In rummy, the Joker is a card that can be used as a trump card. It can be used in place of any missing card to form a set or sequence. There are two types of Jokers: printed Jokers and wild cards. While printed Jokers come with a joker’s picture printed on them, wild cards are chosen randomly at the beginning of each game. Wild cards also act as Jokers, so they are a kind of additional Jokers.

Every player has the option to choose whether or not they want to play a game/a particular round in a game before drawing their first card. If they decide not to play a game/round before drawing their first card, then it is a drop, an initial drop. If a player drops out of a 101 Pool game, they get 20 points as a penalty. The penalty points for dropping out of a 201 Pool game are 25. A player cannot drop out of a Best of 2 or Best of 3 game.

Before a player can be declared the winner of a game, he/she has to declare/show their hand of cards for validation. This is called showing/declaring. Let’s see what kind of hands are invalid.

• There should be a minimum of at least two sequences including one pure sequence and the remaining cards have to be arranged in sets or sequences.
• The absence of a pure sequence makes a declaration invalid even if there are two sequences and all the cards are in sequences and sets.
• Just one sequence is not enough: a valid hand has to have at least two sequences.
• The presence of more than 4 cards in a set makes the set invalid. Even a wild card or Joker cannot be added as a fifth card.
• A group of cards with more than one card of the same suit doesn’t form a valid set.

Here are some tips on increasing the winning rate in the entertaining and exciting game of rummy:

• Always focus on melding a pure sequence first as it’s a must for a valid declaration.
• Learn how to use the Joker wisely as it helps in forming impure sequences or a set.
• Keep track of the cards your opponents discard and pick (cards picked from the open deck). Don’t give them a game by discarding cards that can be useful to them.
• Discard high-value cards as early as possible to minimize your points. Even if you happen to lose, that strategy will help you avoid losing by a big margin.

No, a 5th card is not allowed in a set in rummy. A group of more than 4 cards of the same value is an invalid set. Even a wild card/Joker cannot be added as the fifth card to a set.

If you happen to make a wrong show you will get the full count for the game – that is 80 points.

Rummy has been declared a game of skill by the honorable Supreme Court of India, making it perfectly legal to play for cash.