Rummy 500
Objective
The objective of the game of rummy is to be the first player to reach 500 points. This is done by playing multiple rounds of the game until one player arrives at 500 or more points.
During each round, each player gathers points by laying down run of three or more cards that make up a suits (eg. 8, 9, 10 of the same suit) or runs “of a kind” (eg. 4 of clubs, 4 of diamonds and 4 of hearts). The first player to place their last card face down on the discard pile ends the round. When the round ends, each player tallies up their points and reports it to the scorekeeper. The first player to reach 500 wins and thus ends the game.
Number of Players: 2 – 6, including one person to keep score while also playing the game
Dealing the Cards
Anyone may choose to be the dealer, and each person should have an opportunity to deal each round by alternating dealers clockwise around the table. Play with a standard deck of cards, including two jokers, which equals 54 cards total. Shuffle the deck, and have the person to the left of the dealer cut the deck. Once cut, the dealer then deals 7 cards total to each player. Upon finishing the deal, the dealer places the deck of cards in the middle of the table facedown. Using the card on top of the deck, the dealer places one card face-up next to the other card pile, serving as the discard pile, known in the game as “the river.”
Card Scoring
1-9 = 5 points
10, Jack, Queen and King = 10 points
Ace = 15 points
Joker = 20 points
Queen of Spades = 40 points
All points played in runs are positive. All points left in your hand at the end of the game are negative. At the end of each round, tally up your points based on what each card is worth, and whether or not they are positive, or negative. Report your score to the scorekeeper.
Starting the Game, Laying Down Runs, and Ending Your Turn
The player to the left of the dealer begins the game. To start the game, draw a card, either from the face down pile, or from the river. If you can play a run of suits or a run “of a kind,” lay them down on the table in front of you. If you cannot play, choose a card from your hand to discard, and place it in the river discard pile so you are able to see all cards which have been discarded previously.
Once you lay down a run of your own, you may start playing off of other players' runs. To do this, lay down your addition to their run with your other runs, and note outloud which sequence it belongs to all players.
Drawing and Discarding Cards
You may draw cards from the face down pile, or from the river. When you draw from the river, there are two variations to note:
If the card you are drawing from the river is the top-most card (the card not covered by other cards in the river) you may draw the card and: a) choose to play it in or off of a run during your turn or b) keep it in your hand and discard another card to the river to end your turn.
If the card you are drawing is in the middle of the river, you must draw that card, and all cards on top of it into your hand. You must play the bottom-most card in or off of a run immediately during your hand before discarding to end your turn.
Additional Card Rules
Jokers are wild. When laying down a Joker in or off of a run, each player must name what it is in place of (eg. 9 and 10 of hearts and a Joker means the Joker must be named as the Jack of Hearts). Once the Joker has been named, anyone who has that card may, during their turn, replace that card and take the Joker into their hand. If you choose to not take the Joker, you may not play the card the Joker is representing, as only one of each card is allowed on the table at a time. (eg. the Joker is the Jack of Hearts, and you have the Jack of Hearts in your hand. You cannot play the Jack of Hearts anywhere else, as there may be only one of each card in the game at a time.)
Aces can be high or low, but they can’t go around the world (eg. King, Ace, 2 is NOT allowed)
Rummy in the Deck
Rummy in the deck is an additional card rule that allows players to gain extra points outside of their turn. If, while you are playing the game, you see a card(s) in the river that belong in a run on the table, you may call “rummy in the deck!” and take the card from the river and place with your runs, gaining additional points.
Similarly, if you see a full run in the river you may also call “rummy in the deck!” and take all cards that complete the run as additional points.
If the card you plan to discard to end your turn creates a rummy in the deck, either in the river or off of someone’s run, you may not call for it until the next player has drawn a card to start their turn.
Floating
Floating is when you run out of cards and have nothing to discard to end the round. When this happens, the remaining players may continue to play until it is your turn again. Once your turn is reached, you may draw a card. If you can play the card on a run, you may continue to float, extending the game. You may also choose to end the round if you prefer. If you cannot play the card on a run, place it face down on the river, ending the round.