What You'll Need
A standard 52-card deck (use 2 decks for 5-6 players). Cards rank Ace (low) through King (high). Ace can also be high in some variations.
Setup
Deal cards based on players: 2 players = 10 cards each, 3-4 players = 7 cards, 5-6 players = 6 cards. Place remaining cards face-down as the draw pile. Flip the top card to start the discard pile.
How to Play
On your turn: Draw one card (from draw pile or discard pile), then meld or lay off if you can, then discard one card.
Melds
- Sets: 3 or 4 cards of the same rank (e.g., three 7s)
- Runs: 3+ consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 4-5-6 of hearts)
Laying Off
You can add cards to existing melds on the table — yours or opponents'.
Winning
First player to meld all their cards wins the round. Remaining players score penalty points for cards left in hand: Face cards = 10, Aces = 1, Number cards = face value. Play to a target score (usually 100) — lowest score wins.
Tips & Strategy
Watch the discard pile. Track what opponents pick up — it reveals their melds. Hold onto middle cards (5-8) longer — they form more possible runs. Don't hoard cards hoping for a perfect hand — meld early to reduce penalty risk.
Variations
Gin Rummy: 2-player version with knocking and going gin. 500 Rummy: You score points for your own melds instead of penalties. Indian Rummy: Uses 2 decks with wild cards.
