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Rummy 500 is a card game that is both fun and strategic. It requires a little brain power, but the rules are simple. If you have never played this game before or just need a refresher, this guide is perfect for you. Let’s understand step by step how to play Rummy 500.
Game Set-Up: How to Start
To play this game you need:
- A deck of 52 cards
- Pencil and paper for scoring
- 3 to 5 people (up to 8 can play, but then you will need 2 decks)
- First of all, everyone will pick up a card from the deck. Whoever gets the highest card becomes the first dealer. The player to the left of the dealer plays first.
- If there are 3 or more players, each player gets 7 cards.
- If there are only 2 players, each player is given 13 cards.
- Place the remaining cards in the middle of the table, face-down. This will become the stock pile. Place the top card face-down next to it. This will become the discard pile.
Special Rule of Rummy 500
Rummy 500 has one thing different in comparison to other Rummy games – you can pick up any card from the discard pile, not just the top card. But if you pick up the bottom card, you will have to pick up all the cards above it – and you will have to use the card you want immediately.
How is the game played?
The game runs clockwise. Each player’s turn is divided into three parts:
- Draw – Pick up a card from the stock or discard pile
- Meld – If possible, put the cards on the table
- Discard – Put a card in the discard pile
Rule of Draw
If you want, you can pick up the top card from the stock or any card from the discard pile. If you pick up the bottom card from the discard pile, you will have to use it at the same time and you will have to pick up all the cards above it.
Example: If you want 10 of Hearts and you get 2 and 8 above it, then you will have to take three cards 2, 8, and 10 – and you will have to use 10 immediately.
Melding: How are the points distributed?
Meld means placing the cards on the table when they are:
- Set – 3 or 4 cards of the same number (e.g., 3 Kings – Hearts, Spades, Diamonds)
- Run – 3 or more consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 4, 5, 6 of Spades)
- Melding gives you points for the cards. The cards that are left in the hand have minus points.
Laying Off: Lay your cards on other’s cards
You can also add your cards to other player’s melds. This process is called laying off.
Example: If someone has made a meld of 2, 3, 4 of hearts, then you can add your 5 of hearts to it. This will also score you points.
Use of Joker
Joker is a wild card. You can use it in place of any card. But you have to tell its rank when you use it, and it will remain at the same rank throughout the game.
Note: Ace is only a low card. It does not come after King, but comes before 2.
When does the game end?
The round ends in two cases:
- When a player uses all his cards and discards a card
- When the stock pile is exhausted and the player does not draw from the discard
After that, the points of each player are calculated:
- Add the points of the cards on the table
- Minus the points of the cards left in the hand
- This is your score for the round
How to make a Rummy call?
In Rummy 500, any player can have a chance to call “Rummy” if:
- A player discarded a card that could have been added to a meld
- There are cards in the discard pile that form melds without a new card
- Someone created a new meld and a card could be added to it in the discard
Note: Rummy can only be called if the next player does not draw. If multiple people call Rummy, then the one who is sitting closest to the discard player will get the card.
Scoring System
- 2-10: Face value (e.g., 5 = 5 points)
- J/Q/K: 10 points
- Ace/Joker: 15 points (If Ace is in meld with 2 and 3, then only 1 point)
The game continues until a player reaches 500 points. The highest score wins.
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