Rummy Rules Chart: Everything on One Screen
Every rule that matters, on one screen. Worth keeping open while you learn.
You need 13 cards, at least two sequences and one of them pure. Everything else in rummy is a variation on that.
Rummy is the easiest card game to learn and the easiest to get the declaration wrong. The rules below are the version played on 13-card Indian rummy, which is what Junglee Rummy and almost every rummy app in India use. Print the chart or keep it open while you learn.
| Rule | What it means | In practice |
|---|---|---|
| Cards dealt | 13 cards, plus you can draw from the open or closed pile | You only ever need 13 in your hand, and you swap as you draw |
| Valid meld | A sequence or a set | Everything you keep has to be one of those two |
| Sequence | 3 or more consecutive cards of the same suit | A 2 3 and Q K A are both sequences |
| Set | 3 or 4 cards of the same rank in different suits | Three sevens, or all four sevens |
| Ace | Low as A 2 3 or high as Q K A, never wrapped | K A 2 is not a sequence |
| Jokers | One printed joker and one wild joker | Both worth 0 points, and neither can make a pure sequence |
| Declaration | Two sequences, one of them pure | This is the minimum for a legal declaration |
| First drop | 0 points if you win, 20 points if you drop first | First drop is the cheap, fast option |
| Middle drop | 40 points | Dropping after you have drawn costs more |
| Invalid declare | 80 points | The maximum you can lose in a single game |
| Face card | 10 points each | Jack, queen, king and ace |
| Ace value | 10 points | Same as a face card |
| Joker value | 0 points | A joker left over costs you nothing |
| Maximum score | 80 points | The score on the table is capped |
Points are only charged on the cards that did not make it into a sequence or a set. A clean hand costs nothing.
How Do You Declare in Rummy?
You declare by arranging your 13 cards into valid sequences and sets, then pressing the declare button.
- At least two sequences, and one of them must be pure.
- Every remaining card must sit in a valid sequence or a valid set.
- A set is three or four cards of the same rank in different suits.
- A first drop, before you draw, costs 20 points. A middle drop costs 40 points.
- A wrong declaration costs 80 points, the maximum a player can lose in one game.
The pure sequence is the rule that catches people. Two runs that both lean on a joker will be rejected.
How Do Jokers Work in Rummy?
A 13-card rummy deck has two jokers: a printed joker and a wild joker that can stand in for any card.
- The printed joker can be used as an ace, or as a wild card for anything you need.
- The wild joker copies the face of any card you choose.
- Jokers are worth 0 points, so a joker left in your hand costs you nothing.
- A joker can complete an impure sequence or a set, but never a pure one.
Two jokers in a hand is a strong position, because each one can rescue a run that was one card short.
How Is Rummy Scored?
You are charged for the cards that did not make it into a valid meld, and the game is capped at 80 points.
- Two to ten are worth their face value.
- Jack, queen, king and ace are worth 10 points each.
- Jokers are worth 0 points.
- A wrong declaration is 80 points.
A hand that is all melds costs you nothing. That is the target on every deal.
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.