Official Rummy Rules – EliteMelds

Welcome to EliteMelds! Rummy is a skill-based card game enjoyed by millions across India. To ensure fairness and clarity, below are the official rules followed on our platform. All players are expected to understand and follow these rules before participating in any game or tournament.

1. Objective of the Game

The goal in rummy is to arrange all 13 cards in your hand into valid combinations of sequences and sets. A valid declaration must include at least two sequences, one of which must be a pure sequence (without a joker).

2. Deck and Card Distribution

Each game is played with two standard 52-card decks, including jokers. Each player is dealt 13 cards at the beginning of the game. The remaining cards form the closed deck. One card is selected randomly as the wild joker. There is also a discard pile that players use during the game.

3. Valid Combinations

  • Sequence: A group of 3 or more consecutive cards of the same suit. Example: 5♦ 6♦ 7♦
  • Pure Sequence: A sequence without any joker (printed or wild). This is mandatory for a valid declaration.
  • Impure Sequence: A sequence that uses one or more jokers to replace missing cards.
  • Set: A group of 3 or 4 cards of the same rank but different suits. Example: 8♣ 8♦ 8♠

4. Use of Jokers

There are two types of jokers in rummy:

  • Printed Joker: A card printed with the joker symbol
  • Wild Joker: A randomly chosen card at the beginning of each game that acts as a joker

Jokers can be used to replace missing cards in sets or impure sequences but cannot be used in pure sequences.

5. Game Play

Players take turns in a clockwise direction. On each turn, a player must:

  1. Pick one card from the closed deck or the open discard pile
  2. Discard one card into the discard pile

This continues until a player makes a valid declaration.

6. Declaration

To declare, a player must organize all 13 cards into valid sequences and/or sets, ensuring at least one pure sequence. A declaration is checked by the system instantly. If the declaration is valid, the player wins. If not, the player is penalized with maximum points.

7. Scoring

Each card carries points:

  • Numbered cards: Face value (2 to 10)
  • J, Q, K, A: 10 points each
  • Jokers: 0 points

The losing players are assigned points based on the value of unarranged cards in their hand. The lower the points, the better.

8. Winning Criteria

A player wins the game by making a valid declaration with:

  • At least two sequences
  • At least one pure sequence
  • All 13 cards used in valid combinations

9. Drop and Middle Drop

Players can choose to drop out of a game before or during play:

  • First Drop: 20 points penalty
  • Middle Drop: 40 points penalty
  • Invalid Declaration: 80 points penalty (maximum)

10. Tournament Rules

EliteMelds tournaments may include formats like Points Rummy, Deals Rummy, and Pool Rummy. Each format has its own scoring and elimination rules, which are displayed before joining any tournament. Players are advised to read the format carefully before participating.

11. Fair Play

Collusion, multi-accounting, bot use, or any unfair means are strictly prohibited. EliteMelds monitors all gameplay and reserves the right to block users found violating the fair play policy.

12. Responsible Gaming

Rummy is a skill-based game meant for entertainment. We encourage players to set limits and take breaks. EliteMelds offers tools for self-exclusion and limit settings for users who wish to manage their playtime responsibly.