Play pool is a variant of rummy card game that is very popular in many countries around the world. There are several variations depending on regional specificities. The current rule is derived from rules that appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. Play Pool is inspired by Royally Rummy game called rummy that appeared on the border of the Indian state.
How to Play Pool Rummy Game?
This game can be played between 2 to 6 players with 13 cards.
In the game, a wild card is selected to act as a joker. If a printed joker card is chosen, players have the option to use an S card from any suit as a joker. This means that a player can replace the joker with another card. For instance, if a player has a sequence with 7 and 9 cards, they can use the Joker card in place of an 8 to create an impure sequence.
When it’s their turn, a player can choose to draw cards from either the open card deck or the closed deck. If playing online, all discarded cards are shown in a separate tab for the player to see what others have discarded.
To achieve a specific objective, a player needs to draw cards to create either a sequence or a set. A sequence involves consecutive numbers like 5, 6, and 7, whereas a set involves cards of the same number but from different suits, such as the 9 of diamonds, spades, and hearts. You can find guidance on how to construct layouts and sets right here.
To win the game, every player needs to reach a certain minimum number of points. However, when a player successfully creates a sequence or set, they are not awarded any points. Instead, the remaining players earn points based on the cards they have in their hands. It is only natural for a player to strive to create a sequence as quickly as they can.
Rules of the Play Pool Rummy Game
The Distribution:
The dealer of the first round is drawn at random and chooses his place. The two decks of 54 cards are shuffled to form a single deck. The dealer has the player to his left cut the deck and deal 13 cards clockwise to each player and 14 for himself. The rest of the cards are turned face down which will constitute the draw pile. In each round, the next player distributes the cards, becoming a dealer.
The Game:
The dealer begins, organizing the game with the 14 cards they have in their hand and discard an unnecessary card, so that he only has 13 cards left. The player thus creates a second pile of face-up discard cards, placed next to the draw pile.
The player on his right draws a card, also organizes his game, and throws away an unnecessary card, and so for each player, always in a clockwise direction.
Game Turn:
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The player whose turn it is begins by drawing, either from the first card of the draw pile, or the first card from the discard pile, but only if this card allows him to place all or part of his deck it must be placed during the present turn. If possible:
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You can place all or part of his cards to form one or more combinations on the carpet
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Place one or more cards from his deck on one or more decks already placed by himself or by other players on the table.
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You can exchange an already placed joker with a card from his hand having the same value as that represented by the joker but only if the player has already placed cards. They must then play a combination with this joker immediately.
Finally, discards a new card from his hand and places it on the discard pile, still face up. It is then up to the next player to play. Players are “high cards” when they only have one card left in their hands. They can then no longer draw the first card from the discard pile and must say “card” out loud otherwise they will have to draw two cards!
Valid Combinations:
Combinations that can be applied:
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Series of 3 cards of the same value (three of a kind) or 4 cards of the same value (four of a kind), but of different colors. example: 3♦-3♣-3♠.
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sequence, called follow-up or third in certain variants of at least three consecutive cards of the same suit. Example: A♥-R♥-D♥.
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Be careful, the ace placed in the position of 1 will remain a 1. The ace placed in the position of an ace after a king will remain an ace.
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A joker can be played to replace any card, but only one joker per sequence. This rule only applies to the joker. Any card that is part of a combination can be collected by another player to form another combination on the strict condition that there are always at least 3 cards remaining.
· A combination of four cards of the same value (square), but of different suits, example: 8♦-8♣-8♠-8♥ can also be modified provided there are 3 cards remaining, in order to form another combination with the removed card.
· Each player takes turns, until a player has placed or discarded their last card. If the draw pile is empty, we shuffle the discard pile to create a new draw pile.
