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We, Indians absolutely love to play online rummy. However, if you ask about the history of Rummy, it is not an easy task to answer.

Many different theories surrounding the History of Rummy are in fact referring the origins of the Rummy games. However, in reality, probably over the years the modern day rules are an amalgamation of various different rummy games. Rummy is a family of games that share a similar structure. All these games include a similar gameplay pattern that consists of drawing and discarding a card during each turn.

The origins of the Rummy games go back a couple of centuries. The theories surrounding the origin are:

Conquian Origin

The first theory is that Rummy evolved from a game called “Conquain”, which itself originated in either Spain or Mexico. It’s believed to be invented by the Spanish and brought to America by Spanish immigrants. According to the theory, this was the very first example of rummy and all other forms effectively stemmed from it. It’s believed to have spread throughout America during the 19th century before reaching England, where it was given the name “Rummy”.

Poker Origin

The second theory is that Rummy evolved from a particular form of poker known as Whiskey Poker. It was stated that Whiskey Poker was very similar to the game of Rummy that we know today; it was subsequently known as Rum Poker and then eventually Rummy.

Chinese Origin

The third theory is that Rummy originated in China at some point during the 19th century, starting out as a game called Khanhoo/ Mahjong. Soon many Western variations of Mahjong appeared and a common assumption is that the game mutated following the swift spread of Chinese immigrants to the West.

Egyptian Origin- There is a strong belief that Rummy was originally evolved from the ancient “Egyptian card game”. The object of the game is to achieve most points by assembling pictures (Trios) of ancient Egyptian treasures. The rummy deck contains 45 cards made up of 5 color-coded suits, with each color-suite containing 9 cards.The 5 color-suits are:

• Red
• Blue
• Green
• Yellow
• Purple

Each 9 card color-suit has 6 double image cards and 3 single image cards.

Other Trio Images:

American Origin- The special literature on Rummy records that Rummy is an American invention, and originates its name from the rum, the drink. Coon-can appears to be the first member of the large family of the Rummy games, which was first played in the southern areas of the United States of America and in Northern-Mexico. Rum was the popular drink of the region, and the losing party paid in rum to the winner according to some studies. The meaning of the original word is definitely originated from rum. In the United States of America, it is a common thing to differentiate certain games by using a name of an alcoholic drink. For example, in poker terminology whiskey, gin and rum are commonly used as prefixes.

Hungarian Origin- The presence of Rummy in Hungary was first reported in newspapers after WW1. The game presumably appeared earlier – around 1915 – at the tables of coffee shops in Pest, and gained over players from other popular board games at an immense speed. Due to its simple, easy to learn the rules it has soon become an addiction.

It’s difficult to trace the exact history of the game, but it’s fair to say that rummy in one form or another has been played for a very long time. It’s very possible that there’s some truth in all of these theories. Regardless of exactly how the game came about, it has certainly stood the test of time and has been enjoyed by generations of card players.

Deck of Cards:

In the earlier days, owning a deck of cards was something only the rich and elite could afford. The cards that we use now to play card games have evolved to the current state after many modifications. They were initially handmade and each card was painstakingly painted. The evolution of paper and printing techniques is what has made the packs of cards so easily available.

It is widely believed that the history of the name “Gin Rummy” came from the inventor’s love of drinking Gin. The game became very popular in the 1930’s and was played extensively by the famous movie stars in Hollywood as a quick game to play between filming.

History of Rummy card game

The popularity of Rummy was further increased during the Great Depression when people tended to stay indoors and entertain themselves by playing games rather than partake in other forms of expensive entertainment.

“So many men, so many minds” is a typical characteristic of Rummy.   A. Pennycook in his book describes at least 40 versions of Rummy with a different name: Kalooki (Kaluki, Kalookie), Gin Rummy, Rummy 500, Oklahoma Gin, Hollywood Gin, Shanghai Rummy, Michigan Rummy, Liverpool Rummy, Carioca Rummy, Crazy Rummy, Progressive Rummy, Contract Rummy, Rummicube, Ultimate Online Rummy Site, Russian Rummy, Krazy Bee 15 Rummy, Hungarian Rummy, Rummy-O, Continental Rummy, Conquian, Frustration rummy, 12-Step Rummy, Tripoley Rummy, Construction Rummy, Bonanza Rummy, Robbers’ Rummy, Rumino, Canasta, Rummy Omar, Dummy Rummy and many more.

 Origin of the name “Rummy”:

Where did the name “Rummy” come from? No one knows for sure, although there are a few theories:

• “Rum” is British slang for “odd” or “peculiar” or “queer” – perhaps their first reaction on learning the particular mechanics of the new game Rummy.
• There is a game called “Rum Poker” that bears a strong resemblance to Rummy and indeed is believed by some to be the antecedent for the entire family of Rummy games.
• Some have suggested that Rummy was originally played for rum (the alcoholic drink), with the loser of a hand buying the next round.
• An early rulebook spelled it as “Rhum” or “Rhummy”, suggesting a European derivation (“rhum” is a word used in many French-speaking locales).
• The name Rummy may be based on the words “rumbullion” or “rumbustion”, meaning “a great tumult or uproar”.
• The Dutch word “Roemer” (pronounced “rummer”), a drinking glass used by Dutch sailors, may be the origin of the word “rum” (the drink), and so of the game Rummy.

 David Parlett has an amusing quote regarding the history of Rummy and it’s possible relation to the drink “rum”:  “The origins of Rummy would, therefore, appear to be lost not so much in the mists of time as in the alcoholic haze of history!”

These days, Playing online Rummy is very popular and offers players the chance to play many versions of rummy online, in their own homes regardless of the time of day. This has ensured the increasing popularity of Rummy and will continue to do so.  The number of people who play rummy card games is increasing day by day due to his popularity.

Perhaps we are only witnessing the beginning of the History of Rummy!

Here is the comprehensive list of rules to play the most popular and exciting 13 Cards Indian Rummy game on Deccan Rummy. Learn how to play rummy online and get going almost instantly

Number of Cards required to play  Rummy Online:

13 cards are dealt to each player at the beginning of every deal in Deccan Rummy.

Number of Players:

13 Cards Rummy can be played with a minimum of 2 players and a maximum of 6 players.

Dealing in Deccan Rummy:

A random toss is made at the beginning of the game to decide which player will make the first move. After the toss, a wild joker is selected randomly from the closed deck and 13 cards are distributed to each player. Every player has to arrange all the 13 cards in their hand into proper sequences and/or sets. [The Sort button feature has been implemented by Deccan Rummy by which you can sort your cards with a click of a button] Each player during his/her turn has to pick a card from either Closed or Open Deck and discard one of the hand cards on the Open Deck. The first player who arranges all his/her hand card in sequences and/or set wins the game. It is that simple!

To play rummy online and win the game one should be familiar with the following terms and techniques.

Rummy Basics

There are two basic concepts on how to play rummy online.

Sequence: A sequence in Indian Rummy is made of 3 or more consecutive cards of the same suit.

Sets: A set in Indian Rummy is made by 3 or 4 cards of the same rank from different suits.

Jokers: Jokers (both Wild and Printed) have special roles – they can replace any card to form sequences and sets.

Objective of the Game:

As mentioned above, all the cards have to be arranged in proper sequences/sets. However, in order to win in rummy, players need to have at least two sequences, one of which must be a pure sequence (without Jokers) and other cards arranged in sequences and/or sets. 

 How to Win?

If any player completes the objective of the game, he/she has to discard the hand card on the Finish Slot to declare the game. If it is a valid hand, he/she will win with zero points and the points of the losing players will be calculated based on the value of their cards.

Scoring:

Scores of a losing player is calculated by adding the points carried by the cards in his/her hand. In case if a losing player does not have two sequences – a pure sequence and a pure/impure sequence, then points of all the cards are calculated. In other instance, if a player has two sequences – a pure sequence and a pure/impure sequence, then only the cards that are not grouped into sets or sequences will be counted.

After the winner declares rummy, all other players who have not packed count their hands for pay-off. The values of the cards are as follows:

Drop Scores:

If a player drops in the first move, he/she gets 20 points and the game continues till a single player finishes the game. 40 points are given to players who drop after their first turn.

Wrong Declare:

If a player declares the game without meeting the objective, he/she gets 80 points and the game continues till a player emerges as the winner.

Rummy Variations

The popular game of 13 cards rummy gets even more interesting with its unique variations. Each rummy variation exceeds the reputation of the other with their levels of excitement and entertainment. Try the one which suits you or try everything to experience a whole new variety in gameplay.

• Points Rummy
• Deals Rummy
• Pool Rummy
  • 101 Pool
  • 201 Pool

Points Rummy

Points Rummy is the fastest form of 13 cards rummy. Millions of players chose to play this rummy variant as there is more scope to win lots of real money. The game is very competitive as up to 6 players can play together to earn money within a short period of time. Players play for a pre-decided monetary value that they assign to each point. The winner of the game takes all the money that his opponents lose during the game. Due to monetary point system, Points Rummy remains as a favourite rummy variant among many online cash players. Learn how to play rummy online and try this awesome rummy variant.

 Game play:

Random toss is made to decide the player who will make the first move. A wild joker is randomly selected and 13 cards are dealt to every player. After the cards are distributed to every player, the first card of the pack is placed face-up to form the open deck. The remaining cards are placed face-down, which forms the closed deck. Players need to arrange all the 13 cards in sequences and sets. They need to pick a card from the closed or open deck and discard one of the cards on the open deck.

Objective of the Game:

Players need to make at least two sequences, one of which has to be a pure sequence and arrange the remaining cards in sequences or sets. Once the objective is completed, you need to discard one of the cards in the finish slot and declare the cards. If all the cards are grouped into valid sequences and/or sets, you win the game with zero points. Rummy is purely skill based rather than luck so the better you develop your skills, the better are your chances to win.

Winner’s Score:

The first player who finishes the game after completing the objective wins the game. The winner gets zero points.

Deals Rummy

Played for a fixed number of deals, Deals rummy is another exciting variation of rummy. Usually played for 2, 3, 4 and 6 deals, the winner of each deal wins chips from the losing players. The sole player who has the maximum chips at the end of all deals is declared as the winner.

Winner’s Scores:

The first player who finishes the game after meeting the game objective wins the sum of chips from all losing players depending on their scores.

Calculating the Scores

Scores of losing players are calculated by adding the points carried by the cards in his/her hand. If a losing player does not have two sequences – a pure sequence and a pure/impure sequence, then points of all the hand cards are calculated. If a player has two sequences – a pure sequence and a pure/impure sequence, then only the cards that are not grouped into sets or sequences will be counted.Only a single winner gets all the chips at the end of each deal.

Winnings = Sum of points of all opponents assuming each chip is equal to one point. Ex: 6 players play a Deals Rummy game and a player declares the game. Now, the winner gets all the chips based on the points of the losing players. If the five players lose with 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 points, the winner gets 150 chips (10 + 20 + 30 + 40 + 50 = 150 chips).

Pool Rummy(101 Pool, 201 Pool)

Pool Rummy is another competitive rummy variant where players play with lots of cash. Players have to pay a fixed entry fee to play the game in order to win the pool prize. The game is quite exhaustive as there is no fixed number of hands or deals. Players are eliminated when they cross a fixed number of points, for example, 101 or 201 points pool. This rummy variant continues till all the players are eliminated and the player with the least number of points wins the total pool prize.

The gameplay of Pool Rummy is almost similar to Points rummy. However, an element of elimination makes the game a lot more competitive than other forms of rummy.

Elimination:

A game of Pool Rummy takes a longer time to end due to the element of elimination. A player gets eliminated when his/her points reach the maximum limit defined by the particular type of table – 101 Points Pool or 201 Points Pool.

When a player loses a game, his losing points are carried to the next round. For example, in a 101 Pool Rummy game of four players, if a player loses a game with 80 points, then his points are carried to the next round. Again if the same player loses with 40 points, he is eliminated from the game, as his accumulated point is 120 (80+40), which is more than 101. Similarly, the game continues till all the players are eliminated and one single player survives without accumulating a total sum of 101 Pool Points.

Unethical Play

Rummy is an individual (not a team) game. Any action intended to help another player is immoral and is prohibited. Unethical play, such as playing less aggressively against a partner and chip dumping (intentionally losing chips to a partner), may result in account suspension, including seizure of funds from the offender’s account and/or termination of the account. Deccan Rummy routinely reviews gameplay to look for violations of our rules and to ensure the integrity of our games. It may be necessary to withhold player winnings until the completion of game play reviews.

So, play all the rummy variations to enjoy a new gaming experience at Deccanrummy.com! Find out yourself which variant is the most exciting of all!