


13-card Rummy is the Indian version of Rummy, played with 13 cards as the name suggests. The game stars with 2 or more players. Each player takes turns to be the dealer & deals the cards in clockwise direction. The objective of the game is to create winning sets and sequences from the 13 cards that you are dealt with. After each player has been dealt 13 cards, one card is picked from the remaining deck of cards. This card serves as The Joker and can be used as a substitute to create sequences or sets.
The game starts with a toss where all players are dealt a card. The player with the highest value card starts the game by picking up a card from the open deck or from the closed deck. In exchange, the player has to discard a card from his or her hand. Cards can be arranged into 2 types of combinations: Sequences and Sets.
A Sequence is made when a minimum of 3 cards of the same suit are arranged in sequential order. For example - A♠ 2♠ 3♠ 4♠
A Set is made when a minimum of three cards of the same rank are arranged together, regardless of suit. For example - 8♣ 8♥ 8♦ 8♠
A Joker can be used as a substitute for a missing card to create a set or a sequence. However, you need to have at least one pure sequence (a sequence in which there is no Joker) to declare the game.
An Ace can be used with either high cards or low cards to form a sequence. For example, you can form a sequence with King & Queen (A♠ K♠ Q♠) or with 2 and 3 (A♠ 2♠ 3♠). However, you cannot use an Ace to connect a low card and a high card together. For example - 2♠ A♠ K♠
The first player to arrange all the 13 cards into Sets or Sequences wins the game.You can declare your hand after discarding the final card into the finish slot.The winning player gets zero points while the other players score points for the cards that were unable to arrange into a set or sequence. A player who does not have a single pure sequence receives points for all the cards in their hand. The objective of the game is to score the lowest number of points.
13 card Rummy has many variations with minor rule changes. The common rules including Sets, Sequences, Jokers, etc. remain the same. The scoring, the calculation of points of the winning objectives differ across variations.
Common variants of 13 card Rummy
This is the most widely played version of 13 card Rummy. In Points Rummy, the scoring remains the same but the points are assigned monetary value. The winner gets the money equivalent of the cumulative of all the points accumulated by the opponents, as per the predefined value of the points.
Deals rummy is played with chips instead of points. Each chip is assigned one point & every player receives an equal number of chips. A buy in value is set for each game & the winner of each deal receives chips matching the number of points accumulated by the opponents. The number of deals for the game is pre-decided. The player who receives the maximum number of chips at the end of all deals is declared the winner. The winner receives the sum of entry fees of all the players.
Pool rummy is another variant of 13 card Rummy which has an entry fee. A point limit, known as ‘pool’ is assigned to the game. Example: 101 points. A player who reaches this limit is automatically knocked out of the game. The player with the lowest number of points at the end of a pre-decided number of deals wins the game. The winner receives the sum of entry fees of all the players.
At Rummy tournaments, a player can compete at multiple tables. Each table is limited to a maximum of 6 players. Rummy tournaments are usually held at Casinos and Online Rummy Websites.
Powerplay is another table for 13-card rummy which has only one deal. The player enters the table by paying the entry fee. The winner is declared right after one deal instead of multiple deals like other tables. The rake for this table is also lower than the other tables.