Rummy 500

Objective:

The object of the game is to score the most points. The goal of each hand is to assemble a hand where as many cards as possible can be combined into sets or runs, and the point value of the remaining cards is as low as possible.

Dealing:

At the beginning of the game the dealer is randomly selected. During the game the deal goes to the player that lost the proceeding hand. (not true)

Rummy 500 uses a standard 52-card deck for 2 players and 7 cards are dealt to each player. The remaining cards are placed face down on the table to form the draw from pile (DFP). The top card of the DFP is placed, face up, right next to the draw from pile to start the discard pile (DP).

Game Play:

The player to the left of the dealer plays first and play continues clockwise around the table.

• The first player, either draws 1 card from the draw from pile or picks up the card in the discard pile. If they pick up the card that is in the discard pile they cannot discard it until their next turn, but the card drawn from the draw from pile can be discarded in the same turn. Players can also pick up more than just the top card if they can meld or layoff.
• Players try to build sets and runs to lay on the table: A set consists of 3 or more cards of the same value, such as the 4 of hearts, 4 of clubs, and the 4 of spades. A run is 3 or more cards of the same suit, in consecutive order, such as the 6 of clubs, 7 of clubs, and 8 of clubs. A card can only belong to one set or run for example, if a hand has the 2 of hearts, 3 of hearts, the 4 of hearts, and the 4 of clubs and the 4 of diamonds, the 4 of hearts cannot be used for both the set and the run.
• Players can also Lay-off which is adding a card or cards from their hand to a meld already on the table. For example, adding the 4 of diamonds to the first example above or adding the 5 and/or 9 and 10 of clubs to the second example. Again the cards each player plays are laid on the table, face up, in front of them
• The first player to discard their last card wins the hand, known as going out, and play stops. All other players score for the cards played on the table minus the cards remaining in their hands.
• When there are no cards available in the DFP and the player whose turn it is does not wish to pick up cards from the discard pile then the discard pile is shuffled and placed face down in the center of the table. This becomes the new draw from pile and the top card is laid face up next to the new DFP and this is the new discard pile. Play continues just like before starting with the player whose turn it was when creating a new draw from pile became necessary.
• Recycling the discard pile into a new draw from pile will take place one more time (2 times), if no player is able to go out. After the second reshuffle of the discard pile the hand ends.
• All of the players have the opportunity to pick cards from the last discard pile and meld. If they cannot meld they simply pass. Once all four players have passed the game is considered blocked.
• Play stops and everyone adds the score for the cards on the table and subtracts the points for the cards remaining in their hands.

Scoring:

• Face cards = 10 points
• Aces = 1 point and can be melded as 3 aces, ace,2,3 and queen, king, ace
• All other cards are scored at face value (for example a 5 = 5 points, a 9 = 9 points, and so on)
• A player who goes out, without melding or laying off any cards in previous turns receives a bonus of 10 points.

Winning:

The first player that earns 500 points wins the game.

Other Rules

• All players may meld and lay-off at any time during their turn
• Aces play as low
• A discard is not required to go out

Modified on 10/26/16 from Wikipedia