The rummy game is a classic. A traditional card game that has been played in India for centuries, it is loved by people of all ages today. It is a popular game that requires skill, strategy and a sharp mind to play. The game originated in the 19th century in Spain and later spread across the American continents. The first game that originated was named ‘Conquian’ and it has since then transitioned into several variations, each having slight differences in rules.
Today the game is played online by millions every day but the fundamentals of the game of rummy have not changed. The essence of the game lies in the simple concept that you have to use the cards dealt at the beginning of the game and arrange them in set combinations to logical declaration. The gameplay is simple but requires presence of mind and concentration.
Veterans of the game still go back to the game’s tips and tricks to brush up on a few things, because we all know no one is perfect. Let’s take a look at some easy tips of the game that’ll help you win big and play better next time you try a hand at online rummy.
- Figure out which variation suits you best
Online rummy gives you the opportunity to access free games for practice, to play for cash, and to play tournaments. As an initial step toward winning big, choose a format you like and practice it hard enough to become an expert at it. You can try playing across all formats to understand where your skills lie. Once you know that, try to ace the games in that format. Tournaments are usually more difficult than other formats, but they are equally exciting as well.
- Take time to arrange your hand
It’s a tip that you may overlook but very important. Arrange your cards in a specific order to avoid confusion when discarding them. A suggestion is to organize related cards of consecutive order together and unrelated ones at the other side. Also keep your Joker separately to avoid giving it out mistakenly as another card.
- Make note of your opponents’ moves
What your opponent discards might be useful to you. Make sure you track the cards that are being played, what the opponent discards and what he/ she picks. This would help you in making your own combination and also give you an idea of your opponents’ progress and combinations.
- Keep a strategy ready
Have at least one strategy ready before you dive into the game. Do not wait for the game to start to adopt a strategy because often while you take time to plan your moves, the game may just end by then. Hence, it is advised to have some technique and strategy to bluff opponents and get the cards you need from them.
- Let go of unmatched high-value cards
It is often risky to keep high cards like the king, queen, ace, and jack as you would be waiting for a specific combination and that might take longer than expected. Letting go of unmatched high cards early on will greatly help in reducing your points in case your opponent declares before you.
- Hold on to middle cards
Middle cards are a great route to making a set or a sequence, and it is advised to retain them over high cards. Given their versatile nature, you can use them to make more combinations than high or low value cards. For example, if you hold the ace and 3 of Hearts and are waiting for the 2 of Hearts but draw a 4 of Hearts, keep the 4 and discard the ace. This way you can make a combination of 2-3-4 or 3-4-5 instead of having to wait for the 2.
- Count the points in hand
Analyzing the total value of your hand time and again is very crucial in the game of rummy. Ensure that you keep track of the points after every move, especially when you play for cash.
- Trick your opponents
This one is a skill mastered by expert players of rummy. If you can trick your opponent into believing that your sequence is not the one you’re really trying to make, there is a high chance that your opponent might discard a card that you need. For example, if you hold the 8 of Diamonds and the 8 of Hearts and the 9 of Clubs, discard the last one and your opponent may end up discarding his/her 8 of Spades!
These tips will come handy when you play the game of rummy online. However, everything written above will be put to best use when you have practiced and applied them well. If you are an expert rummy player or even a novice, start playing the game now and get opportunities to win big!
