Do you fear using the drop option in rummy? You may have noticed a few players often using the drop option, but being a novice, you aren’t sure when to drop in a rummy game. Moreover, you probably contemplate if dropping out of a rummy game is the right thing to do.
The drop option in rummy may feel like you have lost the game or are giving up, but sometimes dropping out can be a wise decision you make as a rummy player. There’s no doubt about rummy being a game of skill where players use different strategies to defeat their opponents. One of the strategies that players use to minimize the loss they may face in a rummy game is using the drop option. So, here’s all that you must know about the drop option and when it is wise to drop out of an online rummy game.
What is the Drop Option in Rummy?
When you play online rummy games, there may be situations where you might feel stuck and unable to make a move. Melding the cards in hand into the required sequences and sets may seem impossible at times. Such situations make you lose all confidence irrespective of the skills you have acquired in the previous games.
The drop option in rummy is your ticket to tackle such circumstances smartly. If you had to choose between losing the game entirely or reducing your loss, you would undoubtedly choose the latter. This is where the drop option comes into play. It is wiser to drop out of the game if you are likely to lose. You get a penalty depending on whether it is the first or middle drop in a rummy game, but it is better than losing the game with higher points. Also, it is important to know when to drop in rummy.
You can use three types of drops while playing rummy:
First Drop
If you leave the game without making any move, it is considered the first drop. The penalty you get for the first drop in rummy is 20 points.
Middle Drop
If you leave the game after making at least one move, it is considered the middle drop. You face a penalty of 40 points for a middle drop in rummy.
Missing three consecutive turns
If you miss three consecutive turns in a rummy game, you will be automatically dropped out of the game. You will face a penalty of 40 points for such a drop.
Your Cues to use the Drop Option
Despite the penalty points, it is still wiser to get out of the game sometimes, using the drop option. But how would you know when to drop out? It’s quite simple. Here are some scenarios where you should consider dropping out to minimize the loss.
Dealt a Weak Hand
Whether you play rummy online or offline, it is quite possible to be dealt a weak or rather a bad hand. Melding cards into sets and sequences is a massive challenge with a bad hand. You may even struggle to make a pure sequence at times, and there’s no point in even trying to make an impure sequence or set if you don’t have a pure sequence.
In scenarios where you are dealt a weak hand, you must analyze if you can at least form a pure sequence in one or two moves. Otherwise, you can drop out of the game instead of losing with higher points. Depending on how bad the hand is, you must decide whether to go for the first or middle drop in rummy.
Also Read: How to Form a Pure Sequence in Rummy?
Ungrouped High-Value Cards
To win a game of rummy, you need to reduce your points to zero. Even if you don’t win, it’s always better to have as low points in hand as possible. Therefore, you must keep tracking your score while playing the game. As soon as the cards are dealt, you count the points based on the value of each card you are dealt. The cards that add up significantly to your points are the high-value cards such as 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace, which carry 10 points each.
Keeping a high-value card ungrouped in a set or sequence will certainly break your game. Moreover, having multiple high-value cards that can’t be melded into any group will significantly increase points. The first step you must take is to discard the high-value cards at the earliest to reduce the points in hand. However, if you are unable to discard these cards early in the game, it is your cue to drop out. The drop would generally result in a middle drop giving you a penalty of 40 points, but it is better than getting 70 or 80 points for the ungrouped cards in hand.
Difficulty Forming a Pure Sequence
As per rummy rules, you must have at least one pure sequence for a valid declaration. If you have formed an impure sequence and a set but still have no pure sequences, your points will be capped at 80. Therefore, it is essential to make a pure sequence right at the beginning of the game. A group of three or more cards placed consecutively, from the same suit, is called a pure sequence. You cannot use a joker to make a pure sequence.
At times, players find it challenging to find the third consecutive card to complete the sequence, even after several turns. During the initial stages of the game, if you face difficulties forming a pure sequence, take it as a cue to drop out with lower penalty points.
No Joker in Hand
At times, you may have successfully formed a pure sequence but struggle to create other sets and sequences due to the absence of printed or wild jokers. A printed joker and a wild joker card carry zero points, and it’s always beneficial to have the joker card in hand as you can use them to form an impure sequence or set.
In a scenario where you have no joker in hand, evaluate if it is still possible to make impure sequences and sets with the cards in hand. If you need a joker card to form such groups, play for a few rounds and drop out if you still don’t get a joker card.
Also Read: Rummy Joker Strategies for Beginners
Absence of Connecting Cards
After you’ve created the much-needed pure sequence, you try to create impure sequences and sets using a joker, if you have any. However, if you don’t have a joker card in hand, you can either look for a joker or connecting cards.
Connecting cards, also called the middle cards, are mid-value cards such as cards from 3s to 8s. Using these connecting cards, you can easily make the required sets and sequences. If you don’t have jokers or connecting cards, it’s wise to consider dropping out.
When Should You Consider a Middle Drop in Rummy?
In the above circumstances, you may either use the first drop or the middle drop based on your cards. The middle drop in rummy is usually considered the most effective strategy. Whether or not you should go for the middle drop is based on your score at that point in time. For instance, whenever you feel that you should drop out, always evaluate your current score first. If your score at that point is higher than the middle-drop penalty points, you can go for a middle drop without a doubt.
Conclusion
Evaluating your points at every point in the game and understanding your cards is crucial to deciding when to drop in rummy. Now that you know the circumstances when you can choose the drop option in online rummy, without a doubt, you will notice an improvement in your next game. Whenever you feel stuck in the game, analyze if it is worth playing another round or wiser to drop out. Lastly, always remember that dropping out is not equivalent to losing the rummy game.
