Rummy Points Chart: What Every Card Is Worth
The whole scoring system on one screen. Ace, king, jack, joker, the drop penalties and the maximum, all in one place.
Face cards and aces are 10 points each, number cards are worth their number, and the whole game is capped at 80 points.
The scoring in rummy is what decides how hard you should push on a bad hand. This chart lists every card value, every drop penalty and the hard cap, so you can work out what a hand costs before you commit to it.
| Item | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Number cards | 2 to 10 | Face value. A ten is ten points, a two is two points. |
| Jack | 10 points | Same as any face card, whatever the rank on it. |
| Queen | 10 points | Same as any face card, whatever the rank on it. |
| King | 10 points | Same as any face card, whatever the rank on it. |
| Ace | 10 points | Ten points if it is left out of a meld. |
| Joker | 0 points | Only ever helps you complete a sequence or a set. |
| One clean hand | 0 points | Every card in a valid sequence or set costs nothing. |
| First drop | 20 points | Declaring before you have drawn a card. |
| Middle drop | 40 points | Declaring after you have drawn at least once. |
| Invalid drop | 80 points | A declaration the server rejects. |
| Maximum per game | 80 points | The hard cap on the score. |
Ten points per face card, ten cards per suit and four suits gives 520 points of card value in a full deck, but a single hand is capped at 80.
How Are Rummy Points Calculated?
Rummy points are the sum of the face values of every card left out of a valid sequence or set.
- Count only the cards left over after you have arranged your melds.
- Ace, king, queen and jack are 10 points each.
- Two to ten are worth their face value.
- Jokers are worth 0 points, so they never add to your bill.
A 13-card hand with ten cards in melds and a leftover king, ace and jack costs you 30 points. A hand with a pure sequence and two sets costs you nothing.
What Does a First Drop and a Middle Drop Cost in Rummy?
A first drop costs 20 points and a middle drop costs 40 points.
- First drop: declaring on your very first turn, before you have drawn a card.
- Middle drop: declaring later, after you have drawn at least once from the open or closed pile.
- Wrong declaration: 80 points.
That difference is the whole risk decision in a game of rummy. A first drop is cheap insurance, and it is usually the right call on a hand that is not clean.
What Is the Maximum You Can Lose in Rummy?
80 points. The score on the table is capped, so you can never lose more than that in one game.
- A wrong declaration is also 80 points, which is the cap.
- No combination of drop penalties can push you past it.
- The cap applies per game, not per session.
Knowing the cap is the reason rummy is a safe game to learn on. The downside of any single hand is known before you sit down.
FAQ
Is Q K A a valid sequence in rummy?
Yes. Q K A is the highest valid sequence in rummy, because the ace counts high at the top of the deck. A 2 3 is also valid, with the ace counting low. K A 2 is not valid, since the deck does not wrap around the corner.
How many jokers are there in rummy?
A standard 13-card rummy deck has two jokers: one printed joker card and one wild joker that copies any card you want. Both are worth 0 points, because they only help you finish a meld.
What is the difference between a first drop and a middle drop in rummy?
A first drop is declaring on your very first turn without taking a card from the open or closed pile, and it costs 20 points. A middle drop is declaring later in the hand, after you have drawn at least once, and it costs 40 points. A wrong declaration costs 80 points.
What happens if I declare without a valid sequence?
Your declaration is rejected and you are charged 80 points, which is the maximum a player can lose in one game. That is why you need two sequences, one of them pure, before you press the button.
How many points is a face card worth in rummy?
A jack, queen, king and ace are each worth 10 points. Number cards from two to ten are worth their face value, and a joker is worth 0 points.
Is rummy the same as gin rummy?
No. Rummy and gin rummy both use sequences and sets, but rummy uses 13 cards, allows longer runs, has a joker and an 80-point cap, while gin rummy uses 10 cards, no joker and a lower score. The ranking above is for 13-card rummy, the version played on Junglee Rummy and most Indian rummy apps.