Rummy Games: A Comparison

Written by Howard Fosdick © BestFreeNewGames.com

All rummy games have certain elements in common. Most obvious is the procedure each player follows during his or her turn. The process is simple: draw, meld, and discard.

Beyond this definitional aspect, it's interesting to compare other rummy features. These distinguish one rummy from another and give each its particular appeal and "feel."

Differences

Probably the biggest distinction is between those games where the goal is solely to go out, or "rummy," versus those games that emphasise scoring melds to the table.

Gin is the prototypical example of a going out rummy, where melds strictly occur within the players' hands. Skarney Gin is an intriguing variation we present on this website.

In contrast, in "scoring rummies" the goal is to score the most points during the hand through table melds. Prominent games of this category include 500 Rummy, Fortune Rummy, and Skarney.

A very few rummies allow players to win either by scoring through table melds --or-- by rummying. Players must determine which strategy best fits their hand and follow it to successful completion. Our own invention, Wildcat Rummy, explores this tension. Such rummies require a delicate balance of elements within the game so that they play well. While there are few rummies in this category, they provide some of the most challenging and intriguing games.

Another area of difference among rummies: the cards they employ. Some rummies are single-deck, while others use two card packs. A few add Jokers to the mix. Some of these rummies use Jokers and/or 2's as wild cards. Others have no wild cards at all.

The rules surrounding discards also vary. Some rummies splay the discard deck, so all cards are visible at all times. 500 Rummy is of this kind.

My new games Robber Rummy and Crib Rummy square the discard pile and forbid inspecting the cards hidden by the top card (the "up card"). Players are well advised to remember which cards reside in the discard deck.

A few rummies forgo a discard deck altogether, in favour of other discard mechanisms. Most notable among these are those invented by John Scarne, such as Skarney Gin and Skarney. In these two games, players directly offer a discard to an opponent when they conclude their turn.

As far as taking up the discard pile goes, some rummies only allow players to draw the single up card. Colonel is one example. Others require that players take up all the discards. 500 Rummy lets players select a designated card and all those above it, while Crib Rummy is unusual in that it specifies players take all the discards in the pile up to a maximum of 7.

You can find the rules to all the rummy games I invented here and all those that are traditional rummies here.

The chart below summarizes key features that distinguish these different rummies from one another:

Rummy Comparison Chart

Game:	Decks:	Cards Dealt / Player:	Discard Deck:	Wild Cards	Maximum Cards / Meld:	Play on Pone's Melds	Play Aces As:	Rummy Bonus:	Points to Win:

Robber Rummy	2	13	squared	none	not limited	yes!	High or Low	0	400
Wildcat Rummy	2 + jokers	11	squared	2 to 4 jokers	4	no	High	50	500
Crib Rummy	2 + 2 jokers	11	squared	2 jokers	4 for sets, any number seqs.	yes	Low	0	121
Fortune Rummy	2	11	squared	2’s	4 for sets, any number seqs.	no	High or Low	0	500
Arlington (Oklahoma)	2	13	squared	2’s	4 for sets, any number seqs.	no	High or Low	100	1000
Skarney	2 + 4 jokers	11	none	2’s, jokers	not limited	no	High or Low	varies	varies
500 Rummy	1	7	splayed	none	not limited	yes	High or Low	0	500
Persian Rummy	1 + 4 jokers	7	splayed	none	not limited	yes	High or Low	0	500
Iceberg	1 or 2	7	none	none	not limited	yes	n/a	0	5000
Colonel	1	10	squared	none	4 for sets, any number seqs.	yes	High	0	n/a
Gin Rummy (Oklahoma)	1	10	squared	none	4 for sets, any number seqs.	no	Low	20	100
Skarney Gin	1	10	none	none	not limited	no	High or Low	20	200