Of all the card games across the world, Rummy and poker top the list. Both these games developed from older card or tile-based games and became household names worldwide. They also inspired other variations, which is what we’ll speak about in the sections below.
But before we do that, we’ll talk about Rummy.
If you’re a beginner to this game, you can learn this game by downloading new Rummy apps from reputable websites.
The Core Gameplay of Rummy and Its Influence
You can play this game with two to three, or more players.
During the game, your basic objective should be to form two melds or card groups and score the lowest points possible:
- Runs or sequences: Refer to groups of three or more consecutive cards belonging to the same suit
- Sets: Refer to groups of three or more cards that have the same face value or rank but belong to different suits*.
*Remember that sets and sequences carry zero points. If you have any ungrouped cards in your hand, then you will earn a penalty in the form of points for each ungrouped card.*
Apart from that, a standard deck of fifty-two cards is utilized*, with two Joker cards. In case the deck does not contain these Joker cards, players designate random cards to act as wildcard Jokers.
*The number of decks depends on the players. That’s because each player is handed a varying number of cards, depending on the variation being played*.
For example, if you assign a Number Four card as the Joker, then all the Number Four cards in the deck will act as the Wildcard Jokers for that game.
The undealt cards are put facedown to form the draw pile. The topmost card from this pile is kept next to the draw pile to form the discard pile.
You aim to go out first by melding the cards in your hands into valid sets and sequences without leaving any cards ungrouped.
Each player draws the top card of the draw or the discard pile and takes it into their hands. The number of sets or sequences you must form will depend on the Rummy variations you play.
If you take a card from the discard pile, you must discard one of the cards already in your hand.
Let us now take a look at the different card games that were inspired by Rummy.
Card Games Inspired by Rummy Around the World
Different types of Rummy games are available in different parts of the world. Take a look at the most popular Rummy variations below.
Gin Rummy
It is a popular variation played in the United States. Players get dealt ten facedown cards each instead of thirteen. The objectives of this game remain the same as Rummy, that is, to meld cards into sets and sequences and score a hundred points.
However, unlike Rummy, you will not have to utilise the Joker cards in this game.
In case you have some cards remaining in your hand, these are referred to as deadwood cards.
Points are calculated by the difference between the players’ deadwood points. You also win twenty additional points upon calling out “Gin.” You can play Gin Rummy on reputed websites or mobile applications.
The face cards in this game are worth ten points, while the Ace cards are worth one point. The Number cards are worth the value printed on them.
Kalooki Rummy
It is a popular variant of contract Rummy that is played widely by three to eight players in Jamaica.
Each player gets thirteen face-down cards each, while the remaining cards form the discard and draw piles. The basic objective of this game is to meld cards into “threes” or “fours.”
“Threes” refer to “three card groups” that belong to the same suit or rank. “Fours” refer to a group of four consecutive cards that belong to the same suit.
Furthermore, you can use Joker cards to form “threes” or “fours”. However, you cannot use them consecutively to form a “three.”
The player who manages to score forty or less points wins the game. So you will need to select your cards carefully. For instance, the Joker cards carry fifty points, while the Black and Red Ace cards carry fifteen points and one point respectively.
On the other hand, the King, Queen, and Jack cards carry ten points each, while the Number cards are worth the value printed on them.
Canasta
Countries like Argentina and Uruguay play this card game. This game was created in Uruguay by Alberto Serrato and Segundo Santo.
One of the things that sets the game of Canasta apart is that it’s a team game. In other words, it is best played with teams of two players each against each other. Players utilise two card decks, with two Joker cards each, to play this game.
Each player receives about eleven cards each, and the basic objective of the game is to form melds of three and seven cards each, respectively. The seven-card meld is referred to as “Canasta”.
So you should try and make multiple “Canastas”, and score five thousand points to win the game.
The points carried by each meld depend on the unique combination of cards in each hand.
Rummy Card Games in the Modern Era
For much of its history, Rummy was played in person. Players gathered around a table to draw and discard cards to meld cards into sets and sequences. Since these games were organized in saloons, parlours, and later casinos, they also involved a lot of social interaction.
However, the arrival of the internet changed all that. Later on, the increased usage of mobile devices further increased the digital impact of Rummy. That’s because popular developers introduced mobile applications and new mechanics.
For instance, you can see the increased use of Random Number Generators that shuffle and deal cards randomly to each player. This ensures that everyone gets a fair chance to meld cards into desired runs and sets.
Apart from that, you can also find machine-learning algorithms that make the “dealers” appear more “human” and “interact” with the other players.
The Final Word
The evolution of Rummy from a traditional card game to online Rummy is proof of its lasting appeal and capacity to adapt. While the core gameplay remains unchanged, there are multiple variants that you can play online on reputed websites.
Have fun!
