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What is Indian Rummy?
Rummy is the most popular card game played in Indian households and the same holds true for online rummy. Indian Rummy is a widely played version of the rummy card game. A total of 2-6 players can engage in this game. There are several variations of rummy with slightly different rules.
- 13 Card Rummy: The most popular version of Indian Rummy is the 13 card game. In this format 13 cards are distributed from a standard 52 card deck to all the players. If there are 6 or more players involved, then another 52 card deck is used. Players have to draw and discard cards, until one player makes a valid declaration by completing sets and sequences. A pure sequence is a must for a valid declaration.
- 21 Card Rummy: This is a variant of Points Rummy, where 2-6 players can play at a time. Three standard decks of cards are used and it is slightly more complex than the traditional Indian Rummy. In 21 Card Rummy, players must make 3 pure sequences and use extra jokers to maximize their strategy.
Variations of Indian Rummy:
- Points Rummy: It is a widely played version of the Indian Rummy game. 13 cards are distributed to the players from a standard deck of 52. The game is played on a preset point value, the winner collects the total points lost by the opponents.
- Pool Rummy: This version of Indian Rummy is also played with 13 cards, but is played for a longer period of time. There are three preset point values (61, 101 and 201) on most online rummy platforms. Players have to avoid reaching those numbers before their opponents to win the game.
- Deals Rummy: This format of Indian Rummy is very similar to Points Rummy. But, instead of points the players have to collect chips from their opponents during each session. Deals Rummy is usually entered with a set Buy-In value, which the players contribute to the total pot or prize pool.
For example: If each point is played at a value of ₹1 and the total points lost by defeated players is 107. Then the winner will get ₹107 as winnings.
For example: In a Deals Rummy contest involving 6 players with a Buy-In of ₹10 per player, the total prize pool is ₹60. The player who collects the most chips from defeated opponents gets to win the total prize money.
Indian Rummy Terms and Terminologies:
Rummy Glossary:
101 Pool Rummy: 101 pool rummy format of rummy goes through a process of elimination. There is a preset value limit to be reached, the player who reaches that limit first is automatically eliminated. In this case, the preset value is 101 points. Losing players gain points equal to the value of cards they have failed to form sets and sequences with.
Ace: A standard deck of 52 cards will have four aces of four different suits (Spades, Clubs, Hearts and Diamonds). Ace can be used to make a lower sequence like Ace-2-3 or a higher sequence like Queen-King-Ace.
Declare: In rummy a player usually declares when they have finished arranging their cards in sets and sequences. In a 13 card rummy game, you have to finish arranging your cards and drop the 14th card face down on the discard pile to complete a declaration.
Draw Pile: In a game of 13 card rummy, after cards are distributed to the players, the remaining cards are kept face down on the table - this forms the draw pile.
Shuffle: After every session of rummy, the dealer is supposed to mix the cards well before distributing for the next round. This action is called ‘Shuffle’.
Discard Pile: During a game of rummy, the players pick and drop cards, the dropped cards are left face up in a pile called the ‘Discard Pile’. Players on their immediate turn can pick up the topmost card from the discard pile.
Wildcard Joker: The card that is selected by the dealer after distributing cards to all the players is considered a wild joker. Players can use a wildcard joker to form sets or sequences.
Set: A group of three or max 4 cards of the same rank, but of different suits is called a ‘Set’.
Sequence: A sequence is made of 3 or more cards of the same suit. For example: Ace-2-3-4-5 is a sequence.
Pure Sequence: A pure sequence is made up of 3 or more cards of the same suit and without a joker in it. For example: 9-10-J
Suit: In a standard deck of 52 cards, there are always 4 suits: Spades, Clubs, Hearts and Diamonds.
Local Terms used in Indian Rummy:
Rummy is deep rooted in Indian culture and traditions. This game is played in almost every other Indian household and thereby has developed vernacular or colloquial terms of its own. Most common of these terms are: Paplu, Nichlu, and Tiplu.
Paplu: This term is usually locally used for the King card. The King holds the highest point value of 10 and can help in forming a set or sequence. It can also mess up your numbers if not properly arranged and add to your score, which is bad for your game.
Nichlu: Similar to the King, Nichlu is commonly used by locals to describe the Queen card. It holds the same value of 10 as the King and can be useful to make sets or sequences. But, holding onto this card without a clear plan will add a whole lot of points to your game and make you lose.
Tiplu: This local term is commonly used for the Jack card, which also holds 10 points. It can help in making sets and sequences, but could easily destroy your plans if not arranged properly or dropped with a clear plan.
Rules for Indian Rummy:
The card game of rummy has pretty basic rules which remain more or less the same for all 13 card variants. The change happens in point values and calculations for different variants. The basic rummy rule is that each player starts with 13 cards and has to form valid sets and sequences to complete the game. To make a valid declaration a player will have to form pure sequences (a run of 3 or 4 cards of the same suit), impure sequences (run of 3 or 4 cards with a joker) and sets (3 cards of the same value but different suits). A valid declaration must have one pure sequence.
Sets: In a traditional game of rummy, a ‘Set’ is a group of 3 or 4 cards of the same rank but of different suits. Sets can also be formed by using jokers. But, a set will not be considered valid until a pure and impure sequence is formed.
Sequence: In rummy a ‘Sequence’ is a run of 3 or more cards of the same suit. Any sequence that contains a joker to complete the run, becomes an impure sequence. A pure sequence cannot contain a joker, example: Ace-2-3-4. As per standard rummy rules, a valid declaration must contain a pure sequence.
Printed Joker and Wildcard Joker: There are two printed jokers in a standard 52 card deck and only 1 can be used in play if one deck is being used, 2 can be used if there are more players and two decks are being used. A printed joker can be used as a replacement card for any missing card to complete an impure sequence or a set.
Wildcard joker is a card that is designated by the dealer at the start of the game as joker. This works just like a printed joker and can be used to complete impure sequences or sets. In a standard game with one deck, there are usually 3 wildcard jokers of the same rank.
Learn How to Play Indian Rummy:
The 13 card version of Indian Rummy is easy to learn and play once you get the basic rules of the game. The main objective is to create sets and sequences to make a valid declaration. A valid declaration must always have one pure sequence.
Shuffling and Dealing of Cards:
The dealer must always shuffle the cards to mix them up properly before each round. 13 cards are then dealt face down to all the players.
Open Card:
‘Open Card’ is a term used for the open deck of cards from which players can draw when their turn comes. After drawing a card from the open deck, a player will have to use it to form sets or sequences and discard another card to the discard pile, keeping the number of cards in hand to 13 always.
Declaration of Wild Card Joker:
As per standard rummy rules, players can use wild card jokers to form sets or impure sequences. For example: You’re making 7-8-9, but 9 is missing, you can use the wild card joker to complete the sequence by putting it as 9. This will make the sequence impure but complete.
Drawing and Discarding of Cards:
In a standard rummy game, all players are given 13 cards. Players can draw from the ‘Open Deck’ or ‘Discard Pile’ as per their preference during the game. If they draw from a card, then they have to get rid of one card from their hand and drop it to the discard pile - thereby keeping the number of cards in hand to 13 all the time.
Declare:
In a game of rummy, the player must make a valid declaration to win the game. A valid declaration must have at least two sequences, one sequence must always be pure otherwise it is an invalid declaration.
How Points are Calculated in Indian Rummy?
In a game of rummy, the main objective of the winner is to earn exactly zero points. Yes, you heard that right, the scoring or points system in rummy gives points to players who fail to make a proper declaration when a round ends.
So, in 13 card rummy, there are 2-6 players at the table and everyone is aiming to make a valid declaration. A valid declaration must have at least two sequences, one sequence has to be pure. Players who fail to make the required combinations are given penalty points equal to the value of the ungrouped cards.
The example of points calculation in a standard game of rummy with 6 players is shown below:
![indian rummy points](/_ipx/s_1401x701/images/indian-rummy-notes.webp)
How Winnings are Calculated in Real Cash Rummy Games?
While playing rummy cash games online, it is all about how much money you can win. Here we will discuss how the winning amounts are calculated in different variants of cash rummy.
Winnings in Points Rummy:
In Points Rummy, there is always a predetermined amount set to each point. The winner gets an amount equal to the value of all the points lost by an opponent.
For example: If the point value is set at ₹2 per point. Then if the total points lost by an opponent is 90. The winner gets 90 x ₹2 = ₹180 as real cash winnings minus the platform fees.
Winnings in Pool Rummy:
In Pool Rummy, the players pay a fixed entry amount for the table. The winner will get that amount minus the platform fees on winning the table.
For example: If the entry fee for a table of 6 players is ₹10 then the total prize pool is ₹60. The winner will receive this amount after platform fee deduction upon winning.
Winnings in Deals Rummy:
In Deals Rummy, the points value is set in chips in the game. The winner who collects the chips from their defeated opponent will get a sum equal to the amount of the chips collected.
For example: If there are 6 players at a table and player 1 wins - 20 + 10 + 35 + 40 + 30 chips from the other players. Then he has won a total of 135 chips. If the value of each chip is predetermined at ₹1. Then he will get ₹135 as cash winnings minus the platform fees.
Indian Rummy Tournaments on Rummyprime:
On the Rummyprime rummy app the players can engage in multiple online tournaments available throughout the week. These are cash events which the player can enter by paying a Buy-In amount and registering for it. There are also free entry events like Evening Googly, Saturday Googly and Big Game Sunday. In these free tournaments, players can register for free and win up to 20 lakh+ in rewards.