# How to Play Rummy: Sets, Runs, Laying Off and Scoring Learn basic Rummy: deal 10 cards for two players, draw from the stock or discard pile, meld sets and runs, lay off on melds, discard, and go out first. Scoring and going rummy explained. Source: https://pips.club/rummy - Players: 2 to 6 - Deck: 52 cards, no jokers - Type: Rummy - Level: Medium ## At a glance ### Draw, meld, discard Rummy is the family behind Gin and Canasta. Every turn you draw a card, lay down sets and runs if you can, then discard one. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins the round. ## Setup ### One deck, two to six players Use a standard 52-card deck without jokers. In this example two players play: you and North. ## The deal ### How many cards to deal 2 players 10 each 3 or 4 players 7 each 5 or 6 players 6 each Put the rest face down as the stock and turn its top card face up to start the discard pile. ## A turn ### Draw one card The player left of the dealer starts. Take either the top card of the stock or the top card of the discard pile. The discard pile shows the queen of spades. You hold two queens, so you take it. ### Lay down sets and runs You may now put melds face up on the table: a set: three or four cards of the same rank a run: three or more cards in a row, all the same suit You lay down three queens and the 5, 6 and 7 of hearts. Aces are usually low (A-2-3). Some tables also allow Q-K-A: agree before you start. ### Lay off on any meld You may also lay off: add cards from your hand to melds already on the table, yours or your opponent’s. Your 8 of hearts extends the run. ### End with a discard Finish your turn by putting one card face up on the discard pile. You may not discard the card you just took from the discard pile. If all the cards left in your hand fit into melds, you may lay them down and go out without a final discard. ## Special cards ### Going rummy If you lay down your whole hand in one turn, without having melded or laid off before, you go rummy. The other players pay you double. Picture a different hand: three kings, the 5, 6, 7 and 8 of diamonds and three 10s, all laid down at once, with the 3 of diamonds as your last discard. ## Scoring ### The winner collects When a player goes out, the others count the cards left in their hands and the winner scores the total: King, queen, jack 10 Ace 1 2 to 10 face value North is left with a king, a 9 and a 3: you score 22. ## Winning ### Play to a target Deal again and keep a running total. The first player to reach the target your table agrees on, for example 100 points, wins. ## Variants and house rules - **Aces high or low**: Allow Q-K-A as well as A-2-3 (but not K-A-2). An ace left in hand then costs 15 instead of 1. - **Block Rummy**: When the stock is gone and nobody wants the discard, the hand ends. The player with the lowest count in hand scores the difference from each other player. - **Turning the pile**: When the stock is empty, turn the discard pile over, without shuffling, to make a new stock. ## Tips - Throw away high cards you can’t use early: a king caught in your hand costs 10. - Watch what your opponent picks up from the discard pile, and don’t feed them that rank or suit. - Cards in the middle of a run, like 7s and 8s, fit more melds than aces and kings. ## Quick answers **How many cards do you deal in Rummy?** Ten each with two players, seven each with three or four, and six each with five or six. **What is a meld in Rummy?** A set of three or four cards of the same rank, or a run of three or more cards in a row in the same suit. **What does going rummy mean?** Laying down your whole hand in one turn without having melded or laid off before. The other players pay double.