Special Report: Get to Grips with Online Rummy Games

The broad aim of rummy is for players to throw away they cards they pick up by creating compatible groupings termed as melds. To be the winner, all you have to do is shed all of your cards first. The challenge lies in forming the optimal melds with the cards you have been presented. Of course, this depends entirely on which version of rummy you are playing. Here are the broad strokes of the most common types.

Traditional Rummy

Starting with traditional rummy, this can be played with two to four players. There will be two decks used, giving you 104 cards to play with. The outright winner of the game will be the first player to lose all of their cards by creating melds. And creating sets and runs can make this happen:

• Set – Three or the same card (e.g. jacks)
• Run – Three cards in a row of the same suit

At the end of each turn, players get to discard a card. Players can select their next card from either the deck or the discarded pile. Remaining players add up their remaining cards to decide final positions – lowest scores win.

Gin Rummy

Where traditional rummy uses the points as a penalty, this variant views them positively. The challenge is typically to be the first to reach 100 points – or another agreed value. Scoring points can be achieved by creating sets and runs. Aces are worth one point, face cards are worth ten points, and the remaining cards are worth their numerical display value.

Oklahoma Rummy

Oklahoma rummy adds a new wrinkle in that players have to reduce their deadwood count, which is a reference to the cards they possess that cannot create melds. Each hand will let the player choose a card from the deck or else the discard pile. They can then throw a deadwood card into the discard pile.

Kalooki 51

Kalooki 51 uses two decks of cards plus two jokers. In contrast to most forms of rummy, Kalooki 51 plays aces either high or low. This is helpful because the first melds from players in Kalooki 51 must be worth 51 or higher. It is possible to add to your own melds as well as those of fellow players. The winner is the first to meld all cards and discard their final card. Remaining players add up their penalty points.

Kalooki 40

Kalooki 40 has a similar scoring system to Kalooki 51, with face cards worth ten points and numbered cards worth their display value. Aces are always worth 11 in penalty points and jokers are worth 15. The turn starts by taking a card, after which melds are created or built upon, and then a card can be discarded. The first player to shed all cards will be declared winner, with the runners up determining their penalty points.

Where to Find Games

For a popular place to play online rummy, Rummy Royal Casino is a solid choice. The site can offer you all of the online rummy games outlined above, plus there are in-depth guides to teach you even more.