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7 Card Rummy
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Rummy (play now) is a group of card games notable for gameplay based on the matching of similar playing cards. |
The Play
Play begins with the player on the dealer's left and proceeds clockwise. Each player draws a card from the stock or the discard pile. The player may then meld or lay off, which are both optional, before discarding.
Melding
If a player has three cards of the same suit in a sequence (called a sequence or a run), they may meld by laying these cards, face up, in front of them. However, they may have no more than four cards in a sequence. It is rule that if you can meld then you must. Likewise, if they have at least three of the same value, they may meld a group (also called a set or a book). Melding is optional. A player may choose, for reasons of strategy, not to meld on a particular turn. The most important reason is to be able to declare "Rummy" later in the game!
Laying off
A player may also choose to "lay off" some cards on an existing meld. This means that if a player can add to a sequence or a group that is in front of them or any of the other players, they may do so. For example: if another player had a sequence consisting of A, 2, and 3 of hearts in front of them, the player would be able to add any of the following: K of hearts, 4 of hearts, and so on, thereby continuing the sequence in either direction. Also if a player has 3 of a kind, one of which continues another sequence on the field then another player may also continue off that card. For example: if a player had a 3, 4, and 5 of hearts and another player had a three of a kind with 6, then another player may continue the sequence off the player with 6.
Discarding
Finally, after any melds or lay offs, the player must discard a single card to the discard pile, face up. The only condition is that it not be the card that they drew from the discard pile on the same turn. They may, however, return it on the next turn. In addition, if they drew from the stock instead of the discard pile, they are allowed to return that card in the same turn. In this way, the discard pile changes every turn.
If the player discards (last card in hand, or even by mistake) and leaves a sequence on the discard pile, or on the board it is considered a rummy on the board, and any of the players, excluding the player that discarded can call it, and pick up the card(s) that complete the sequence. If the sequence or cards in the sequence are in the Run, then the player calling "rummy on the board" must take the cards that are involved in the sequence including the discard run up to that card.
The End of the Stock
If, while playing, the stock runs out, the next player may choose to draw from the discard pile or to turn the discard pile over to form a new stock. The discard pile is not shuffled in the process. After forming the new stock, the top card is drawn to form the new discard pile, just like after the deal.
Going Out
When a player has gotten rid of all of their cards, they win the hand. There are two variations. Either the player must discard the last remaining card in their hand on the last turn, or they need not. Playing with this rule makes ending a hand slightly more difficult.
For example, if a player had the 7 and 9 of diamonds, and they drew the 8 of diamonds (forming a sequence), then they would not be able to go out if playing with the discard rule variation, because after playing the 7-8-9 sequence, they would not have a card left to discard. A variant allows one to play the sequence on one turn without discarding, and on the next turn, they may draw a card from the draw pile and discard it immediately to go out, if it cannot be played off another meld.
Declaring Rummy
If a player is able to meld all of their cards at once, they may say "Rummy" on their turn and go out. To declare Rummy, a player must not have melded or laid off any cards prior during the hand. If playing with the discard rule, they must also discard after melding. Playing for Rummy is more risky, but it carries the reward of double the score. Each player must wait until their second turn to go out.
Scoring
After a player goes out, the hand ends, and the players count up their cards. Any cards left in each player's hand are counted up and added to the winner's score. Wilds count as 20, aces count as 15, face cards and 10s count as 10, and the rest are worth 5. If a player has declared Rummy, then this score is doubled.
Another variation is that face cards count as 10; three aces count as 15 each; a run of ace, king, queen, the ace is 15; a run of ace, two, three, the ace is 5; and the rest are worth 5 each. Any cards left in each player's hand are counted up and subtracted from their score on the table.
