May 08, 2025

4 min read

What is Indian Rummy?

Indian Rummy is one of the most popular rummy variants and stands amongst the most-played card games in the country. The Indian Rummy game aims to form valid melds or sets out of the 13 cards distributed to each player. As this is a 'Pick and Discard' card variation game, users draw and discard cards on their turn until one player makes sets and declares their hand.

The classic Indian Rummy game, also known as 13-card rummy, has further sub-variants - Points Rummy, Deals Rummy, and Pool Rummy. In Pool Rummy, there are three types- 61 Pool, 101 Pool and 201 Pool. In the Indian Rummy cash game, the players' buy-in is at a certain amount of money and points. Losers pay the points to the winning player by deducting them from their score. As soon as one of the rummy players declares his/her hand, each player accounts for their winnings and losses.

Variations of Indian Rummy

With the MPL App, you can easily play Rummy card games and explore a variety of exciting Indian Rummy variants. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, the app offers an engaging experience with real cash rewards. You can download the Indian Rummy MPL app and explore any of these variants:

Points Rummy

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In Points Rummy players play for points. Each player has a certain number of points assigned, and the winner gets money based on how many points the other players lost. It's a fast-paced game that’s easy to understand but thrilling to play.

Pool Rummy

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Pool Rummy is all about keeping your points low. Players compete to have the fewest points by the end of the game, and the winner gets the prize pool. It’s exciting and fast, making it a favorite among many Rummy lovers.

Deals Rummy

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In Deals Rummy, players compete over several rounds, or "deals." Each deal is played until a pre-set number of rounds, and the player with the highest score at the end of all the deals wins the game.

What are you waiting for? There are so many rummy variations to choose from. Play online rummy of your choice and compete in cash tournaments daily!

Now you can play rummy online absolutely free by downloading any Indian rummy app on Android and iOS and play rummy games anytime, anywhere. MPL has an easy-to-use and clean interface and random number generator (RNG) certification to ensure fair gameplay and a seamless real rummy gaming experience with instant

Important Indian Rummy Game Terms

All set to play Indian rummy cash games? Here are a few terms that you must know before you start playing rummy online:

  1. Dealer: In online Indian Rummy, the dealer is a computer system that deals the cards and follows the rules. The dealer does not play the game, just ensures everything runs smoothly.
  2. Discard Pile: This is where players put the cards they don’t need. Any player can pick the top card from the discard pile to help complete their sets or sequences.
  3. Draw Pile: The draw pile is the stack of leftover cards that weren’t dealt to players. Players can draw a card from this pile when it's their turn to discard a card.
  4. Wildcard: A wildcard is a special card, usually the Printed Joker, that players can use to replace any other card to complete sets or sequences.
  5. Set: A set is made of three or more cards that have the same number but come from different suits (like 7 of Hearts, 7 of Spades, and 7 of Diamonds).
  6. Sequence: A sequence is a set of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit (like 4, 5, and 6 of Spades). It can be pure (without a joker) or impure (with a joker).
  7. Run: A run is just another name for a sequence, where you form a combination of consecutive cards of the same suit.
  8. Suit: The four suits in a deck of cards are Clubs, Spades, Hearts, and Diamonds. Each suit has cards numbered from Ace to King.
  9. Declare: When a player completes all their sets and sequences, they can declare the game. This means the round ends, and players' scores are counted.
  10. Unmatched Cards: These are the cards in a player's hand that don’t form any valid sets or sequences. When the game is declared, the unmatched cards count toward the player’s score.
  11. Score: The score is the total value of all the unmatched cards that remain in the other players' hands after someone declares. Lower scores are better!

These terms help you understand how Indian Rummy is played and what each part of the game means.

Basic Rules to Play Indian Rummy Games

The Indian Rummy game rules may vary slightly depending on which variant you are playing:

  • Indian rummy games are typically played between 2 to 6 players using one or two standard decks depending on the players.
  • Each player gets 13 cards, and the goal is to make a valid declaration after melding cards into sequences and sets.
  • Players can make pure sequences (3 or 4 cards in a row of the same suit), impure sequences (3 or 4 cards in a row with a joker), or sets (3 cards of the same value but different suits).
  • If there are 2 players, only 1 joker is used in the rummy game. If there are 6 players, 2 jokers are used.
  • Jokers can be used to complete impure sequences or sets by substituting them for the missing card.
  • One card from the remaining deck becomes a random Joker after dealing.

How to Play Indian Rummy?

Indian Rummy, also called 13 Card Rummy, has three variants - Points Rummy, Pool Rummy, and Deals Rummy.

While the rules remain similar for each of these Indian Rummy variants, the gameplay may vary slightly. A maximum of 10 players can play this Indian rummy game variant. Beyond this, playing rummy becomes meaningless and chaotic. When there are up to 6 players, two standard card decks with 52 cards are used with four suits. With seven or more rummy players, we use three standard card decks. Each deck would consist of 52 cards and a joker card. For 2-6 players: 106 cards are used (2 decks with 53 cards each) For 7-10 players: 159 cards are used (3 standard decks)

Here's how you can play the Points Rummy variant:

Card Order

Cards in Indian Rummy are ranked from low to high as Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, and King. Royal cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth 10 points each. Ace carries 1 point and acts like a face card when forming sets.

The goal of Indian Rummy or 13 Card Rummy is to arrange your 13 cards into sets (like three of a kind or a sequence of cards in the same suit). It's important to know rummy sequence rules to start arranging your cards. The key is to make valid combinations and declare your cards before your opponents, aiming to have zero points and win the game. Indian Rummy is typically played with 2 to 6 players, and one or two standard decks of cards are used.

Dealing

In the rummy Indian Rummy game, dealing involves distributing 13 cards from a standard deck to each player. While playing rummy online, the cards are shuffled, and the player to the dealer's right picks a random card from the deck (this can be done randomly through RNG). Now this card is placed face up and kept beneath the draw pile. This card is the wild joker in the game. The cards of the same rank are also jokers. For instance, if the random card drawn is 9❤️, then all cards of rank 9 will be wild jokers.

Gameplay

In 13-card rummy, after players receive 13 cards each, they arrange their cards into sets or sequences. The gameplay involves drawing and discarding cards to form valid combinations. A player starts by drawing a card from the draw pile and discarding another card to form the discard pile. Other players take turns to draw and discard a card. The first player to make a valid declaration with at least two sequences, including one pure sequence, wins the game.

What is a sequence?

A sequence is a combination of 3 or more consecutive value cards of the same suit, with the order being Ace-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-Jack-Queen-King-Ace. When you play rummy online, please note that Ace-2-3 is a sequence like Ace King Queen, but not King Ace 2.

What is a set?

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In rummy games, a trail or a set is a combination of at least 3 and a maximum of 4 cards of the same rank but different suits. For instance, 8 of hearts, 8 of spades, and 8 of clubs is a valid set, but 8 of clubs, 8 of spades, and 8 of spades won't make a valid set.

Scoring

In a rummy game, the main objective is to reduce points from 80 to zero. After a player makes a valid declaration, the player gets zero points and wins the game. All other rummy players count the points in hand based on the unmelded cards.

According to the rummy points system, the card points are allotted as follows.

  • King, Queen, Jack, and Ace carry 10 points each.
  • All numbered cards carry the same points as their face value.
  • Jokers carry zero points.
    Each player's points are calculated after the first hand is declared valid. Players who had dropped either lost 20 points or 40 points, depending on the first drop or middle drop in points rummy variant.

Winning

To make a valid declaration and win the game, one must hold at least two sequences, including a pure sequence. The first pure sequence is also known as the first life and the following sequence as the second life. The remaining cards can be arranged into sets and sequences such that the points of the hand are zero.

A winning hand in a rummy game online can have these four combinations - a set of 4 cards and three sets of 3 cards each or three combinations made of 5 card sequence, a four-card meld, and a card meld or five-card meld, a five-card meld, and three-card meld.

After the player declares their hand, all other rummy players playing the hand count their points and pay off the winner accordingly.

Tips & Tricks Used in Indian Rummy

Follow the below tips to play rummy and upgrade your rummy skills to increase your chances of defeating the opponents:

Prioritize Pure Sequence:

Focus on creating a Pure Sequence early in the game. It's a crucial element for victory; making it early saves you trouble later.

Avoid Discard Pile Cards:

Steer clear of picking cards from the Discard Pile. Your opponents can catch on to your strategy when you take a face-up card they discarded.

Consider First Drop:

Opt for the first Drop wisely. It incurs the least points loss compared to subsequent Drops, helping you minimize your score.

Observe Opponents:

Pay attention to your opponent's moves, especially when they pick from the Discard Pile. Understanding their strategy can be a valuable advantage.

Dispose of High-Value Cards:

Discard high-value cards like Kings, Queens, Aces, and Jacks early on if they don't contribute to sets or sequences. You can also form four-card Sequences to manage extra cards.

Use Color Strategy:

Keep an eye on the colour of your cards, especially in a 2-player game. If you have more cards of one colour, your opponent likely has more of the other. Avoid discarding cards of the dominant color to limit their advantage.

How to Download and Play Indian Rummy on the MPL App

  1. Go to the official MPL website and head to the Rummy page.
  2. You can scan the QR Code on the website to download the app. Tap "OK" to start the download.
  3. If you see a safety check pop-up, click on "Download Anyway". Rest assured, the MPL App is 100% safe to download.
  4. Once downloaded, install the app and open it.
  5. Sign up using your mobile number to create an account.
  6. Select your favourite Indian Rummy game (such as Pool Rummy, Points Rummy, or Deals Rummy).
  7. Use your cards to form Sequences and Sets, then Declare your hand to win.
  8. If you're using an iOS device, simply search for the MPL app on the App Store and tap "Get" to download it.

FAQs

Are Indian Rummy Cash Games legal in India?

Indian Rummy Cash Game is legal in India. As per the Honourable Supreme Court of India, rummy is considered a game of skill, and therefore, it is legal to play rummy for money unless restricted by an Indian State.

Is Indian Rummy and 13-card rummy the same?

Indian Rummy often refers to the 13-card rummy, one of the most popular versions played online and offline in India.

Can I practice Indian Rummy for free before playing for cash?

You can play free practice Indian Rummy games before playing for cash on the MPL app. MPL offers free practice games for Indian Rummy that don't require any entry fee. Go to app store for rummy game download and start playing!

Which is the Best Site to Download the Indian Rummy App?

MPL is one of the best platforms to play Indian rummy game. It is RNG and SSL certified, features Fair Play and Anti-Cheat policies, and live monitoring of games, ensuring your game is completely safe and secure.

How many cards do you get in Indian rummy?

In India Rummy, each player is dealt 13 cards at the beginning of the game.

What are the rules of 3-deck Indian rummy?

In 3-deck Indian Rummy, the game is played with three standard decks of cards. Players follow the same rules as regular Indian Rummy but with an increased number of cards, making the game more challenging.

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Kiran Kumar

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Kiran is a Rummy pro and gaming writer, here to help you win big. He’s putting together a simple, easy-to-follow guide for all the different versions of Rummy. Whether it’s making the best hand, planning your moves, or figuring out when to raise and what to discard, Kiran’s tips have got you covered. His articles are packed with easy advice to help you outplay your opponents and win more. If you want to get better at Rummy, Kiran’s the guy to follow!

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