Card games have had a prominent place in people’s lives ever since they were invented. Recorded history dates card games back to ancient times, where they were enjoyed by people of all ages. From solely entertainment value to ones labeled real cash games, from those aimed towards younglings to those designed to challenge the mind, card games have a wide variety of targeted audiences.
However, there are only a few that can check almost all the boxes, and those who play the rummy game will vouch that it is definitely one of them. So, if you’re planning to begin your journey into the exciting & versatile world of rummy, let us give you a few pointers to make your experience stellar!
Get Familiar with the Terminology
Before you start playing an Indian rummy game online or offline, getting to know the terms frequently used in the game will help you understand it better. Here’s a quick list of words that you’ll come across when you play offline or online rummy.
Rummy Table: When you play an Indian rummy game online, this is a virtual table where you will play rummy with other players. Depending on the number of players playing, the table can be 2-player or multiplayer.
Closed Deck: After the cards are distributed to all players, the remaining cards are kept face-down on the table. This is the closed deck.
Open Deck / Discard Pile: On each turn, the player is supposed to pick up a card & then throw one down to keep the number of cards in their hand the same. The pile of cards thrown by players is called the open deck.
Drawing a Card: Don’t worry; this is not a test of your painting skills! It refers to picking a card from the open or closed deck.
Discarding a Card: The number of cards in a player’s hand is supposed to remain the same throughout the game. Therefore, once a player picks up a card from any deck, they are also supposed to throw one down. This is known as discarding a card.
Sorting: This refers to arranging cards in the desired order when you play a rummy game. Sorting helps in executing your plan & makes the game easier.
Wild Cards: This is a random cards or decided cards at the start of the game that are treated as jokers. These can be used as any card in the game & used to form sets & impure sequences.
Pure Sequence: A pure sequence is a group of 3 or more consecutive cards of the same suit. For example, 4❤-5❤-6❤ is a pure sequence.
Impure Sequence: It is a group of 3 or more consecutive cards of the same suit that also incorporate a joker. For example, 4❤-Joker-6❤ is an impure sequence.
Sets: It is a group of 3 or more cards of the same rank but different suits. For example, 3♦-3♠-3♣ is a set.
Declare: The first person who sorts all cards in their hand into valid sets & sequences has to ‘declare’ the game to win. Make sure all the sets & sequences you make are valid based on the rules of rummy before you declare because you will be penalized with maximum points if you make an invalid declaration. (points in rummy are bad, btw! The lower your points, the better.)
Now that you know the basic terms of rummy, here are a few pointers every beginner should know:
Play Rummy Game Variants
Rummy has evolved and adapted a lot over the years based on different places & cultures. Hence, a lot of variants of rummy have emerged over the years. Try a few of them & then decide which one suits you the best.
Choose the Right Platform
If you decide to play an Indian rummy game online, you’ll find that there are many platforms that provide both free games &real cash games. It is imperative that you download the right rummy app. Choose the platform that is safe, provides smooth gameplay, & has real players instead of bots.
Learn All the Rules
Don’t just blindly jump into the game; read about the rules first & familiarize yourself with the terminology mentioned above. This will help you get into the flow of the game a lot quickly.
Practice First!
Rummy can be a lot of fun & winning real cash surely multiplies the fun tenfold, but you can just as easily lose your money against experienced players in a real cash game if you’re not careful. Start with free games first & build up your skills. This will not only give you an idea of the flow of the game but also help you choose the right game and platform.
Play Responsibly
Rummy is one of the most popular games in the world. It can provide hours of fun & even some monetary gain. But the key to enjoying rummy for a long time is to have a grip on how much time you spend playing it. If you play for money & don’t stop when you should, you may end up losing a lot of money. Your health and your finances are your responsibility. So, make sure you play the rummy game responsibly & keep having fun!
