Hand 3 was a big one with lots of melds and both of us getting in layoffs. The best part came at the end with Emily (who loves aces and will almost always pick them up if I discard one, 'just to hold it' ) was forced to discard an ace in order to go out. The discard pile at the end of the hand was A-A-A.

Emily 165, Jeff 135 (total 155 to 225)

The next few hands were unspectacular, with Emily slowly eroding my lead. After six hands Emily had captured the lead and we went into the final hand with her up 435 to 370.

I steeled myself for another loss to my wife, the 3 week rummy veteran.

However, the last hand was quite possibly the craziest I've ever played. We both started out strong, with her putting down a Q-K-A run, and me putting down 5's and 6's. A couple of times we both got down to 2 cards but then saw something buried in the discard pile that was too irresistible to pass up. Until.....

Emily had picked up the discard pile to play a set of 4's and then went to place her last card on the discard pile. At the last second she stopped herself though and played a layoff on one of my runs. Sidenote: I have never, ever been able to call "rummy" on my wife for discarding anything playable.

On the next turn, I too ran out of cards, but couldn't discard. The draw pile was lower than we'd ever seen it before. She drew on her turn but cursed when she saw she could play it. I drew and could play that card as well.

There were two cards left in the draw pile, none in the discard pile.

She drew but, of course, could play that card. I picked up the last card (the fourth 5) and placed it with my meld. We had exhausted the deck!

I don't know exactly how rare that is (maybe not too much), but in all my experience (20 years or so, I'd guess) I have never had this happen.

The final score for the hand: Emily 140, Jeff 240

There was one last bit of drama as I calculated the score. I added Emily's first and she came to 575. I then tallied mine and came up with 510?!? What?! I lost?!?

My wife then politely pointed out I'd forgotten to carry the one.

Final score: Emily 575, Jeff 610

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CinMel — 2007-05-14T03:52:03+00:00

1990 Bicycle two decks box back

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CinMel — 2007-05-14T03:51:16+00:00

1990 Bicycle two decks box front

Thread: Re: Gin Rummy (for 2 players) deserves to be rated separately

Aldaron — 2006-09-20T01:42:57+00:00

jokersmiley wrote:
Gin Rummy is one of the best 2 player standard deck card games, and is sufficiently different from Rummy (as categorized in BGG) to be described and rated separately.
Now with its own entry here: Gin Rummy

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OldestManOnMySpace — 2006-09-17T23:10:42+00:00

Computer Gin Rummy, as it appears in my Hoyle Entertainment Pack.

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moxtaveto — 2006-08-21T19:09:05+00:00

Rumme by Milton Bradley 1914 .... plus 10 other games (see title page of the rules booklet)

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moxtaveto — 2006-08-21T19:06:14+00:00

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moxtaveto — 2006-08-21T19:06:08+00:00

"Rumme" from Milton Bradley 1914: 4x13 Shield, Helmet, Crown, Unicorn (+1 Joker)

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moxtaveto — 2006-08-21T19:01:25+00:00

"Rumme" from Milton Bradley 1914!

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casterlyrock — 2006-06-26T00:52:24+00:00

Thread: Re: Gin Rummy (for 2 players) deserves to be rated separately

mgrim@comcast.net — 2006-06-20T01:59:52+00:00

Totally with you on this. Gin Rummy card game - 10/10

Thread: Gin Rummy (for 2 players) deserves to be rated separately

jokersmiley — 2006-04-16T09:45:01+00:00

Gin Rummy is one of the best 2 player standard deck card games, and is sufficiently different from Rummy (as categorized in BGG) to be described and rated separately. Indeed, I was struck by reading descriptions of commercial 2-player spouse-friendly games like Knizia's "Lost Cities" how close they are to Gin Rummy: The key differences between Gin Rummy and regular Rummy, which improve it substantially as a game of strategy, are:

(1) All cards hidden - in regular Rummy, if you take a card from the discard, you have to reveal one or more sets in your hand to the table. In Gin Rummy, nothing is shown until the end of the game. This means:
* You have to observe very carefully to deduce what your opponent is holding (and holding out for), especially what your opponent discards;
* It's easier to change your strategy mid-stream -- this makes the choice of whether to do so all the more agonizing, but also very satisfying if you can do so and win!

(2) The "Gin" - you can end the round with deadwood 10 or less, or go for the "Gin" bonus with zero deadwood. Leads again to different end-game plays - should you close out the game quickly as you can (hopefully leaving your opponent in the lurch), or should you go for the bonus? etc.

(PS out of 4-player Rummy variants, nothing beats the Chinese game of Mah-Jongg ...)

Thread: Game description is for 500 Rum, not Rummy.

Gecko23 — 2005-05-17T17:48:48+00:00

Boy, old man Hoyle would be spinning in his grave to see the house-rule mish-mash described above called 'Rummy'. I'm familiar with the game described, but around here it has always been known as '500' or '500 Rum'. No relation to the '500' listed elsewhere here on BGG though.

Since all card games tend to be intensely regional in their variations, here's a list of comparable rules of play as they exist here in west-central Ohio:

Game play:

Rummy: each player gets 7 cards
500 Rum: each player gets between 7 and 10 cards. Everyone gets the same though.

Rummy: discard pile is face up, only last card added is visible, or can be picked up.
500 Rum: discard pile is layed with cards over-lapping, player can pick from any point, but must take all cards above it, and must play bottom card in stack picked up immediately.

In the first two, if someone discards a card that could have been layed down, the first person to notice and say 'rummy' or 'gin' can claim it and lay it down themselves in or out of turn.

Rummy: aces are always high, straights only go low-to-high and aces are worth 10 points.
500 Rum: aces can be low or high (i.e. A-2-3 is ok) and straights can wrap around (i.e. Q-K-A-2-3 is ok), aces are worth 15.

Rummy: You *must* discard on every play, you can't take an action that would make it impossible for you to do so.
500 Rum: Its possible to become a 'ghost' and continue playing with an empty hand.

Rummy: books and sets can be layed down during any turn.
500 Rum: Ditto.

Rummy: No wild cards
500 Rum: Anything can be called wild by the dealer, although deuces are most common.

Going out:

Rummy: Your final play consists of laying down, then discarding.
500 Rum: Your final play consists of laying down. If you have one card, which can't be played, you discard, become a 'ghost' and continue to draw and discard until you get something you can play.

Scoring:

Rummy: ranked cards are worth the number on their face. face cards worth 10
500 Rum: ranked card are worth 5 points each, face cards 10

Rummy: cards played on opponents sets are scored normally
500 Rum: cards played on opponents sets are scored double.

Rummy: game ends at 100, 200, 300 or whatever other total players have agreed on.
500 Rum: Pretty much always 500 points. (And at 5-15 points per card, won't take long to get there.)

All in all, 'Rummy' is pretty much extinct here, and '500 Rum' is considered a kid's game and rarely played by adults. They'd more likely be playing Spades or Euchre.