Taash Khelरम्मी
Indian Rummy
Thirteen cards, two sequences, and one rule that decides almost every round: one of those sequences has to be pure.
In short. Each player gets thirteen cards and arranges them into sequences and sets by drawing and discarding. The first to arrange all thirteen validly and declare wins the round.
A valid declaration needs at least two sequences, and at least one of them must be pure — built without any joker.
The 13 card rummy game in one paragraph
Indian Rummy — the 13 card rummy game, also called Paplu — is a melding rummy card game played with two decks. Each player holds thirteen cards, draws and discards on every turn, and wins by arranging all thirteen into valid sequences and sets before anyone else does.
Sequences and sets
Your thirteen cards must be grouped into combinations. There are two kinds, and they are not interchangeable.
Pure sequence
Three or more consecutive cards of the same suit, with no joker used anywhere in it — for example 5♠ 6♠ 7♠. Without one of these you cannot declare at all. This is the rule that ends most rounds badly for beginners.
Impure sequence
The same consecutive run, but with a joker standing in for a missing card — for example 5♥ 6♥ ★ 8♥, where the joker fills the seven. Your second sequence is allowed to be impure.
Sets
Three or four cards of the same rank in different suits, such as 9♠ 9♥ 9♦. Jokers can be used. Sets are optional — they are where your remaining cards go once the sequence requirement is met.
Jokers
Indian Rummy uses two kinds. Printed jokers are the joker cards in the deck. The wild joker is a card turned face up at the start of the round; every card of that rank, in all four suits, becomes wild for that round.
One consequence catches people out: if the wild joker turned up is a seven, then all four sevens are wild — including any sevens sitting in your hand that you were planning to use in a run.
How to play 13 card Rummy, step by step
- Deal thirteen cards to each player from two decks, and turn one card face up as the wild joker.
- Draw one card on your turn, from either the closed pile or the open discard pile.
- Discard one card, so you always hold thirteen between turns.
- Build your groups — at least two sequences, one of them pure, and everything else into sets.
- Declare. Draw a fourteenth card, place one face down on the finish slot and show your thirteen.
The whole game is steps two and three repeated until step four is satisfied. Nothing is laid on the table until you declare.
Formats
The card rules stay the same across all three. What changes is how a session is scored and when it ends.
| Format | Length | How it ends |
|---|---|---|
| Points | One deal | Settled immediately on the points left in losing hands |
| Pool | Many deals | Players are eliminated on crossing 101 or 201 points; last one standing wins |
| Deals | Fixed number | Chips are distributed at the start; most chips at the end wins |
21-card Rummy
The longer form, played with three decks and twenty-one cards each. It needs three pure sequences instead of one, and adds scoring cards with their own names — Tunnela (three identical cards), Dublee (two identical cards) and Marriage (the queen, king and ace of the joker suit together).
Common questions
Can you declare in Rummy without a pure sequence?
No. A declaration without at least one pure sequence in Rummy is invalid, and the player is penalised the full point value of their hand. In 13-card Indian Rummy a valid Rummy declaration needs at least two sequences, one of which must be pure.
What is the difference between a sequence and a set in Rummy?
A sequence is three or more consecutive cards of the same suit; a set is three or four of the same rank in different suits. The Rummy glossary defines both. You need sequences to declare; sets are optional.
How many cards are dealt in Indian Rummy?
Thirteen to each player, from two decks including printed jokers — see the Indian Rummy rules. A wild joker is turned up at the start and every card of that rank becomes wild for the round.
What is the difference between Points, Pool and Deals Rummy?
Points Rummy is a single deal settled on points. Pool Rummy runs until players cross a fixed total, usually 101 or 201. Deals Rummy runs for a fixed number of deals. See Points, Pool and Deals Rummy compared.
How do you play 13 card rummy step by step?
Each player is dealt thirteen cards from two decks. On your turn you draw one card from the closed or open pile and discard one, keeping thirteen. You arrange them into sequences and sets. Once all thirteen form valid combinations including at least one pure sequence, you draw a fourteenth, place one card on the finish slot and declare.
How many jokers are in Indian Rummy?
Two kinds — see the Rummy glossary. The printed jokers come in the decks, plus a wild joker turned face up at the start of each round which makes all four cards of that rank wild for that round.
What is the maximum points you can lose in Rummy?
Eighty — see how to declare in Rummy. Numbered cards count face value, face cards and aces count ten each, and jokers count zero, but a single hand is capped at eighty points however bad it is.
Can you win Rummy without using a joker?
Yes, and it is the cleanest way to win — a hand of natural pure sequences in Rummy needs no joker at all. Jokers are a convenience, not a requirement. A hand made entirely of natural sequences and sets is perfectly valid.
Is Indian Rummy the same as Paplu?
Paplu is another name for Indian Rummy, used particularly in Maharashtra. The 13-card game described here is the same one.
A free Indian Rummy game for Android, dealing the standard thirteen cards. Free download on Google Play, and free to play.
Get it on Google Play