Top 6 Online Rummy Betting Sites (2021)

What Are the Rules of Rummy?

Online rummy betting sites offer a version of rummy known as Indian rummy. This online rummy game is considered to be a combination of 500 rum and classic gin rummy. The aim of online rummy is to get all your cards into complete sets or runs known as melds. A set is made up of cards of the same value – such as 4, 4, 4 – while a run is a consecutive sequence of suited cards – like 4, 5, 6 of Spades.

In Indian Rummy, players are dealt 13 cards from two decks that include two jokers. The Jokers act as wild cards and can be used to substitute any value in a set or run. All face cards are valued at 10 points, while numbered cards are valued at their respective value – so a 4 is worth 4 points and a 3 would be worth 3 points.

To win the game of online rummy, you must create melds of 13 cards. It must include 2 runs and one of those runs must be a pure run – so a run without a joker. Most commonly, a winning hand will consist of four combinations but it is possible to win with just 3 melds.

Important Online Rummy Terms

You’ll hear the dealer refer to a lot of different terms when playing online rummy and they might sound a little bit unusual. Here are the key terms of online rummy that will help you feel like a pro at the tables.

• Deadwood – this refers to the remaining cards in your hand that you were unable to put into any sets or sequences.
• Discard – in a 13-card rummy game, laying off the 14th card is referred to as a discard. It also refers to discarding a card from your deck to the discard deck.
• Discard Pile – this refers to the open card pile in which players discard their cards.
• Draw Pile – this is the pile of cards that players can draw from at each turn.
• Run – this is a sequence of 3 or more suited cards. So something like 4, 5, 6 of Queens or 10, J, Q, K of Spades.
• Set – a set is 3 or 4 cards of the same value but in different suits. Such as 4, 4, 4 or K, K, K, K. Sets are also free to use jokers as there is no pure or impure set.
• Pure Run – a pure run is a sequence that does not contain a joker to complete the run.
• Impure Run – an impure run is a sequence that contains a joker in order to complete the run.
• Lay-Off – laying off is adding additional cards to a set or run. For example, if you have a run of 3, 4, 5 of Hearts and then you get a 6 of Hearts.
• Meld – a meld is a completed run or set.
• Meld & Show – this is when the player reveals all their completed melds by showing their matches sets and runs.

Playing Online Rummy

While there are some variations of rummy, online rummy will generally stick to a standard format. The dealer will shuffle and deal the cards to each player. The remaining cards will make up the draw pile and one card for the discard pile. The discard pile will always be visible while the draw pile is closed – meaning face down – so it’s anyone’s guess what card you might pick up!

The game will then follow a simple turn-based format:

• Following the initial deal, each player will take a turn. Pick a card from either the discard pile or from the closed draw pile. Your strategy and state of your hands will determine which you choose from.
• When you take a card, you must then discard one onto the discard pile. Players can only ever take a card from the top of the discard pile; thus some cards are eventually lost as the game continues.
• Continue this process until you form enough melds that all 13 cards are in a combination. If you manage to do this before the other players, you should have the best hand and can declare “rummy” to win the game.
• When you declare rummy, you will start the meld & show. All players will now reveal their hands.

The live dealers are experts in the game too. They will talk players through the action and provide a commentary of what is going on. Both virtual video and live dealer games have an easily-accessible rulebook, and in the case of live dealer games, you can always ask the dealer about the basic rules.