These rummy rules explain the classic card game exactly as most families learned it: draw a card, make sets and runs, discard, and race to empty your hand before anyone else. Basic rummy (sometimes called straight rummy or rum) is the parent of gin rummy, rummy 500, Indian rummy and dozens of other versions, so once you know it you can pick up the rest in minutes. Below you will find the standard deal for 2 to 6 players, how melding and laying off work, the scoring table, and the house rules worth agreeing before the first hand.
Quick rules
- Goal: get rid of all your cards by forming melds (sets and runs) and finally discarding or playing your last card.
- A set is 3 or 4 cards of the same rank. A run is 3 or more cards in sequence in the same suit.
- Deal 10 cards each for 2 players, 7 each for 3 or 4 players, and 6 each for 5 or 6 players.
- On your turn: draw one card (from the stock or the discard pile), lay down melds or add to melds if you wish, then discard one card.
- Aces are low: A-2-3 is a run, but Q-K-A is not.
- The first player to go out scores the value of the cards left in everyone else's hand.
- Play to an agreed target, usually 100 points (some groups play to 500).
What you need
- One standard 52-card deck, jokers removed. With 5 or 6 players some groups shuffle in a second deck.
- Paper and pencil, or the online scoreboard, to track points across hands.
- A table with room for melds in front of each player.
Setup
- Each player cuts the deck. The lowest card deals first, and the deal passes to the left after each hand.
- The dealer shuffles and deals cards one at a time, face down, clockwise.
- Use this deal size: 2 players get 10 cards each, 3 or 4 players get 7 cards each, 5 or 6 players get 6 cards each. Some rule books give 7 cards for 2 players as well, so agree on this first.
- Place the remaining cards face down in the middle as the stock. Turn the top card face up beside it to start the discard pile.
How to play
Your turn, step by step
- Draw. Take either the top card of the stock or the top card of the discard pile.
- Meld (optional). Lay down any sets or runs face up in front of you. You may lay down as many as you like in one turn.
- Lay off (optional). Add single cards to any meld already on the table, yours or another player's. If someone has 7-8-9 of hearts on the table, you can add the 6 or the 10 of hearts.
- Discard. End your turn by placing one card face up on the discard pile. If you drew from the discard pile, you may not throw the same card back on that turn.
Melds explained
- Sets (groups): three or four cards of the same rank, such as 8-8-8 or K-K-K-K.
- Runs (sequences): three or more consecutive cards of one suit, such as 4-5-6 of spades. Ace counts as low only, so A-2-3 is valid, but K-A-2 and Q-K-A are not in standard rummy.
- A card can belong to only one meld at a time.
When the stock runs out
If the stock is empty and the next player does not want the top discard, turn the discard pile over (without shuffling) to form a new stock and continue. Some groups instead end the hand with no score when the stock runs out, so decide in advance.
Going out
You go out when you get rid of your last card, either by melding it, laying it off, or discarding it. The hand ends immediately. Most players allow going out without a final discard; some house rules require that your last card be a discard, so agree before you start. Going out in a single turn by laying down your whole hand at once, with no earlier melds, is called going "rummy".
Scoring
When a player goes out, every other player counts the cards still in their hand. The winner scores the total. Cards already melded on the table do not count against you in basic rummy.
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 point |
| 2 to 10 | Face value (a 7 is worth 7) |
| Jack, Queen, King | 10 points each |
| Going rummy (whole hand in one turn) | Winner's score is doubled |
Scoring varies slightly between rule books: some count aces as 1 and others as 11 in score only, and some versions (such as rummy 500) give points for your own melds too.
How to win
Keep a running total for each player. The first player to reach the target score, usually 100 points, wins the game. For a quick session, simply play a fixed number of hands and the highest total wins.
Variations
- Rummy for 2 players: deal 10 cards each and play exactly as above. It is fast and tactical because you can track most of the discards.
- Gin rummy: a two-player version where melds stay in your hand until you knock. See our gin rummy rules.
- Rummy 500: you score points for your own melds and can take cards deep in the discard pile.
- Indian rummy (13-card rummy): uses jokers and requires a pure sequence; see Indian rummy rules.
- Shanghai and contract rummy: each hand has a required contract (for example two sets, then a set and a run) that you must lay down before going out.
- Ace high or low: many families allow Q-K-A as a run; a few even allow K-A-2 "around the corner". These are house rules.
- Wild cards: adding jokers or deuces as wild cards makes melds easier and games shorter.
Tips and strategy
- Get rid of high cards early. Kings and queens cost 10 points each if someone goes out while you hold them.
- Watch the discard pile. If your opponent picks up a 9 of clubs, avoid throwing the 8 or 10 of clubs and other 9s.
- Hold back melds when you can. Keeping cards in hand denies opponents chances to lay off, but do not get caught with a full hand.
- Middle cards (5 to 9) are flexible because they fit more runs than aces or kings.
- Lay off onto other players' melds to shrink your hand quickly near the end.
- In a 2-player game, count how many cards of each rank have been discarded before chasing a set.
Common mistakes and house rules to agree first
- Forgetting to discard at the end of a turn. Every turn ends with a discard unless you have just gone out.
- Taking the top discard and throwing it straight back. This is not allowed.
- Disagreeing about Q-K-A runs mid-game. Decide on aces before the first deal.
- Not deciding whether a final discard is required to go out.
- Not agreeing what happens when the stock runs out.
If you enjoy rummy, try other drawing and discarding games such as canasta or browse our full list of card games for two.
Questions people ask
How many cards do you deal in rummy?
Deal 10 cards each for 2 players, 7 cards each for 3 or 4 players, and 6 cards each for 5 or 6 players. Some rule books deal 7 cards in a 2-player game as well. The rest of the deck becomes the stock.
How do you play rummy with 2 players?
Deal 10 cards each, turn one card up to start the discard pile, and take turns drawing, melding and discarding. The first to empty their hand scores the points left in the other player's hand. Play to 100 points.
How does rummy scoring work?
When someone goes out, the other players total the cards left in their hands: aces 1 point, number cards face value, and face cards 10 points. The winner of the hand scores that total. Going rummy, laying down your whole hand in one turn, doubles the score.
Is ace high or low in rummy?
In standard rummy the ace is low, so A-2-3 is a valid run but Q-K-A is not. Many families play ace high or low as a house rule. Agree before you start so nobody is surprised.
Do you have to discard to go out in rummy?
Under the most common rules you can go out by melding or laying off your last card, with no discard needed. Some groups require a final discard. Either way works as long as everyone agrees first.