Rummy has been one of the most popular games from the time when there was not much the population could do in terms of relaxation and entertainment. Since the 18^th century, people in different parts of the world have been playing some kind of card games which bear similarity to the way we now play rummy– the draw and discard method.
The Chinese card game of Mahjong which gained acceptance during the 18^th century is considered by some to be the origin of the modern rummy games. Others believe the Spanish game of Conquian to be the beginning of rummy. Whatever be the origins of rummy, today, we all play online rummy and enjoy it thoroughly.
There are a number of variations of rummy, of which you can play a handful online at Rummyroyal.com.
Here we outline some of these rummy variations and give you a gist of how these games are played.

Each rummy variation offers a challenging twist to the normal rummy game. Gin Rummy, Contract Rummy, Rummy500, Canasta and Kalooki are some of the common versions for which you can play online rummy.
For those of you wanting to try out some more variations apart from these, there are others like Carioca, Rumino, Burraco, Oklahoma Gin, Michigan Rummy, Panquinque, Conquin, Shanghai Rummy and Russian Rummy, to name a few. 
Not all of these variations can be played online, but some of them can.
At Rummy Royal you can Plat Online Rummy for free or for reral money.

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The rummy card games can be classified according to their scoring pattern as positive and negative types.
In the positive rummy games, the melds carry positive scores; hence, the player builds as many melds as possible and tries to prolong his departure from the game until it becomes most profitable.
The negative rummy games only score negative points for deadwood while the melds are worth no points.
Therefore, in these kinds of games, the player will try to get rid of all his cards as soon as possible.

There is another sub-classification that can be made for the rummy games. You have flat-out variations like Conquian, knock-out games like Gin Rummy, drift out variations like the basic Rummy, contract games like Carioca and Contract rummy as well as positive scoring games like Canasta.
We attempt to give the basic information on some of these variations; for people who play rummy online, it is quite simple to explore other variations on their own.
Many online rummy sites have a detailed description of various rummy card game variations which are quite helpful.

Gin Rummy:

Gin Rummy is the most well-known version of Rummy.
The game uses a standard deck of 52 cards for two players.
Each player is dealt 10 cards and the first player to accumulate 100 points or any such agreed points will win a bonus of 100 points. Hollywood Gin and Oklahoma Gin are other off-shoots of Gin rummy.
Gin Rummy can be conveniently played online.

Contract Rummy:

Contract rummy uses two card decks along with 4 Jokers.
The peculiarity of this game is that players have to meet contracts before they can meld cards.
There are 7 deals where players have to make the contracts according to certain requirements.
Cards dealt for each round differs.
Contract Rummy can be played by minimum 3 and maximum 8 players.
3 card decks are used for more than 5 players.

Rummy 500:

Rummy 500 uses a single deck of 52 cards with 2 Jokers. 2 to 8 players can play Rummy 500; it is best played among 3 to 5 players.
4 players can play in a partnership as in Persian Rummy, a variation of Rummy 500.
The main object of the game is to accumulate 500 points first in order to win the game.
Additionally, the winner is required to dispose off all his cards. 

Canasta:

Canasta utilizes 2 decks of cards including 4 Jokers for 4 to 5 players. For 6 players, 3 packs of cards are used with 6 Jokers, totaling to 162 cards.
Each player is dealt 11 cards.
The card values in Canasta differ from those in the other variations of rummy.
The players are required to make ‘Canastas’ which is a meld of 7 or more cards. Players have to aim at getting rid of all their cards by melding and dropping off the last card on the discard pile. 
Canasta is generally played with 4 players in 2 teams, although this is not the rule.
It is essential for a team to build no less than 1 Canasta before either of the team members can go out.

Kalooki Rummy:

This is a variant of the Straight Rummy and is played with two decks of cards including 2 Jokers.
A minimum of two and a maximum of 6 players can play Kalooki.
This is one variation where you can play online rummy as this is a hot favorite of many rummy fans.
The goal is to create sets and runs of your cards so as to run out of cards before your opponent does.
Kalooki has many variants like the North American version, the European, the Jamaican and the South African Kalooki.
It is a favorite with the British as well.

Although some obvious differences exist in the variations of rummy games, the basic structure remains the same.
The differences lie in the number of card decks used, the value of the cards in each variation when you play rummy, the scoring and the number of cards each player is dealt.
If you play online rummy, you might find it easier to practice the various rummy games and understand the intricacies of each variant.
Online rummy sites allow you to play rummy for free so you can practice your game without losing too much of your bankroll.
Sites like Rummyroyal.com will assist you in your quest for perfecting your online rummy game for free.

My advice to you would be to concentrate on one rummy variant at a time so that you can master the skills to play rummy perfectly before you move on to compete with other online rummy players. 
You see, there is a likelihood of getting confused with the rules of rummy followed for each variant if you try to learn all of them at once.
Taking the process step by step is the best way to learn and master the skills to play rummy.

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Rummy is fun and there are many instances during the game where you are required to exercise your skills.
There may be occasions when you lose a few games but you can also win a few of them if you concentrate on learning the ins and outs of playing rummy.
As you must know by now, Rummy is the third most popular game played around the world, but very soon, it could top the charts in popularity.
So, why is Rummy so popular? 
One reason may lie in the fact that rummy has been played for more than a hundred years; a card game that was played in many homes, around kitchen tables to pass the time after dinner. 
Many of us have been introduced to this easy to play but nevertheless exciting game when we were kids.

It is said that rummy is an easy game to learn but a difficult one to master.
An inexperienced rummy player will find it difficult to beat an experienced one.
To be an expert, you need to master the skills and strategies of rummy and develop your own winning strategy.
Above all, you need a sharp memory and loads of concentration to succeed in beating your opponent.
The only way to do that is to play rummy often with friends and family. However, with today’s fast-paced life, this is easier said than done.
With our friends and family scattered over the globe, it is often impossible to keep in touch, let alone play rummy games.
But with the advancement of the World Wide Web, this has become a reality for many Rummy enthusiasts.
There’s nothing more thrilling than playing online rummy games with friends and family. 

Numerous websites offering online rummy and its variations have spawned in the recent years.
One of the most well-liked rummy variations is Gin Rummy, and the Internet has raised its popularity many notches with several ads dotting the online casino sites.
Today, you can play online rummy and particularly Gin Rummy, not just with family and friends, but with online players and virtual pals as well. 
To play online rummy quickly and easily, all you need to do is to search for a good online rummy website and you are ready to deal the cards! 
However, few basic precautions are essential when you play online rummy, and that is to find a site that does not promote unauthorized gaming.
Gaming sites often are conduits for viruses and malicious software that can play havoc with your computer system; hence, you must install adequate virus protection for your computer before you decide to download free games or play online.

You can play online rummy in two ways.
One is to download trial games from some of the online gaming portals, or you can play rummy for free on some of the portals that provide it.
Either way, the basic rummy game rules don’t change – the standard deck of cards is used and you would still require making sets and runs.
The structure of online rummy – the draw and discard method –remains very much the same.
To make it convenient for you, here’s a list of a few points that you should keep in mind while surfing for a good online rummy portal.

• Make sure that you play online rummy at a reliable website that is secured like Rummyroyal.com.
  It is never worthwhile risking your computer to viruses and spam which many dubious online gaming sites are known to propagate.
  If you don’t feel comfortable with the site design or its method of gathering information, move on to the next one – there are so many more out there that you could check out.
• It is a good idea to look out for rummy forums where you can interact with other online rummy players.
  It is also a good idea to look up reviews posted by other online gamers recommending particular online rummy portals that you could visit.
• Ensure that the free trial downloads are indeed totally free.
  Check out comments from previous users of these online rummy games so you know what to expect.
  If you find a great site where you enjoy playing online rummy, be good enough to drop a comment for the benefit of others looking for the same. 
• A safe and secure site with free download, and the option of playing for fun or for real money is Rummyroyal, and this the online rummy site that i can recommend for all rummy entusiasts.

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Some countries prohibit online gambling especially with games of chance. Online gambling is considered illegal in some states of the US.
However, in case of Rummy, it has been deemed as a game of skill and is perfectly legal.
The story goes thus.
Back in 1960, a Gin rummy tournament was planned in Las Vegas.
Mailers inviting potential players to participate in the tournament were to be sent by postal service.
The postal department however went to court stating that it cannot promote games of chance like rummy, as they are illegal.
The matter continued to be debated till 1965 when the high court at Las Vegas ruled that Gin Rummy was a game of skill and not of chance, which put an end to the controversy once and for all.
Even today, the Las Vegas court ruling holds and it is not considered illegal to play online rummy in the United States.

Many gaming experts speculate that the colossal proportion of growth of Gin rummy online can be attributed to its legality aspect in the United States. According to United States laws, the rummy games as well as all its variations are defined as “games of skill”.
This is the reason why American players can compete with each other as well as other players around the world for real money.
As opposed to online poker, which is presently deemed illegal in the US, online rummy offers players a legal playing field.  
This is probably another reason for the popularity of online rummy games.
Try online rummy today yourself, click here to play online rummy.

As with every trend that begins in our society, the community of people who play rummy is increasing by leaps and bounds.
Online Poker is at the peak of popularity today, but online rummy is not far behind.
Over the years, skilled rummy players have made a name for themselves due to their hard work and winnings.
Many of them play rummy because it is a source of income as well as fun and entertainment.
Rummy has been around for centuries and with its introduction to Internet at sites like Rummyroyal.com, online rummy has in fact progressed to break the geographical barriers and gone global.

The number of players logging on to online rummy portals is increasing and numerous websites are cropping up almost daily to cater to the demand. Rummy has a number of variants, many of which have gone online.
You can play online rummy including the basic version, Gin Rummy, the all-time favorite, Kalooki, Oklahoma Gin, Canasta, Rummy 500 and many more. The most popular website that offers the best of online rummy variations is Rummyroyal.com
You can play free games or play for cash; you can even participate in the various rummy tournaments and win cash prizes.

It is highly advantageous to play online rummy as you can improve your skills and increase your exposure to experience as well as novice rummy players.
Many websites that offer online rummy games have plenty of useful content in the form of beginners’ guides, tutorials, explanations of the game rules as well as winning tips and strategies.

We also have a rummy instruction video that guides you through how to play online rummy. Watch the video
Typically, an online rummy match is held between two to four players.
Each player is dealt cards which they have to combine into sets and runs.
Just like in the traditional play, the person who gets rid of all his cards first is the winner.

Since rummy is a game based on skill, practicing the game by playing for free is the best way to master the strategies.
Online rummy portals have chat rooms and forums which give you an insight into the game of rummy and the actual workings of the strategies.
By participating in the rummy forums, you can pick up valuable tips about the game.
I know of many people who play rummy for the money, that is, they want to play online rummy professionally.
Such players are experts in their game and more often have made the choice of the right version of rummy that they can excel in.
Hence, it is crucial to decide which versions of online rummy you want play.

Many people are familiar with rummy as a card game that they play at home with family and friends.
Many wonder whether they will experience the same excitement and thrill when they play online rummy.
The answer to the question is a resounding yes.
Besides, there are other advantages when you play online rummy.
The game can be played at your convenience as the rummy gaming websites are available 24×7.
You can share your passion for the game with other like-minded individuals. And, mind you, they need not be only your friends – you can link up with rummy players across the world without moving away from your comfort zone.

Some other exciting benefits when you play online rummy involve cash prizes and bonuses.
Often, rummy websites present first time visitors new player bonuses or no deposits for registration.
These are freebies to attract more players and you can use these opportunities to your advantage.
Practice your game and enjoy yourself without spending a dime!
Reputed websites like RummyRroyal.com have plenty of tournaments for rummy players almost every week.
These tournaments very often have guaranteed prizes.
This means irrespective of the number of players registering to participate, the prize money is the guaranteed fixed amount.
Buy in price can be as little as $10, which is hardly anything compared to the prizes you stand to win.

When you play online rummy, you get the opportunity to participate in Rummy Freeroll tournaments.
Freerolls are excellent for beginners to test the waters before playing at bigger tournaments for cash.
You can learn the skills of the game or try out new strategies that could help you play at professional rummy tournaments.
If you wish to try out a new rummy variation, playing at a Freeroll tournament will familiarize you with the game.
Usually, the winner of a freeroll tournament will earn a free seat at an upcoming cash tournament.
The best part is that you don’t spend any money to play while you have a fair chance of winning the big stakes.

While surfing for a reputed website where you can play online rummy, a few precautions need to be taken.
The security features of any gaming website are very important.
This is because you may be required to volunteer your personal details while signing up to play online rummy.
Reputed rummy web portals will clearly state the security features and software they utilize for your protection.
If these details are not clear enough, it is best to avoid the site. Before you select to play at any online rummy portal, read up their user agreement and privacy policy thoroughly.

Before you give out your bank or credit card details, try to verify the website’s reputation by reading reviews and comments posted by other users of the site. Also, check out the credit card statements to keep a track of the transactions taking place if you have provided your credit card details on the online rummy website.
Check out community discussion boards or chat rooms where you can interact with others to discuss the site’s features and policies.
The site Rummyroyal.com is the biggest online rummy provider, and is considered to be a safe and secure place to play online rummy.

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You must be sure that your details will not be misused by the online rummy website.
Hence, you must do your own research and a complete background check before you decide to play online rummy at the website you have short listed. Online rummy is extremely popular and there are plenty of fraudulent websites that are out to make a fast buck. 
So, be alert and vigilant of promotional campaigns or marketing gimmicks that such fake websites employ to attract gullible players.

Of all the variants of rummy, gin rummy is possibly the most popular and widely played card game. It could be deemed as the ultimate global game in the true sense of the word.
The reason for this fame and acceptance can be attributed to the fact that Gin rummy is the easiest version to learn.
After all, it is only slightly different from basic rummy.
With few complicated rules and strategies to master, this game has gained so much recognition that it was amongst the first online rummy versions to hit the gaming world.
Yes, it is certainly a game of skill and this may be one of the reasons why players enjoy the challenge.

Fans play online rummy because it is entertaining and exciting and the most popular site for online rummy is Rummyroyal.com
If you play Gin rummy, there is nothing stopping you from taking some steps (and by that I mean having some tricks up your sleeve) to win the game.
It is an accepted fact that knocking your hand early in the game is a big advantage. It gives you the benefit of earning extra points for the unmatched cards in your opponent’s hand. So, go ahead and knock as soon as possible.

Gin rummy players or anyone who plays rummy games for that matter must be extremely cautious while drawing cards.
This is especially true in case you are drawing a card from the discard pile.
Since the cards in the discard pile are placed face-up, the other players get an idea of the cards you are looking for when you pick one from it.
This action gives away crucial information to your opponent and he may adjust his own playing strategy so that he can beat you at building melds or knocking. 

If you want your opponent to discard a certain card you need, here’s what you can do.
During your turn, drop a card of a similar rank, leading your opponent to believe that you don’t need cards of that rank.
He might fall for this ruse, but you are in deep trouble if he is aware of the trick, himself!
But sometimes, you might get lucky with this ploy, particularly if you play rummy with an inexperienced player.
When you play online rummy with a professional, watch out for such traps, otherwise you are bound to be on the losing side.

Rummy is a game of skill.
A sharp memory is a great advantage for someone who plays rummy online.
You need a photographic memory to keep note of all the cards that have been discarded, the cards you hold as well as the cards dropped by other players.
Another strategy is to play at the same pace all through the game, so as not to give the opponent a chance to predict your moves.

The power of observation is a virtue for a person playing Gin rummy.
In traditional Rummy, reading the other player’s body language and his facial expressions helps to gauge the status of his cards.
Above all, you must yourself maintain a neutral expression (a poker face) whether you draw a great card or have lost a good opportunity.
Do not make it easy for the opponent to read you and take advantage of the information.
Of course, this point is irrelevant in case you prefer to play online rummy.

To win a game of Gin rummy, you have to collect either 100 or 250 points, as agreed at the beginning of the game.
In effect, to be able to win with the least amount of points, you have to meld the higher value cards first.
Going Gin is the most difficult thing to achieve, but it is not impossible.
For this, you must be able to combine all the cards in your hand into melds for which you get 25 points plus the total of your opponent’s deadwood.
Here you have the chance of scoring the required points to win. 

The other option to score is by knocking.
You may have melded the majority of your cards but still have some which could not be put into combinations.
If the total value of these remaining cards is less than 10, you can knock.
However, I have a word of caution for this scenario; you may not know if knocking at the particular stage of play is to your advantage or not.
If the opponent has a lower deadwood total than yours, he would win that round. 

Oklahoma Gin is another variant of Gin rummy which has slightly different rules.
In this game, you can knock only when your deadwood score is equal to or less than the up card.  The knock value is decided by using another deck of 52 cards, which is shuffled and placed alongside the draw pile, with one card turned face up.
This card value is the knock amount for that particular hand.
Once the hand is complete, this card is returned to the bottom of the pile and the next card is turned face up to give a new knock amount for the next round.
If the up card is an Ace, then knocking is not permitted and you can only win the hand by going Gin.

Some of the strategies and tips outlined above would surely be of great help when you play online rummy variations.
Although, at the outset you might find these strategies difficult to grasp, with due practice, you can become a pro at playing rummy.
There is nothing like a good practice game to get you started on your winning spree.
And what better way than to practice with free games at online rummy sites like Rummyroyal.com? So, start dealing those cards now!

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Rummy is a group of card games that share a similar structure.
The basic rummy game follows the draw and discards method of play during each turn.
The structure of play helps the players to meld their cards in groups i.e. sets and runs.
This basic method to play rummy has been followed for centuries by people from all over the world. Hence, you would find a number of variations in the games, especially when you play online rummy, which is a recent development as a result of the Internet revolution.

The beginning of rummy games are traced back to the Chinese card games of the18^th century.
The Chinese game of Mahjong is based on this same peculiarity of drawing and discarding cards which many believe to be the basis of the modern online rummy games we play.
Other rummy enthusiasts believe that rummy games were brought to the west by Spanish immigrants. Conquian, the Spanish card game bears similarity to Gin Rummy and is considered the antecedent for the modern rummy games.
The origins of the numerous variations of rummy are attributed to different continents and countries. Most of them are said to have been developed in America.
Rummy variations like Burraco Rummy and Canasta originated in Uruguay and were brought to the other countries including the United States.

However, there are variations of rummy like Rumino (also known as Rumina) which have a strong Italian connection.
It is said that this intense variation of knock rummy card game may have been devised by Italian immigrants in America during the 1940s.
It is presumed that the Italians adapted the game of Scala Cuarenta to Gin Rummy in order to create the rummy variation ‘Rumino’.

Rumino can be played by a maximum of six players.
Two standard card decks with 52 cards along with 4 Jokers, totaling to 108 cards are used to play this game.
The main goal is to reach 100 points but to keep the score low, since the game is mostly played for small stakes.
To begin with the deal, all players draw a card; the player with the highest card deals first and the dealing for subsequent hands moves to the left.
Every player gets seven cards and the balance un-dealt cards are placed on the table to form the Stock. The uppermost card from the stock is turned up to start off the discard pile.
The player on the left of the dealer begins the game by drawing a card either from the stock pile or the discard pile.

After drawing the card, the player is expected to form “lays” or combinations of three or four cards.
For example, he can form a set of three of a kind or four of a kind.
He could also form a combination of a 3 straight flush or a four-card straight flush.
In Rumino, unlike other online rummy games, the Ace is a low value card.
The Joker is a wild card, which means it can take the place of any other card to complete the group.
After drawing the card and forming lays, the player must cast off one card.
This action completes his turn of play.
It is now the turn of the player seated to his left to draw a card, form lays and discard.
The play continues in this fashion.

The extra cards that remain with the player after forming lays will earn him points.
When you play rummy, specifically Gin Rummy, you have the option of knocking.
In the game of Rumino, the player can knock when it is his turn if he has seven or less than seven points. When this happens, all the players will disclose their cards and add up their scores.
The “lays” are valued zero, in Rumino, while the deadwood cards are valued as follows: Jokers, King, Queen and Jack are counted as 10 points.
The Ace equals 1 point while the other cards from 2 to 10 will be counted according to their index values (2 of hearts=2 points, 3 of spades=3 points, etc.)

When a player draws a card and is in a position to form a lay of 4 as well as a lay of 3, it means he is using all seven cards.
In such a situation, he can declare “Gin” or he is said to be “hitting gin”.
It is also known as “ten less” probably because he is scored -10 points.
Other players will be scored points according to the cards they are left with.
This is one way of halting the hand.
In case the player ‘hits gin’ the first three successive hands while beginning the game, he will automatically win.

The player can declare “Rumino” if he draws 7 of a kind or a 7 card straight flush.
He is the outright winner of that game.
Suppose he has only six cards of a kind, he must wait to declare “Rumino” till he gets the seventh card. However, if another player discards the particular card he is hoping for, he can pick it up without waiting his turn and declare Rumino.

In Rumino, a player going over 100 points gets eliminated from the game.
He can, however, re-buy back into the game for the highest score if he so wishes.
But, there should be at least two players left in the game.
Each time the player re-buys, his stakes double.
Suppose the player re-buys at $10 the first time, the next re-buy for him would be $20.
If only one player remains with 100 or less than 100 points, he is the winner.
The person hitting Rumino is also the winner.
The winner will be awarded all the money in the pool. 
The winner will deal the first hand if a new game is started.

Although Rumino is an interesting rummy card game, I doubt it is available online.
In the present scenario, people prefer to play online rummy because it is extremely convenient, but there are also other variations of Online Rummy at Rummyroyal.com 
There is no need to move out of your comfort zone – all you need is a computer with an internet connection and you can get started with online rummy games of your choice within minutes.
Sites like Rummyroyal.com allow you to choose the online rummy variation you want to play. 
You can either play for cash or play for free and enjoy a thrilling experience without any hassles.
That’s because the computer manages your scores and if play was interrupted, your game will be saved so that you can begin playing rummy where you left off. 

Click Here to get Started or

Watch a video introduction on Online Rummy

Online rummy games are interesting because they are easy to play and hence high on the popularity charts.
You will come across a huge number of card games on the internet, but you might find that you can play online rummy quite easily, even if you are not very familiar with how the basic game of rummy is played.
So, you can play online rummy variations like Gin Rummy, Kalooki Rummy, Oklahoma Gin, Rummy 500, Canasta or Carioca rummy at one of the various gaming sites like Rummyroyal.com that exclusively offer card games.
Here, we discuss the rules and peculiarities that make up the game of Carioca Rummy.

Carioca rummy is a popular game in Chile and Argentina.
Carioca is a variant of Contract Rummy, but there are many differences in both these games.
Firstly, Contract rummy can be played among three or more players.
Carioca has two players.
In Carioca, the use of Jokers is optional whereas it is essential to use Jokers in Contract rummy.
Players are dealt 12 cards every time, unlike in Contract rummy where the number of cards dealt depends on the contract.
In contract Rummy, there are 7 contracts while in Carioca there are eight.
Sequences in Carioca can go “round the corner” but this is not allowed in Contract Rummy.

As I mentioned earlier, there are two players in Carioca and they use two decks of cards totaling to 104 cards.
If two Jokers are used, and mind you, this is optional, there will be 106 cards making the game a shade more interesting.
The card values are as follows: From 2 to 10 they are counted at face value, King, Queen and Jack equal 10 points, Aces equal 15 points and Jokers are valued at 25 points.

To begin the game the dealer is determined first.
The cards are shuffled and cut.
The person who draws the lowest card will deal first.
Each player will be dealt 12 cards.
The remaining cards form the stock, placed face down on the table.
The topmost card in the Stock pile is turned up and placed on the table to form the discard pile.
The main objective of the game is to create specific melds known as contracts.
Each hand will have different rules for the contract and once the contract is met, the players can lay off their cards on their own meld or the opponent’s meld.
Play begins with the dealer’s opponent drawing a card first – remember, there are only two players in Carioca.

When you play online rummy, the basic rules of the game are the same as the traditional play.
In Carioca, the melds are known by special names, i.e. Trio and Escala.
A Trio is a set of three cards of the same value while an Escala is a sequence of 4 or more cards of the same suit.
A sequence can go ’round the corner’, i.e. you can have an Escala of King, Ace, 2 and 3 of hearts.
As usual, the Jokers are designated wild cards.

Each of the 8 contracts will comprise of a combination of Trios and Escalas according to the following rules: 

First Deal — 2 Trios (6 cards)

Second Deal — 1Trio and 1 Escala (7 cards)

Third Deal — 2 Escalas (8 cards)

Fourth Deal — 3 Trios (9 cards)

Fifth Deal — 2 Trios and 1 Escala (10 cards)

Sixth Deal — 1 Trio and 2 Escalas (11 cards)

Seventh Deal — 4 Trios (12 cards)

Eighth Deal — 3 Escalas (12 cards)

As you will observe, the contract becomes more and more difficult as the game progresses.
Once you meet a contract, you must lay down the meld and discard.
You are not allowed to lay off any cards at this point in time, you may however, lay off at your next turn.
Laying off cards is a way to get rid of the cards in your hand.
The person who lays off the cards and discards first wins that hand.
The other player will have the cards remaining in his hand scored.
The one who has the least number of points at the end of all the 8 deals wins the Carioca Rummy game.

When you play rummy, that is Carioca rummy, you can draw your card from either of the piles, that is, either the stock pile or the face-up discard pile.
The card picked up from the stock pile can be held while another can be discarded in its place.
Or, the same card can be dropped off.
The play will continue in this manner until someone meets a contract for the particular deal, lays it down and gets rid of the rest of his cards.

Although the basic structure of Carioca Rummy is the same as any other rummy variation, the difficulty level of this game is slightly higher since you need to make the specific contracts.
But once you get to know the game thoroughly, you could even begin to enjoy this game.
If you wish to play online rummy, you can go to sites like Rummyroyal.com which offer games like Gin rummy and other online rummy games for that matter.

Playing rummy online is a matter of observation and skill.
When you play rummy, you are required to exercise your powers of observation to memorize the cards that are being played so that you get an idea of your opponent’s moves.
A good way to polish your skills and learn the strategies of the game is to play online rummy for free. Enjoy the thrills and practice your game till you achieve perfection.
You could then participate in online rummy tournaments and win big time. 
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Every Friday night is a “Friday Kalooki night” for me and my buddies.
At about 8 p.m. each Friday night we login to Rummyroyal.com for a game of Kalooki.
In case you’re wondering what kind of game a “Kalooki” is, let me tell you, it’s a card game that is the darling of us card lovers, is hugely popular in the US and from the number of people playing it online, I can say it is well accepted in the rest of the world. 
Until the recent past, we used to login and play online rummy but ever since I and my buddies were introduced to Kalooki during a local tournament, we’ve started playing Kalooki every Friday night.
So anytime you’re looking for something different from playing rummy online, try Kalooki.

Kalooki is a derivative of Rummy that requires an equal measure of skill and luck to beat your opponents. 
The game of Kalooki involves 2 decks of cards plus two Jokers totaling to 106 cards.
There can be 2 to 4 players.
The objective of Kalooki being to create runs from all of your cards before any of your opponents do.
This variation of rummy does not have the knocking or the Lay-off phase.
To win a Kalooki game, you have to run out of cards.

The Joker signifies 25 points. The Jack, Queen and King each are valued at 10 points and Ace is valued at 11 points.
All the other cards in the pack have values corresponding to their number.
The cards that are not dealt out are placed face down and form the stock pile.
All players can draw cards from the stock pile or the discarded pile.
You can use the card you’ve picked up to complete sets or runs.
You may also discard a card you do not need.

The main objective of the Kalooki variation of the rummy game is to run out of cards before the other players.
However, this way, you only win the hand.
The score for that hand is calculated and play of more hands continues.
The player having the maximum number of points will win the game at the end of the game session.
The game usually ends after a specific number of hands are played or a predetermined point value has been reached.

A number of terms are used to describe the various aspects of the game. 
You have to form sets and runs in the game; a set is a group of three or more cards of the same rank.
For example, a group of four Queens would form a set.
Runs are sets of cards that have a minimum of four consecutive numbers of the same suit.
For example, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Clubs would form a “Run”.
The Ace in Kalooki is a high value card, so you can have Jack, Queen, King and an Ace forming the run, but you cannot have Ace, 2, 3 and 4 as a run.
The sets and runs placed on the table are known as melds.

I bet you’ll find this next part very different (and pretty interesting) from your usual game of playing rummy online.
The two Jokers in Kalooki game are designated as wild cards so they can therefore take the place of another card in a run or a set.
For instance, a set of 5-5-Joker would require another 5 to take the place of the Joker.
The player can choose to pick up a Joker from the meld for his own hand, but he must replace it with the right card. Similarly, a run of 4 of Hearts-5 of Hearts- Joker- 7 of Hearts will need a 6 of Hearts to be replaced.
You are allowed to build on an existing meld as long as it is your turn and you have the necessary cards to continue the set or run.
However, you can only build on an existing meld if you have previously created a meld and placed it on the table.

The score is calculated when a player ‘goes out’.
Now, what’s ‘going out’ you’d ask.
Well, a player is said to have ‘Gone Out’ when he runs out of all cards either by melding, building on other melds and discarding the final card in the pile.
There can be an instance when the player ‘Goes Kalooki’.
In this case, a player holding all the cards at the beginning of play, melds these cards, builds and drops the last card in the pile, all within the same play, is said to have ‘gone Kalooki’.
In other words, he has met all the requirements in a single hand of play.
When a player goes Kalooki, his competitors have to pay a penalty of 25 points which are deducted from their score.

To begin playing the game, each player will draw one card; the player getting the highest value card is the dealer.
Next, the cards are shuffled, cut and dealt to the players, 13 cards to each.
After dealing to all players, the last card is placed face up to initiate the Open/ Discard Pile.
The balance un-dealt cards are placed face down, forming the Stock Pile.
The player on the left of the dealer will start play and the game progresses clockwise.
First, he will draw a card.
He forms the melds if he chooses and discards one card into the Discard Pile.
The game is carried on in this fashion until one player gets rid of all his cards. 
A new hand begins after one of them runs out of cards and the score is taken.
This continues till a winner emerges in the game.

When you play online rummy, that is Kalooki Rummy, a few things must be kept in mind.
If only 2 cards remain in the draw pile, the hand ends immediately, with no winner emerging.
A new hand will be dealt. Secondly, you are not allowed to draw a card from the discard pile at the beginning of your play and then discard it during the same turn.
It can be discarded at your next turn of play.

Like I said earlier, Kalooki is a game of skill; it provokes your thought processes and rouses your competitive spirit.
It is an entertaining game and easy to learn as well.
If you decide to play online rummy, take my advice and try out Kalooki.
I’m sure you’ll be hooked to the game just like me.
As to the question of which site is the best to play rummy, I’d recommend rummyroyal.com.
Here you can play basic online rummy and most of its variations either for free or for money and have a thrilling time, just by sitting in front of your computer at home!

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Four score and ten years ago, and long before you even heard of online rummy, a fever swept across America like a raging fire – a fever so out of control that no one was safe from it.
The doctors were called in but they were puzzled, because you see, the fever was non-fatal. 
In fact, it actually entertained the people so the good doctors decided that this fever might actually be good for the people and took no action other than to describe the fever thus:

The fever was christened “Canasta”.
Soon newspapers and various print media began writing about it.
Back then, there was no “online publication” as, the days of online rummy had not yet dawned.
While researching the news about the fever “Canasta”, the doctors soon realized that “Canasta” was a game – a card game to be precise but like the doctors, the news editors too were puzzled but for a different reason – they found that Canasta actually competed with Mah Jongg and Monopoly for popularity.

Now you have to realize that Mah Jongg and Monopoly were big – big as in everyone who was anyone played these games.
Canasta spread so quickly that various business magazines reported record breaking sales of card decks.
Leading magazines began to do stories on the game and many even published the rules of Canasta. Those who played rummy and these mind you, numbered in the hundreds of thousands, soon realized that Canasta was as high-scoring as rummy.
The more they read about its rules, the more excited they got.

There was a beginning…

With their super sharp noses and amazing network of reporters, the folks in the newspaper and magazine business soon found out that two people were responsible for inventing and releasing the game of Canasta to the public.
These two kindly gents were known as Segundo Santos and Alberto Serrato and they hailed from Uruguay, South America.
The newspaper folks secured an interview with both the gents and the amazing story of the origins of Canasta was revealed.
At this stage I advise you to set your game of Rummy Online aside, fetch that bottle of something nice which you’ve been saving, and settle down besides a warm fire.

I’ll have you know that Alberto Serrato was actually an honest architect by profession and it was he who had named the game “Canasta”.
We’re not sure how the name happened to spring to Alberto’s mind.
Was it divine intervention, was it intuition?
I guess some things must remain a mystery however temporary that might be.
Folks, this story goes back a long way.
How long back does it go?
Oh, I’d say about the time of your grandfather was born – 1939 to be precise.

You see, at that time, there was this card game called “Contract Bridge” that was quite popular. Segundo Sanchez used to play it too. In fact, he was actually a member of one of the big league Jockey Clubs.
Today you play online rummy.
Back then with no internet, the folks would relax with a pack of grimy, dog-eared cards and play a game or two of Contract Bridge.
But Segundo, the bright one, wanted the game to be longer than the hour or two that it took to complete a game of Contract Bridge.

Now in the elite Jockey Clubs I mentioned earlier, the members would play a game of rummy as a kind of warm-up for the game of Contract Bridge.
One fine evening while waiting for his partners to arrive, a glass of rum in his hand, Segundo began to dream…

He dreamt of playing a card game that combined the best parts of Contract Bridge, rummy, and a local rummy variant they called “cooncan”.
Excited about the prospects of inventing a new and potentially exciting game, Segundo began jotting down his dream game.
When his partner Alberto arrived, he explained the outlines to him.
For the next few weeks over several pints of gin or rum I don’t know which, both discussed, played, firmed up the new game borrowing and blending various rules from other games especially rummy.
The new game that was taking shape was a double-deck partnership card game that was very like rummy in that it involved melding but in the new game they could not only add to melds but could also claim the full discard pile.
Segundo and Alberto invited two other partners and after much trial, the new game was born.

How did they come up with a name like Canasta?

I bet you’d love the answer to that one eh?
Well, a few weeks after inventing the game, Alberto and his friends were sitting in a restaurant and playing their new game.
While at it, Alberto noticed a small wicker basket in which they would store their cards.
In Spanish, this basket is called the “Canastillo.” “Canastillo,” Alberto said, and a moment later said “no, Canasta”.
Not to be outdone, the others chipped in with variations of their own but in the end and because Alberto was the inventor of the game, they decided to name the game “Canasta” besides, it was an easy name to say, remember and in general, sounded quite nice.

But how did the game travel to the United States?

You see, there was this nice lady going by the name of Josephine Artayate de Viel who frequently visited New York.
It was she who took this game to the United States – The Regency Club in Manhattan to be precise, and introduced it to her game partners in the club.
The game became so much of a hit that one of the players, a publisher, asked Josephine to codify the rules so he could publish them.
Josephine did so and it was printed immediately.
That folks was when the fever began and it gave birth to the Legend of Canasta.
Today with the wonderful technology of the internet, you can play online rummy against other players in the comfort of your home.

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Mr. Wayne Dyer, who lives opposite my house, had purchased this card game called “Burraco” from Amazon.com for $19.00.
Knowing that I love card games, he brought the box over and showed it to me wanting to know if I’d be willing to give it a try. “Sure,” I said – always been a sucker for new card games.
Simultaneously, I reminded myself to ask Mr. Dyer why he felt the need to buy the box rather than play online rummy.
Whenever I play any card game (play rummy most of the time), I always play online rummy – it’s so much more convenient to play online rummy games don’t you think?

If you havent started playing online rummy yet, then you should try it at Rummyroyal.com
You can play against others for fun, or for real money.
As a new player there, they give you $5 just for registering an account, and then you can try and play online rummy for real money without spending a dime.
For those who can affort it, they also offers a deposit bonus, where they match what you deposit up to $200.
That means that if you deposit $50, you will also get $50 in bonus for free.
View an instruction video on online rummy.

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 Now lets get back to Burraco.

It is said that the game of Burraco originated in Uruguay in the 1940s and its name was derived from the Portuguese word ‘Burraco’ which means sieve. 
Burraco is quite popular in Italy as well.
In Italy, there are organizations, clubs and tournaments exclusively for Burraco fans. 
In fact, most online rummy sites will offer you the Italian version of the game.
You might want to check the site where you play online rummy to know which version is offered.
A book authored by Giorgio Vitale gives all the details about this game and is available in French, Italian and English.

Briefly, “Burraco”, is a card game played by four people in fixed partnerships.
Each member will attempt to make card combinations i.e., cards of equal rank and sequences are grouped together to form a “suit”.
An Ace is the highest ranking card and there is a bonus if you succeed in grouping seven or more cards.
Burraco is played with two packs of French playing cards and they include four jokers.
Jokers and 2’s are the wild cards in this game.

Each player is dealt eleven cards one by one.
Two piles of eleven cards each are placed at the corner of the table.
These are known as ‘Pots’.
The remaining cards are placed face down on the table to from the Stock Pile.
The top card of the Stock Pile is turned up and placed by the side to start the Discard Pile.
The main aim of this rummy variation is to be the first to accumulate 2005 points to win the game. This is done by continuing the combinations that you and your partner have already started.

Since Jokers and Deuces are designated as ‘Wild Cards’ in Burraco, they can be substituted with the card they represent in the combination.
A ‘Burraco’ is made up of a minimum of seven cards of a kind or a run of seven cards of the same suit. So you can have 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and a 10 of hearts forming a Burraco.
This would be deemed a ‘pure’ Burraco since there is no wildcard substituting another card in the combination.  
However, if there is a 2 of hearts in place of the 8 of hearts in the group, you would have a ‘dirty Burraco’.
The 2 of hearts can only be replaced by an 8 of hearts to make the Burraco pure.

The game progresses with a player drawing a card from the Stock pile.
If he is interested in a card from the discard pile, he has to pick up the whole pile.
The player can form his melds and lay them on the table.
He can also add more cards to an existing meld.
The final stage of play in his turn is to discard a single card.
The player who has put down all the eleven cards as well as those taken from the Discard Pile is allowed to take the Pot of eleven cards located at the side of the table.
These new cards can only be played during the next turn.
Another occasion where the player takes the Pot is when he has no single card left over to discard.
He takes the Pot and uses the cards during his turn of play.
The round of play ends when a player has taken a Pot, has melded all the cards he held and has at least one Burraco, either pure or dirty, and discarded his last card.

Let us now take a look at the card values in the game of Burraco.
Jokers equal 30 points while Aces equal 15 points and Wild Deuces equal 20 points. 
Card values 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are valued at 5 points. Cards 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen and King each equal 10 points.
A Dirty Burraco gets 100 points.
A pure Burraco will get 200 points.
The closing of the game gets 100 points to the player.
There is a penalty of a hundred points if you fail to take the Pot. After each closure of the play, the scores are added and the penalties (negative points) deducted to arrive at the final score for the game.

You can play online rummy at sites like Rummyroyal.com which offer a number of rummy variations that will ensure you have a good time.
The Burraco variation can be played online on a number of other Italian and Brazilian sites.
You could also play Burraco against the computer by downloading the game software.
This way, you can learn to play the game at your own pace.
You can adjust the skill setting to suit your level of play – either Medium or Expert.
The computer version allows you to control the speed of play, decide on the maximum score level to achieve, the playing table background, the style of cards, etc. but do check which version of Burraco is available.

The advantage of playing rummy online is that the computer saves interrupted games to be resumed later.
The computer also records the players’ scores and classifications if the play was interrupted, so that you can easily start to play rummy where you left off the previous time.
In other words, the computer manages all the nitty-gritty of the game while you can concentrate and play online rummy and simply enjoy yourself.

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Rummy Online may well be a simple game to learn and great fun to play.
But in terms of strategy, this is quite a complex game that is simply mind boggling to many.
Having said that, I present you some tips and strategies to get you up and going when you play online rummy.
For those who wish to make the transition from the traditional card game to online rummy, it is important to understand that there are a few differences in the way rummy is played online as compared to the one being played at home.

 You can Play Online Rummy at Rummyroyal.com

Click Here to watch an instruction video

It is an accepted fact that traditional rummy demands innovative playing skills and an excellent memory to master the game.
For a beginner attempting to learn to play rummy, the best approach is to memorize the steps involved in playing the game and apply them prudently, depending on the exact circumstance they are dealing with. 
Since the basic aim of the game is to be the first to get rid of all the cards in hand, the player must develop the skill to draw the right cards that would be useful for melding and discard those which are least useful.

At the beginning of a rummy game, whether it is online rummy or traditional rummy, it is advisable for the player to draw the first card from the Stock Pile.
After this initial draw, he must try to meld and lay off as many cards as possible, before discarding. Rummy Online is a memory game and as such, the player must be able to memorize the cards that are being drawn and discarded by his opponent over various turns of play.
With a little practice, a player will be able to actually gauge what kinds of melds his opponent is trying to build.

Agreed, this is not as easy as it sounds.
However, it can be done with careful observation of your opponent’s cards and being mindful of the availability of cards in the discard pile and the stock pile as well.
This rummy strategy also helps in deciding to discard those cards which will be of least use to the opponent.
Simultaneously, the player must also shield his own hand of play so that his opponent does not get the advantage.

When you Play Online Rummy, getting rid of high value cards is considered to be a healthy strategy. However, care should be taken to see that the other players do not benefit from your discarded high value cards.
Cards of medium value are much more useful strategically as compared to high or low cards.
The game of rummy requires loads of practice and to do that, you can play online rummy at the many internet gambling sites that offer free games as well as tutorials for the beginners.

As mentioned earlier, there is a slight difference in strategy when you play online rummy.
Here we attempt to explain the strategies that can be used to master online rummy games.

Planning your Moves and Organizing Your Cards in Online Rummy:

When you play online rummy, once you are dealt your hand of 10 cards, the first thing to do is to organize your hand.
This could be done by systematically organizing the cards you have into sets and runs followed by the unmatched cards.
When you do this, you can plan your strategy on playing your hand.
If you don’t arrange your cards, you have little idea of what you have and therefore end up playing a guessing game.
It is crucial to know what cards you have in hand and commit them to memory so that you are prepared to play the correct hand when your turn comes.

The Significance of Memorization in Online Rummy:

Great card players usually have the knack of memorizing the cards they see, which includes their own cards as well as those on the table.
To be an expert at playing online rummy, you must be able to commit to memory the cards you hold, the ones you discard as well as remember all the cards your rival has discarded.
You might also want to keep in mind the cards your opponent picked up from the discard pile.
You need to remember if they were his own cards that he came back for or were they your discards? All this data will help you determine what exactly your adversary is trying to do.

Would it be an Offensive or Defensive Strategy?

In online rummy games, particularly Gin Rummy, it is essential to evaluate your hand to decide whether you can take the chance to knock or try and undercut the knocker.
Upon taking stock of the cards you have, it becomes immediately clear what type of hand you hold and the playing strategy you should adopt.
Once decided you must stick to the strategy throughout the game.
Changing tack midway does not augur well for your game and may cause you to hold a hand that does not play well.
At times, you may be stuck with a hand of cards that is simply no good, no matter how you play it.
In such instances, it is prudent to get rid of any high ranking cards and maintain as low a score as possible.

Studying the Opponent’s Moves in Online Rummy:

When you play online rummy, you must be able to figure out your opponent quickly.
This would be difficult if you are up against an expert rummy player, yet his style of play will become apparent pretty soon.
Once you get the hang of what you are up against, you need to make some quick decisions as to your playing tactics.
Sometimes, a pattern may emerge as regards your opponent’s game.
For instance, your opponent may always play to knock at the first opportunity or that he tries to undercut more often.
With the help of this information, you can adjust your play to get the advantage.  

While all the strategies discussed above are helpful to win the game of online rummy, a photographic memory would certainly be boon to the rummy player.
A superior memory makes playing online rummy a breeze.
But for those of us not so fortunate enough to possess this gift, memorizing all the cards held, drawn and discarded is the only way to turn the game in our favor.  

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