In short, Rummy is a card game in which you seek to better the hand you’ve received, through card trades and suit building. The different variations below go into more detail, but the basic premise of Rummy is to play melds (set hands) on the table, with the player who uses get theirs down first, winning the game.
Rummy is very rarely found on land-based casino floors due to the fact it’s a player vs player game and takes a long time to play in comparison to other table games. It’s also hard for the house to take a cut of the winnings, though some casinos do have private rooms that can be rented out by Rummy players. If a casino does offer a Rummy variation, it’s most often done as a tournament, and will be held at a set time of year.
Avid Rummy players shouldn’t despair just yet though, as Rummy and all its variations are available far more frequently online in casino spaces and through casino apps.
How to Play
Rummy is played with a minimum of two decks and two players who are dealt seven cards each – if four or more players are playing then a hand of 10 cards each is dealt. You then choose if you’re going to go for a meld that consists of a set (3 or 4 of a kind cards of the same rank such as all the 2’s or all the 5’s) or if you’re going for a run (3 or 4 cards which follow on in sequence, from the same suit i.e.: 7,8, 9 ,10 of hearts). Cards which are discarded into the discard pile are often shuffled back into play, allowing players who are missing cards needed for the sets the chance to acquire them.
Casino Rummy Variations
With the ability to play Rummy in casinos as a two, four or more player game is a good way to practice your skill set. Some of the most common variations you’ll find are:
Contract Family Rummy: In this variation, games such as Kalooki, Carioca, Dummy Rummy and Zioncheck are found. The players are given a set mission that is either known to all (or unknown to all) and this is objective is then announced to all players ahead of the game beginning. The player is then scored on how well they’ve met this objective.
Canasta Family Rummy: These Rummy variations include Biriba, Samba and Buraco and they are usually played with two or more card decks in which a variety of wild card can be found. They come with many restrictions and regulations regarding the very first melds formed and cards that are played with seven or eight of a kind are some of the highest scores to be had.
Melding Family Rummy: Types in this family include 500 Rum, Desmoche, Indian Marriage, Scala 40 and Ten Pennies. The aim of these variations is to keep playing until a player meets the minimum point requirement, or the stock is exhausted.