How to play rummy: a beginner's step-by-step guide
Draw, discard, meld and declare with worked examples. Covers sequences, sets, jokers, drop rules and wrong-show penalties, written so a first-time player can join a table without needing a glossary on the side.
The deal
Indian rummy is played with two standard 52-card decks, two printed jokers (or one printed and one wild joker pulled from the closed pile). Cards are dealt one at a time, clockwise. Each player receives 13 cards; the next card is turned face-up to start the discard pile, the rest of the deck sits face-down as the closed pile.
If a joker appears in the closed pile, the card immediately above it becomes the wild joker for the rest of the hand. A standard game seats two to six players; six players adds a third deck.
The objective
The objective is to form valid sets and sequences from your 13 cards and "declare" by laying them face-up on the table. A valid declaration needs at least two sequences, one of which must be a pure sequence. All leftover cards must form either sequences or sets: any unmatched card adds its face value to your score.
Pure sequence
A pure sequence is three or more consecutive cards of the same suit with no joker. Examples: 5♥ 6♥ 7♥, or J♠ Q♠ K♠. The sequence can extend in either direction as long as the cards are consecutive and the same suit. A pure sequence is the only sequence that legally substitutes for the "must-have" requirement in a declaration.
Impure sequence
An impure sequence is a sequence that uses a joker (printed or wild) to fill one missing rank. Examples: 5♥ 6♥ JK 8♥. The joker can stand in for any single rank, but the surrounding cards must still be a legal suit-run. The second-life joker rule still applies: see chapter 06.
Sets
A set is three or four cards of the same rank across suits. Examples: 7♠ 7♥ 7♦, or A♠ A♥ A♦ A♣. A set can be pure (no joker) or impure (with one joker in the four-card version). A set cannot substitute for a sequence in the declaration requirement.
Jokers and the second-life rule
The printed joker (and any card declared a wild joker because of the deal position) can stand in for any single rank. When a joker lands inside a sequence, the cut card at the same rank becomes a second-life joker for the rest of the hand: you can use it the same way you would use the printed joker. The rule applies once per joker.
Draw and discard
On your turn you draw one card (closed pile or the top of the discard pile) and discard one card face-up. Drawing from the closed pile gives you a random card. Drawing from the discard pile tells every other player which card you wanted. Decide which risk is lower for the position you are in.
- Draw from the closed pile when you need surprise cards.
- Draw from the discard pile only when the card closes a sequence you cannot otherwise reach.
- Discard a card that helps no opponent visibly, even if it helps your own hand less.
Drop rules
You can drop before drawing your fourteenth card (a "first drop") or after drawing it but before declaring (a "middle drop"). The penalty is 25 points for a first drop and 50 points for a middle drop in most rooms. A first drop is the cheapest insurance against a hand that will not come together.
Declaration
Press "declare" only when you have at least one pure sequence, at least one second sequence (pure or impure), and all other cards grouped into valid sequences or sets. The remaining cards add up to your score: a winner scores zero.
Scoring
Ace, King, Queen and Jack count 10 points. Number cards count their face value. Jokers count zero. Unmatched cards in a non-winning declaration are added up; the winner scores zero. Wrong declarations double the unmatched-card value.
Frequently asked questions
Is a joker mandatory in a hand?
No. A joker is optional in a hand, but a printed joker is always part of the deck and is treated as a zero-value card unless used in a meld.
Can I pick up from the discard pile?
Yes, but only the top card of the discard pile. If you pick up the discard, you must show it to the table.
How many decks are used?
Two decks for two to four players. Three decks for five to six players. Jokers are scaled accordingly.
What is the second-life joker?
When a joker falls inside a sequence, the cut card at the same rank becomes a second joker for the rest of the deal. It acts like a printed joker.
Can I declare with just one sequence?
No. A valid declaration requires at least two sequences, one of which must be a pure sequence, plus all other cards in sets or sequences.
Compare the formats side by side
Once you have the basics, the format comparison ledger shows how Points, Pool 101, Pool 201, Deals and 13-card change the same hand.
Practice path before real-money tables
Walk the chapters in order once with a physical deck. Deal thirteen cards, force yourself to build a pure sequence first, then a second sequence, then fill sets. Only after that muscle memory exists should you open a real-money lobby.
When a chapter conflicts with a house rule on the app you chose, trust the app’s posted rules for that session and send the difference back to the glossary so the desk can note the variant.