Rummy is a game group of matching card games famous for similar style gameplay and similar match card ranking based on the same suit or rank. The basic objective in any version of rummy is always to construct runs or alliances that will eventually result in melding with other players to reach the goal. In most versions, it is possible to use rummy objects to win the game; these include coins, clubs, cards, etc. However, in all versions of the game, winning requires skill rather than luck. As one might expect, the game has a long history and many different variations.
All versions of rummy involve laying down cards and arranging them in particular ways to form runs or alliances. This laying of the cards is usually done by having each player in turn place a card from their hand in the middle of the playing area. This card then becomes the starting card for the entire hand. Players can use their remaining hands (previous to the laying of the cards) to meld together cards so that entire combinations are possible. Some cards are used more frequently than others and those particular cards are the focus of particular strategies during play.
A standard deck of 52 cards is the bare minimum amount required to play a standard rummy game. Most versions allow for an optional second deck of cards that can be added to the original deck. Extra decks can be purchased and additional rules can be formulated to make the game even more challenging. These optional decks are commonly referred to as “special packs.” Most online sources that sell standard decks of rummy also sell additional starter decks and advanced level decks of different types.
A popular variation of rummy is the rummy canasta. The basic rummy canasta variant involves laying down piles of cards and then using two Wild Cards from the same pile to produce combinations. A player may lay one card face up and another card face down on top of it, in a straight line. Placing any two cards in a straight line means that they must face each other and any card in the stack that does not match up to the previous row must be discarded. After all cards have been discarded, then the player must randomly choose five cards from the top of the canasta and place them in the center of the canasta. Players take turns choosing cards until a winning combination has been achieved.
Wild cards in the rummy game are used in different applications. Wild cards can be used to make the decisions about whether or not to go ahead with a move, and when to stop. For example, a player may meld three Wild cards and a King card by melding all four of the cards. By alternating among the Wild cards, the player is able to make a decision as to which card comes next. The Wild card can also be used as a penalty card, meaning it becomes a “penalty” if the player melds two of them or more. Lastly, a player may meld three Wild cards onto a King card to make a royal rambling combination.
The rules for the different types of rummy games vary according to the type of card game being played. In many games, the object is for players to make as many combinations as possible by melding cards. For instance, in seven-card rummoli, there are seven cards to be melded, and a player only has a few seconds to make a decision as to what to do.
