Rummy is a very popular card game owing to the high skill component of the game when compared to other casino card games such as Poker or Blackjack. There are many variants of Rummy. They all contribute to a common set of elements originated from the basic game. A regular deck of 52 cards is employed. The cards grade from 2 (low) to A (high). Rummy can be played to a particular score, or to a predetermined number of deals.
Each player draws a card. The player with the lowest card deals first. The deal then continues clockwise. The player on the dealer’s right cuts normally.
With 2 players, each player acquires ten cards. Opening with the player to the dealer’s left, cards are dealt clockwise, face down, one at a time. After that, the dealer lays the rest of the deck, face down, amid the players. This is the Stock pile. A single card is then drawn and laid face up next to the pile. It is known as Discard pile. With 3 or 4 players, seven (7) cards are dealt to each player. 5 or 6 players can play too, wherein each player gets six (6) cards.
Play starts with the player on the dealer’s left and advances clockwise. Each player draws a card from the stock or the discard pile. Before discarding, the player can meld or lay off. If a player has three cards of the same suit in a series (called a sequence or a run), they can meld by laying these cards, face up. If a player is able to meld all of their cards at once, they can go out. The hand ends at that point, and the players count their cards. This is added to the winner’s score.