Rummy Rules
Indian rummy is a 13-card game of making sequences and sets. These guides explain every rule in simple steps, with card examples, so you can sit down at any table – or our free game – and play with confidence.
New to the game? Start with How to play 13-card rummy. It covers the whole game from the deal to the final score. Then read Sequences and sets, because a wrong group is the most common reason beginners lose points.
Core rules
How to play 13-card rummy
Objective, deck, deal, wild joker, turns, melds, declaring and scoring.
MeldsSequences and sets
Pure and impure sequences, sets, joker use and valid vs invalid hands.
PointsRummy scoring
Card values, counting a losing hand, the 80-point cap, drops and wrong shows.
ReferenceRummy glossary
A–Z meanings of rummy terms, from “closed deck” to “wild joker”.
Game formats
The same 13-card rules are used in three popular formats. Only the way scores are kept changes.
Points rummy
A single deal. The winner scores zero and everyone else counts their points.
101 & 201Pool rummy
Scores add up over many deals. Reach 101 or 201 and you are out.
Fixed dealsDeals rummy
Play a set number of deals. The lowest total at the end wins.
Rules at a glance
- 2 to 6 players, two standard decks plus 2 printed jokers (106 cards).
- Each player gets 13 cards. One card is turned face up to pick the wild joker rank.
- On your turn, draw one card and discard one card.
- To win, arrange all 13 cards into groups of 3 or more, with at least two sequences – one of them a pure sequence.
- Losers count points for unmatched cards, up to a maximum of 80.
House rules differ. Families, clubs and apps often play small variations – drop penalties, how many decks are used, or whether a joker can be picked from the open pile. Our guides explain the common Indian rules and point out where groups tend to differ. Agree on the rules before the first deal.
FAQ
Which rummy rules should I learn first?
Learn 13-card rummy first. Points, Pool and Deals rummy all use the same hand rules – only the scoring across deals changes. Once you know how to make a valid declaration, the other formats take a few minutes to learn.
Is Indian rummy the same as Gin rummy?
No. Indian rummy uses 13 cards, two decks and jokers, and needs a pure sequence to declare. Gin rummy uses 10 cards, one deck and no jokers. You can read about other card games on our card games page.
Do these rules match the free game on Silk Rummy?
Yes. Our free game follows the rules on these pages. Where house rules commonly differ, we point it out so you can agree on them for games at home.