There are few games in the world which have had an impact among gamblers as the popular game of rummy. In this guide, we will tell you more about the game and show you the best rummy online casinos for UK players.
In India, the game enjoys a level of fame like nowhere else in the world. Players here in the UK are also pretty big on the game and spend hour upon hour learning the game inside out in order to win some pretty big cash prizes.
The opportunity to play your favourite games and make some serious coin in the process underpins the basic principle of online gambling. Otherwise, fans would probably just prefer to play free mode versions of the game. After all, this is the easiest way to play without the risk of gambling with real money. While you will win no money this way, it can be an opportunity to at least get to grips with the game.
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What is Rummy?
Rummy is a game which is played with cards. The purpose of the game is to put sequences of matching cards together of the same rank or sequence and same suit.
Rummy is still easily one of the best-known card games in the UK. Some players tend to prefer playing different versions such as Gin Rummy and Oklahoma Gin. Rummy is better than Gin Rummy, for example, when there are more than two players participating. All in all, the game’s simplicity makes it very appealing to players.
How to play Rummy online
The Rank of Cards
K (high), Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, A. The Ace may rank either high or low, depending on the version you play.
Deal
The dealer will provide one card at a time. This will be dealt face down, starting with the player on the left. If two people are playing, both will get 10 cards. When this is three or four people, everyone will get seven cards.
If five or six players are involved, they will all get six cards. Cards which have not been dealt will be placed face down on the table. This is called the stock.
The top card of the stock is turned face up. This becomes the upcard, which is placed next to the stock. This will form the discard pile.
When two people play, the winner of the hand is the next to deal. When more than two play, the dealer is the next player to the left.
What is the Object of Rummy?
Players aim to form matched sets of cards. These are groups of three or four of a kind, or sequences of three or more cards of the same suit.
Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, players will draw the top card of the stock. If not, they will take the top card of the discard pile and adds it to their hand. The player can lay down the card on the table face up. Any player than opts not to down a meld discards one card, face up, onto the discard pile.
Any player that has drawn from the discard pile cannot discard the same card on that turn.
Laying Off
A player is permitted to add one or more card from a hand to any matched set already displayed on the table. For example, if 5’s are displayed, they can add the remaining 5; if 10, 9, 8 are showing, they are permitted to add J, or Q, J, 7, or 7, 6.
Wins
When a player gets rid of all their cards, they win the game. It is truly that simple.
If all remaining cards are matched, the player can lay them down without discarding on their final turn. This ends the game and there is no further play.
Should the last card of the stock be drawn and no player has gone out, the next player, in turn, can take from the top of the discard pile. Alternatively, they may turn the discard pile over to form a new stock (shuffling is not permitted) and draw the top card. Play will carry on as before.
Keeping Score
All players essentially pay to the winner the pip value of the cards remaining in their hand. This is whether the cards form matched sets or not. Face cards count as 10 each, Aces 1, with all other cards their pip value.
A player will hit “rummy” when they get rid of all cards in their hand at once, without putting down or discarding any cards. If this happens, losing players must pay that player double.
Indian Rummy
13 card rummy is very popular in India. This version of the game is slightly different from the game popular in the UK. The online version of rummy is generally played with two to six players using a single deck of cards. The deck is made up of 52 cards which can rise to 54 if wildcards are permitted.
Indian Rummy is played with two decks of cards along with 2 Jokers. Cards in each suit rank in Ascending order like Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, and King.
An Ace can be used as 1 or as a face card when making sets.
Indian rummy requires players to complete a hand with maximum or all given cards formed into Sets and/or Runs.
A Run
A run is also called a sequence and consists of three or more cards of the same suit and in sequential order:
1) 3(Spade), 4(Spade), 5(Spade)
2) 2(Heart), 3(Heart), 4(Heart), 5(Heart)
Invalid Runs are those with no consistent pattern. Such as:
1) 3(Club), 4(Heart), 5(Club)
2) 6(Club), 7(Club), 8(Spade), 9(Heart)
A Set
These are made up of three or four identical cards according to rank but of different suits, such as:
An example of a Valid Set:
3(Spade), 3(Heart), 3(Club)
7(Diamond), 7(Heart), 7(Club)
If permitted, jokers can be used anywhere, either in a Run or a Set. When playing rummy online, always remember to check the rules of an online casino’s rummy game.
Pure Sequence
This is a group of three or more consecutive cards with the same suit but without jokers.
For example 2(Diamonds), 3(Diamonds), 4(Diamonds), 5(Diamonds)
The face cards, such as the King, Queen, and Jack are worth 10 points. Ace cards too score 10 points. Jokers are worth zero points. All the remaining cards in the deck are scored according to value.
In this case, a 4 (Clubs) would be worth four points.
Players that go out without having at least one pure sequence in a hand will result in remaining cards being unmatched. Any further meld will, therefore, be deemed invalid.
Though it seems little complicated to understand the theory part, don’t leave any space for doubt. Just log in to gorummy.com and play practice games using our free chips. It is really very easy if you are fond of card games.
What are the Benefits of Online Rummy?
While playing games such as rummy with friends can be unbeatable, the problem, these days, is getting everyone together. Even finding one other person with the same interest as you in rummy could prove difficult. Playing online does not come with the same problems, as players from all around the world will be in the same position: actively seeking others to play with.
There are a number of sites which cater exclusively to rummy. Any player looking to engage in a few hands will never be at a loss when it comes to playing, which is always great to know.
Rummy Tips – Avoiding Common Errors
No one is born an expert in anything. Learning how a game works can take time, regardless of how simple it will all seem further down the line. Rummy is no different. The best way to avoid making mistakes, therefore, is to read through as much of this guide as you can.
Below are some common errors which players make when playing rummy:
Always watch the discard pile
Always pay attention to the discard pile. The basic rules of rummy dictate that a player picking up cards which you have discarded should warrant attention. Always carefully discard additional cards which he could use in order to find winning runs and sequences
Catch Up
Sometimes your hand has simply put you in a position which is far from desirable. In order to compensate for this, players will often try and catch up, despite being at a serious disadvantage. This is almost never a good idea when playing with money.
Fold
If this does happen, it might be a good idea to consider dropping out of the game in order to prevent yourself from losing as a result of your poor cards. It may hurt your pride, but not your balance at the end of a session.
Don’t get emotional
It is never a good idea to get too emotional when playing rummy. Like with any other game, this can have severe consequences which will culminate in you losing money. This is never a good idea. Have I said that twice? Yes, I have. It is doubly important.
Control your bankroll
Free games are the best place to start when playing rummy. You can be guaranteed that if you join any real money game, there will be a number of experts there that will smell your inexperience and milk you of your money. You need to hone your skills before you can expect to challenge players that are experienced.
History of Rummy
The fact is that there is no real proven theory as to where rummy originated. Depending on who you ask, you may hear a whole host of different stories of varying levels of fantasy. Among the most widely accepted of these theories are:
The Spanish-American Link
Some theorists claim that rummy is a game which originated among the Spanish who travelled to the Americas in other to conquer the various countries we now know of today. Included in these theories is that the game developed in Mexico while others cite a glaring resemblance of the Spanish game of Conquian.
Did Rummy Come from Poker?
One of the most popular theories out there is that the game essentially came from poker. There are certainly some factors which back this up, such as the presence of sequences and groups. The theory is that poker is the daddy of rummy, by way of a few stages of developments which link both games.
Rummy and Asia
Some trace the history of rummy all the way back to the first game which contained a draw and discards pattern – the Chinese card game of Mah Jong. This ancient game was first developed during the Tang dynasty in China over 1000 years ago.
That is not where the Asian connection ends, as some credit it to the Japanese game of Hanafuda, which was created by Portuguese sailors who travelled to Japan. Hanafuda was a massively popular game with alternating card designs in the 1800s.
One of the most exciting things about many of the games we play is that there is no real established fact surrounding where they came from. This can certainly add a little bit of mystery to proceedings, which is always fun.
Conclusion about Rummy
Rummy, despite its unproven origins, continues to grow in popularity around the world. The game seems to hold a particular charm with players who tend to fall in love with the game, online and offline.
The opportunity to compete with other players while winning cash prizes has made rummy one of the most popular casino games around the world and this looks set to continue for some time yet.
