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Online Rummy – Scoring Tips and Strategies

February 2, 2010

Online Poker may top the charts in popularity, but the all-time favorite family game is undoubtedly rummy.
Whether people play online rummy or they prefer playing the game the traditional way, it is one game that is close to the hearts of many.
As children, rummy was one of the first games we learnt to play.
And even as adults, playing rummy brings back fond memories of childhood and the bonding that was shared by family members over a rummy game.

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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