How to Play Rummy: A Complete Beginner's Guide
Rummy is one of the easiest card games to learn and one of the hardest to put down. If you can match cards by rank or line them up by suit, you already know the heart of it. This guide walks you through every step — dealing, melds, scoring and winning — and you can practice in our free game whenever you like.
Play Rummy free while you read No signup, no download — open the game in another tab and try each step as you learn it. Play Rummy →The Goal of the Game
The aim of Rummy is simple: be the first player to get rid of all the cards in your hand. You do this by arranging cards into melds and placing them on the table, then discarding whatever you can't use.
Setting Up: How Many Cards?
Rummy uses a standard 52-card deck. The number of cards you're dealt depends on how many people are playing:
- 2 players: 10 cards each
- 3 or 4 players: 7 cards each
The remaining cards form a face-down pile called the stock. The top card is flipped over beside it to start the discard pile.
Melds: Sets and Runs
Everything in Rummy is built from two kinds of meld:
- Set — three or four cards of the same rank (for example, three Queens).
- Run — three or more cards of the same suit in sequence (for example, 5-6-7 of hearts).
Aces are low, so a run can start Ace-2-3, but it can't wrap around from King back to Ace.
How a Turn Works
On your turn you follow the same four steps in order:
- Draw one card — either the unknown top of the stock or the visible top of the discard pile.
- Meld any sets or runs you can lay down (you may lay more than one).
- Lay off single cards onto melds already on the table; once a meld is down, anyone can extend it.
- Discard one card to end your turn.
Scoring
When a player gets rid of all their cards, the round ends. The winner scores the value of the cards left in everyone else's hands:
- Face cards (J, Q, K) = 10 points
- Aces = 1 point
- All other cards = their face value
Because your unplayed cards become points for someone else, the lesson is clear: meld early and don't sit on high cards.
Going Rummy
If you get rid of your entire hand in a single turn without ever having melded or laid off before, you've "gone Rummy" — and your points for that round are doubled. It's risky but spectacular.
Quick Tips to Win More
- Discard high cards you can't use before they cost you.
- Watch what opponents pick up from the discard pile and avoid feeding them.
- Keep flexible middle cards — they fit into more runs.
- Lay off aggressively to empty your hand faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cards do you get in Rummy?
Two players get ten cards each; three or four players get seven cards each. The rest form the stock.
What's the difference between a set and a run?
A set is three or four cards of the same rank in different suits. A run is three or more cards of the same suit in consecutive order.
How do you win at Rummy?
Be the first to get rid of every card by melding, laying off and discarding your last card.
What's the difference between Rummy and Gin Rummy?
In Rummy you lay melds on a shared table. In Gin Rummy melds stay hidden and you end the hand by knocking once your deadwood is low enough.