How To Play Rummy 500 Card Game

In normal Rummy, you are only allowed to play the top card in the discard pile. However, according to the rules of Rummy 500, you can draw multiple cards. The only stipulation to this is that if you do pick up more than one card, you MUST play the first card that you drew. If you can't meld it, then you can't pick it up. Once a player has disposed of all of their cards, the other player's cards are scored. Scoring: Face card: 10 points. All others: face value (4 = 4 points, 9 = 9 points, etc.) Hands will continue to be dealt until one of the players reaches 100 points. The first player to reach 100 points loses the rummy game.

Michigan Rummy Card Game Rules

The Michigan rummy, also known as the pinochle rummy, is a type of rummy that is very similar to the Canadian Rummoli. They both include playing chips, playing board, and also accumulated pots that are given to each player. This game accommodates between two to eight players, and each player records the score of the combination of cards they hold.

Rules Guiding The Game

Sharing The Cards

The Michigan rummy is best enjoyed by three to five players, but can also be played by two to eight players. The requirement for the Michigan rummy includes a French deck, 52 cards (or 53-54 if one or two jokers are included) for less than five players. When five or more players are involved, then two decks of cards will be required, which uses between 104 to 108 cards.

HowGame

The players then draw for sharing, starting from the lowest dealing, the dealer then shuffles the card and the player by his right side cuts. The number of cards shared depends on the number of players. The dealer then shares each card to each player (starting from the left) in a clockwise direction without showing the card.

The remaining cards are positioned to face down in a single pile, and the topmost card is thrust aside, facing up, and play continues. Additional cards played by each player are placed facing up on top of the cards already in the discard pile. The pile is laid out in a way that players can easily see the cards in a pile but are not allowed to alter the order of the cards. The next player in a clockwise direction becomes the dealer as soon a round is completed.

Game Play

Each player’s target is to gain enough points by laying-off matching cards to the last played in the discard pile. This group of matching cards is known as “melds.” There are variations to playing the game, but the winner of the previous round usually becomes the dealer of the following round.

Card

Ace is the least card in the draw but can be played as a high card also. If played after a king, it is played as a high card, and if played before a two, it is played as a low card. Note that you are not allowed to play an Ace both as a high card and also as low card in the same run. This rule is known as “going around the corner,” and it means that Q-K-A and 2-3-4 cannot be played in the same run.

Ideally, for two players, 13 cards are shared, while for three players and above, seven cards are shared, and the rest is placed faced down to form the stock. Beginning from the player by the left, a player can draw from the first card of the stock. After a card is picked up, no other cards can be picked up, although there are conditions attached to it.

Also, when playing your cards, you cannot pick cards that have already been laid down or pick only to play a card on a meld – this is not acceptable. You can only pick up a card from the discarding pile on the condition that you will be playing a meld that consists of at least three cards together with the card you picked up. Also, if a player lacks cards to play, then the player can pick up two cards, and one must be played instantly.

Scoring begins for all players involved when they lay up to 30 points for their first score. A – 9 are recorded as 5points, but when used as a high card, it is recorded as 15 points. Face cards are recorded as 10 points while jokers are recorded as 15 points.

The first player that reaches 500 points first wins the game; if two or more players reach the 500 points at the same time, the player with the highest points is awarded the winner. When any of the players play the last card in their hand, the game ends. The value of the cards at hand is then deducted from his score for every other player.

Also, if the stockpile finishes and no one has anything to play again, the game ends, and the highest scorer is declared the winner. Other modified rules have been set to make scoring easier.

Other Modifications of the Game

  1. Dealer’s Gambit

The only deviations of this game from the Michigan rummy are that its pack contains 52 standard cards and two jokers while some play with four jokers to make it 56 cards in total, and sharing of cards is done in the anti-clockwise rotation. It also involves what is known as a wild joker, which is recorded as zero points.

  1. Partnership 500

This game involves four players that are grouped into two teams, with partners of a team facing each other across the table. They have almost the same rules as in the Michigan rummy, but the exception is that the partners can play off on each other’s matched set of cards.

  1. Persian Rummy

This has 52 cards and four jokers in a pack, and each joker is recorded as 20 points (just like in the partnership 500). If there is a case of a meld of four being played at once, the score of the cards is recorded as double. The game ends after two rounds, and the side with the highest points gets 50 points as a bonus.

  1. Rummy

For this type of game, when a player plays a card, the first player to call out “Rum” will take the card played and discard the card on the table. The card may not be used to create a new sequence.

  1. 7-card straight

This variation of the game is known as the “Rummy Master’s Hand.” A player is automatically awarded 500 points when he plays seven cards at a stretch and also plays his last card. He is declared the winner.

Final words – Michigan Rummy

This game is believed to have birthed some games like the game of canasta and many more. It has a lot of variations, which may possess some similarities but is different in their way.

Looking for some family friendly card games? Check out this simple guide to the classic card game and how to play Rummy 500.

Number of players:

2 to 8 players

Objective of Rummy 500:

Create set of at least 3 cards of the same number/rank or groups of the same suit consecutively (For example – 3 Queens, or a group of 10 of hearts, Jack of hearts and Queen of hearts.

How to play Rummy 500:

In the beginning, each player is dealt any odd number of cards. This is the dealer’s choice. 7-13 cards is ideal, but the game gets particularly interesting the more or less cards that are dealt. The remaining cards are placed face down on one side of the table in a pile. With one card being left face up beside that pile. We’ll refer to that pile as the discard pile.

  • The first player draws a card from one of the piles – the face down pile or the discard pile. If there is more than one card in the discard pile, the player can take one or more cards from this pile, starting with the card below, which can be joined or added.
  • With each turn, the player must both draw a card and place a card into the discard pile.
  • After drawing a card, the player can place a set of cards on the table to earn points if they have completed a set of 3.
  • Additionally, a player can add a card to a group or set of cards that another player has placed on the table.
  • The player must dispose of a card in the discard pile. Cards drawn from the current turn cannot be discarded until the next turn.
How to play rummy 500 card game

Note: if a player takes a group of cards from the discard pile, the player MUST use the bottom card that was picked up to complete a set during the same turn. If the last card cannot be added to a set or group, it cannot be taken from the pile.

When the first player discards of their final card, the game is over. Each player must then sum up the value of the card that remain in their hands. Players who still have cards in their hand must subtract the total of what’s in their hand from what’s on the table.

How To Play The Card Game Rummy 500

Point Value for each card in Rummy 500

Ace -15 points

Ten, Jack, Queen, King – 10 points.

Cards 2 to 9 are respectively worth 2 to 9 points.

The game continues until someone reaches a total of 500 points.

How To Play Gin Rummy 500 Card Game

Game Over.

How To Play Rummy 500 Card Game

Here’s a great video tutorial for how to play Rummy 500 as well:

How Do You Play The Card Game Rummy 500

See Also: 21 Old School Games For The Whole Family