Seven Hacks to take your Rummy Game to the Next level

Rummy is a game which requires us to don our thinking cap. The game has a rich history in India being played for generations. Most of us grew up playing rummy with our family and friends. It ‘s a game that is common during all festivals and social gatherings in the Indian society. Rummy is viewed not just as a game for entertainment but also considered as a good exercise for skill development. In order to succeed in rummy, one needs a good combination of cognitive skills and observing power.

Though the outcome of the game depends on a combination of several factors, it is the skill of the player which rules the roost in any rummy game. Ask any player who’s been playing the game for long about his expertise in the game, all of them would point towards the necessity of practice. As with the adage “Practice makes a man perfect”, practice is the only way through which you are going to master the game. Regardless of whether you win or loss, it’s always great to level up our game. While we can’t call it as cheat codes unlike other games, here are a few ways through which you can level up your game

A neat and arranged room gives you intense pleasure to carry out any task. Similarly while playing rummy, it is important that you arrange your cards in a systematic way to prevent confusion. Arrange your cards in an alternate color sequence (Black (Spade) – Red (Diamonds) – Black (Clubs) – Red (Hearts)) or (Red-Red-Black-Black) whichever way you are comfortable with, though experts prefer the former.

The main objective in a rummy game is to build a pure sequence without which you do not stand a chance to win. Prioritize your moves in a way that you make the pure sequence first. Making pure sequences in the beginning means, half the battle won. Even if your opponents declare before you, you still lose with less points.

One of the basic strategy in rummy is to reduce the point load at the earlier part of the game which is done by discarding higher value cards i.e. face cards. Unless the face cards are a part of a sequence or a set, it’s always a risk to hold them as standalone cards.

Try to retain and get cards in the middle sequence as they can be easily melded into a run. The advantage you
have with middle cards(5-8), is that they can combine with both low value cards and high value cards. Also, they will cause you less penalty than high-value cards in the event your opponent declares before you.

While we do not mean peeking into their cards or using any unscrupulous methods, what we mean is to observe your opponents’moves by watching their discards and watching their pick-ups from the open deck. Once you observe their moves as mentioned above, you can an idea on the melds they are trying to make and you can plan your moves accordingly.

To bluff in rummy, you need to have extraordinary observation skills. In the event you notice that your opponents are not picking from the open deck for some turns, you can conclude that they are struggling with their hands. In such cases, you need to pick 2 or 3 cards continuously from the open deck during your turns. Your opponents might think you are heading towards a finish and may simply drop out. Now that’s a bluff! You’ve clearly outsmarted your opponents!

Joker cards are your trump cards in your rummy game. Apart from the two printed jokers, you also get a wild joker which you can substitute for the missing card to make a sequence and/or a set. Make use of them abundantly as you get them during your turns

As you’ve learnt it, attaining mastery in rummy is no big deal. These natty tricks will come to your aid and help you win more consistently. But do remember, there’s no substitute for practicing. Spend more time in practice tables trying to execute these strategies and in few days, you will see yourself as a successful rummy player.