Social card games are acclaimed pastimes universally. While some card games are a mix of chance, skill, and strategies, there are the others like rummy which is based purely on skills and strategies of the players. These games, owing to their inherent nature where success in the game depends on player’s skill, are lovely and played extensively. If you do not have the skill you need not worry. It takes regular practice and some dedication to be efficient in the game. Perhaps, it is this is very simple yet emphatic reason responsible for the enormous popularity of rummy in India.
If you are a beginner learning how to play rummy, let’s give you 3 quick and easy ways to learn playing rummy while you enjoy melding the formations. But, before that a quick information on the important formations used in the game.
Sequence: Formed with 3 or more consecutive cards from the same suit.
Example: 3, 4, 5 of Spades or 4, 5, Joker, 7 of Hearts
Pure sequence: A sequence formed without the use of joker(s).
Example: 3, 4, 5 of Spades
Set: Either 3 or 4 cards of the same rank but from different suits.
Example: 4 of Diamonds, 4 of Spades, 4 of Clubs
#1: Meld the 13 cards
In Indian rummy or 13 cards rummy, you are dealt with 13 cards at the start of the game. 13 cards are very tricky and given to meld them into sets and sequences is indeed a big challenge but interesting too. Ideally, when you are learning how to play rummy it is advised to arrange these cards into 4 groups of 3-3-3-4 cards. You could have these groups as sequences or sets. But, according to the rummy rules of the game, you should have at least 2 sequences with one of them being a pure sequence.
#2: Arrangement of cards
Rummy rules make every move in the game interesting which gives a clue about your opponent’s play. As you go about picking and discarding cards, it is important you arrange them based on colours as Red-Black-Red or Black-Red-Black in order to avoid confusion while melding them. This arrangement will help to know which cards to retain and which ones to be discarded.
#3: Number of cards
When learning how to play rummy, get to know the permissible number of cards for sets and sequences.
Sequences: You could form a sequence with 3 or more consecutive cards of the same suit. So, if you have a sequence as A, 2, 3 of Hearts, then is it is as much valid as A, 2, 3, 4 of Hearts.
Set: Whereas a set could be formed with 3 or 4 cards only of the same rank but from different suits. So, 4 of Diamonds, 4 of Spades, 4 of Clubs is as much valid as 4 of Diamonds, 4 of Spades, 4 of Clubs, 4 of Hearts.
Note: You cannot meld a set of 5 cards which is invalid.
Bask in the joys of formation
If you understand the rummy rules and the tricks well, the formation of sets and sequences will be as enjoyable as it is challenging to play the game.
