Can I meld more than one set in a single turn?

Yes. After you draw, you may meld any number of valid sets from your hand and lay off cards onto existing melds, all in the same turn.

What happens if the stock pile runs out?

If the stock is empty and no one has gone out, shuffle the discard pile (except the top card) to form a new stock pile and continue playing.

Do I have to meld if I can?

No, melding is optional. You may choose to keep cards in your hand and discard normally, even if you could form a meld.

Is going rummy always worth double?

Many groups double the score, but you should confirm the rule before the game begins. Some groups use a fixed bonus instead of doubling.

How to Play Rummy: Basic Rules for 2 to 6 Players

Rummy is a classic card game for 2 to 6 players built around matching cards into sets and runs. The aim is to get rid of all your cards before your opponents do. Learn the standard parent game here, from dealing to scoring. Whether you need rummy for beginners or a refresher on rummy scoring, these rules cover the full game.

Objective of the Game

Be the first player to empty your hand. You do this by forming melds, sets or runs of cards, and placing them face up on the table. When you have no cards left, you go out and the round ends. The winner then scores points based on the cards remaining in the other players' hands.

Setup and Dealing

Rummy uses one standard 52-card deck. Deal cards based on the number of players:

2 players: 10 cards each
3 or 4 players: 7 cards each
5 or 6 players: 6 cards each

Place the remaining cards face down in the center as the stock pile. Turn the top card face up beside it to start the discard pile.

Gameplay a Turn

Every turn follows the same three-step sequence. Complete each step in order.

Step 1: Draw a Card

Begin by drawing one card. Take the top card from the stock pile face down, or take the top card from the discard pile face up.

Step 2: Melding or Laying Off

After drawing, you may place melds onto the table. A meld is either:

Three or four cards of the same rank, such as three 7s or four Kings
A run of three or more consecutive cards in the same suit, such as 5-6-7 of hearts. Aces are low, so A-2-3 is valid but Q-K-A is not.

You may also add cards to melds already on the table, including those of other players. This is laying off. If another player has melded three 9s, add a fourth 9 from your hand. Lay off as many cards as you want in one turn.

Step 3: Discard One Card

End your turn by discarding one card face up on the discard pile. If you have no cards left after melding and laying off, skip the discard. You have gone out.

Going Out and Winning a Round

You go out when you have melded or laid off all your cards. The round stops immediately. All other players show the cards still in their hands. The winner scores points equal to the total value of those remaining cards.

Going Rummy

Going out in one turn without having melded any cards earlier in the round is called going rummy. This doubles your score for that round. Confirm the exact multiplier with your house rules before play.

Scoring

Rummy scoring is straightforward. Each card left in an opponent's hand has a point value:

Face cards (Jack, Queen, King): 10 points each
Aces: 1 point each
Number cards: face value, 2 through 10

Add these points together from all opponents. If the winner went rummy, double that total. Play continues for a predetermined number of rounds or until a target score is reached.

Example of a Simple Round

Play a three-player game. Player A melds three 5s on her second turn. Later, Player B lays off a 5 onto that meld. Player C draws from stock, melds a run of 4-5-6 of spades, and discards a Queen. Player A then melds her last two cards, a 2 and a 3 of clubs, by laying them off onto Player C's run, extending it to 2-3-4-5-6 of clubs. Player A has no cards left and goes out. Players B and C still hold cards: B has a King and a 7 for a few points, C has a 9 and an Ace for 10 points. Player A scores the total of those points.

Common Variations

Many groups play with small rule changes. Some allow runs to wrap around, like K-A-2, but the standard rule treats Aces as low only. Some require a player to meld at least one set before laying off. Agree on the rummy rules before starting. For a quick online game, play at ginrummy.me.