Points Rummy Rules
Points rummy is the quickest form of Indian rummy. You play a single deal. Whoever makes a valid declaration first wins it, and everyone else is scored on the cards left in their hand.
On this page 6 sections
The hand rules are exactly the same as standard 13-card rummy: two decks plus two printed jokers, 13 cards each, a wild joker rank, and a declaration that needs two sequences including one pure sequence. Only the scoring is specific to this format.
How a game of Points rummy goes
- Cards are dealt: 13 each. The wild joker card is turned up and the open pile is started.
- Players take turns to draw one card and discard one card.
- A player who can arrange all 13 cards into valid groups declares.
- If the declaration is valid, that player wins with 0 points.
- Every other player groups their cards as well as possible and counts the points of the cards that are left over.
That is the whole game. If you want to play again, you simply start a fresh deal with fresh scores.
Counting points
Card values are: Ace, King, Queen and Jack 10 points each; 2 to 10 at face value; printed and wild jokers 0.
How many of your cards count depends on what you managed to build:
| Your hand when someone declares | Cards that count |
|---|---|
| No pure sequence | All 13 cards |
| Pure sequence, but no second sequence | Everything except the pure sequence |
| Pure sequence plus at least one more sequence | Only cards not in a valid sequence or set |
Whatever the total, a single deal costs no more than 80 points.
Drops and wrong shows
| Situation | Points |
|---|---|
| First drop (before drawing your first card) | 20 |
| Middle drop (any later turn) | 40 |
| Wrong declaration | 80 |
| Maximum loss for any hand | 80 |
The first drop is the cheapest exit. If your hand is clearly poor, 20 points is better than a likely 60 or 80. See when to drop for how to judge it.
Worked example
Three friends play a deal. Fives are wild. Asha declares a valid hand first.
- Asha – valid declaration: 0.
- Ravi has 8♠9♠10♠ (pure) and 3♦4♦5♣ (impure). Left over: K♥K♣2♠6♥J♦Q♠9♣. Kh and Kc can’t form a set without a third king, so they count. Total: 10 + 10 + 2 + 6 + 10 + 10 + 9 = 57.
- Meera dropped on her first turn: 20.
So Asha wins the deal, Meera loses 20 and Ravi loses 57. Use the points calculator to check totals like these quickly.
Points rummy in our free game
Our game is played one-to-one against the computer. In Points mode, one deal decides the result. When the computer declares, your hand is automatically arranged in the best way possible before your points are counted, so you won’t lose points because of how you sorted your cards.
Variations. When people play Points rummy at home, they often keep a running tally across many deals for fun. Some groups also use different drop penalties. Agree on these before you start.
FAQ
How long does a game of Points rummy take?
One deal, usually a few minutes. That makes it the shortest rummy format and a good one to learn on.
What is the most I can lose in Points rummy?
80 points. That is the maximum for any losing hand, and it is also the penalty for a wrong declaration.
Is a first drop always a good idea with a bad hand?
Not always. A first drop costs 20 points. If you already have a pure sequence or a joker, a hand that looks weak can often improve. Our dropping guide explains what to look for.
How is Points rummy different from Pool rummy?
Points rummy ends after one deal. In Pool rummy you keep playing and points add up until players are knocked out at 101 or 201.