Rummy 500

How to play Rummy 500

Rummy 500 is a rummy game where every card you put down counts. You and Ben, the computer player, take turns making sets and runs, adding to each other's melds and digging into the discard pile for the cards you need. Points add up hand by hand, and the first player past 500 wins.

The deal

Each player gets thirteen cards. The next card is turned up to start the discard pile, which is spread out so you can see every card in it, and the rest form the stock. You and Ben take turns to deal, and the player who didn't deal goes first.

Your turn

Draw the top card of the stock, or take from the discard pile. You can take the top card, or any card deeper down along with every card above it, as long as you meld that deepest card straight away.
Meld as many sets and runs as you like: a set is three or four cards of the same rank, and a run is three or more cards in a row in one suit. An Ace can be low (A-2-3) or high (Q-K-A), but not both at once.
Lay off cards on any meld on the table, yours or Ben's: a fourth card of a set, or the next card at either end of a run. The cards you lay off score for you.
Discard one card to end your turn. If you took just the top card of the discard pile, you can't put that same card straight back.

The end of a hand

The hand ends when someone has no cards left, by melding them all or by discarding the last one. It also ends if the stock runs out and the player whose turn it is doesn't want to take from the discard pile.

Scoring

Number cards are worth their number, and Jacks, Queens and Kings 10.
An Ace is worth 15, but just 1 at the low end of a run, as in A-2-3.
Each player scores the cards they've put on the table, less the cards still in their hand, so a hand can score below zero. The first player past 500 wins; if you're tied, you play on.

Tips

We tested these by letting Ben play thousands of games against copies of Ben that each changed one habit. Our Rummy 500 strategy guide has all the numbers.

Use the discard pile. Take from it whenever the cards add to your score, and dig deep when the card you need is far down. A player who always drew from the stock won 26 games of 4,000 against Ben.
Lay off on every meld you can. Cards you add to Ben's melds score for you. A player who never laid off won 6 games in 100.
Keep your high cards and throw your low ones. It's the opposite of most rummy advice, but high cards score more once they're melded, and a high card you throw is a gift to Ben. A player who always threw their highest card won 8 games in 100.
Watch what Ben picks up. Don't throw a card that goes with one Ben took from the pile. It's a small edge, but a real one.

Questions

How is Rummy 500 different from Gin Rummy?

In Gin Rummy you keep your melds in your hand until someone knocks. In Rummy 500 you put them on the table as you go, you can add to your opponent's melds, and you can take more than one card from the discard pile. Both players score in every hand, so games are longer and scores climb faster.

Do you play with Jokers or call "Rummy"?

No. Many families add Jokers as wild cards, or let a player call "Rummy!" to grab a playable discard. We play the simpler game without either, which is a common way to play.

What does the Hint button do?

Before you draw, it says whether anything in the discard pile is worth taking. After that, it suggests a meld to put down, a card to lay off, or the card to discard, choosing them the same way Ben does.

Is there any betting or money involved?

No. Rummy 500 here is played just for fun: there's no betting, no prizes and no real money, and nothing to buy.

Can I take back a move?

Yes. Undo takes back your moves one at a time during a hand. Your game saves itself as you play, so you can stop and come back later.

What is the game number?

Every game has a number, and the same number always deals the same cards. Share the link to play the same game as a friend, or try today's game, which is the same for everyone.