How to Play Rummy Plus
Welcome to the Rummy Plus! Here, we’ll guide you through the rules and learn how to play Rummy Plus for both the Gin Rummy and Rummy40 versions. Let’s dive in!
Gin Rummy (with Big Gin) – Rules
Gin Rummy is a classic two-player card game from the Rummy family. The goal is to form valid melds (sets or runs) and reduce your deadwood (unmatched cards) to as few points as possible before your opponent does.
Big Gin is a special variation where you can go out with all 11 cards melded, earning a higher bonus.
Game Setup
Players: 2
Deck: Standard 52-card deck (no Jokers)
Dealing
Each player is dealt 10 cards.
One card is placed face up to start the discard pile.
The rest of the deck is placed face down to form the stock pile.
First-Hand Rule
On the very first hand, the starting player may either:
Take the face-up card, or
Pass.
The starting player cannot draw from the stock pile on the first move.
If the first player passes, the opponent may either:
Take that face-up card, or
Pass as well — in which case the first player then draws the top card of the stock pile, and regular play begins.
Gameplay
Each player’s turn consists of two phases:
1) Draw
Take one card either from:
the top of the stock pile, or
the top card of the discard pile.
2) Discard
End the turn by discarding one card face up onto the discard pile.
Players form melds during play:
Set (Group): 3 or 4 cards of the same rank (e.g., 7♠–7♥–7♦)
Run (Sequence): 3 or more consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 5♣–6♣–7♣)
Cards not part of melds are called deadwood.
Card Values
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 |
| 2–10 | Face value |
| Jack, Queen, King | 10 |
Objective of the Game
The goal is to end the hand (go out) by having as little deadwood as possible — ideally none.
There are three ways to go out:
1) Knock
You may knock when your total deadwood points are 10 or fewer.
You reveal your hand; the opponent may then lay off (add) their unmatched cards to your melds if they fit.
Points are calculated after layoff.
2) Gin Mode
If all 10 of your cards form complete melds, and your 11q? Wait no— and you discard your 11th card to end the hand, you declare Gin.
The opponent cannot lay off.
You earn a 25-point bonus, plus the difference in your opponent’s deadwood points.
3) Big Gin Mode
If all 11 cards form valid melds (so you have no discard), you declare Big Gin.
This is the perfect hand.
You earn a 31-point bonus, plus the difference in your opponent’s deadwood points.
The opponent cannot lay off.
Layoff and Undercut
Layoff
After a knock, the opponent may add (lay off) their unmatched cards to the knocker’s melds if they fit.
Example: The knocker shows 7♠–8♠–9♠; the opponent has 10♠ and can add it.
Undercut
If, after laying off, the opponent’s remaining deadwood is lower than the knocker’s, this is an Undercut:
The opponent wins the hand instead.
The opponent scores a 25-point bonus, plus the difference in deadwood in their favor.
Scoring and End of Game
You can play a single hand or set a point goal to determine the winner.
Possible Game Lengths
Single hand
100 points
200 points
500 points
Scoring per Hand
| Result | Score |
|---|---|
| Gin | 25 + opponent’s deadwood difference |
| Big Gin | 31 + opponent’s deadwood difference |
| Winning Knock | Deadwood difference |
| Undercut | 25 + deadwood difference (in favor of undercutter) |
Winning the Match
The first player to reach (or exceed) the chosen score — 100, 200, or 500 — wins the game.
Rummy40 (Custom Rummy / Scala 40 Variant) – Rules
Rummy40 is a custom card game, a mix between Rummy and Scala 40, suitable for 2 or 4 players.
The goal is to form valid melds (sets or runs) and minimize negative points. Players compete to avoid reaching the maximum score limit.
Players: 2 (1 vs 1) or 4 (free-for-all)
Game Setup
Deck
2 players: 1 deck of 52 cards + jokers
4 players: 2 decks of 52 cards + 2 jokers per deck
Dealing
Always 10 cards per player
The remaining cards form the stock pile
The top card of the stock pile is placed face up to start the discard pile
Opening
The opening threshold is chosen before the game starts via settings: 0, 40, or 50 points
Players must meet the chosen minimum score to lay down their initial melds
Penalty for incorrect opening: 20 points
Gameplay
Players take turns clockwise (or alternating in 1 vs 1).
Each turn consists of three phases:
1) Draw
Draw one card from:
the stock pile, or
the top card of the discard pile
2) Meld or Add
Meld: Lay down valid combinations on the table if the opening threshold is met
Add: After opening, players can add cards to their own melds or to existing melds on the table (in 4-player games)
Joker rules:
If you steal a joker from a combination on the table, you must use it in the same turn, either by adding it to a meld in your hand or to an existing meld on the table
If the joker remains in hand, it counts as 25 negative points
The joker cannot be discarded at the end of the game; it cannot be discarded during the game phase if you have not yet opened
3) Discard
End your turn by discarding one card face up onto the discard pile.
Players must always have at least one card in hand; a hand ends when a player discards their last card after forming valid melds
Card Values
| Card | Points (Negative) |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 |
| 2–10 | Face value |
| Jack, Queen, King | 10 |
| Joker | 25 (only if left in hand) |
Points are added to the player’s score as negative points
The goal is to avoid reaching the maximum score limit
End of Hand
A hand ends when:
1) A player goes out
By discarding their last card after forming valid melds
Opponents count the points of all remaining cards in hand and add them as negative points
2) The stock pile runs out
Players count the points of all remaining cards in hand as negative points
Scoring
Points from remaining cards are added to the player’s score
Players who open incorrectly with 40 or 50 points receive a 20-point penalty
Jokers left in hand count as 25 negative points each
Winning the Game
Possible game limits: one hand, 100, 200, or 500 points
The first player to reach or exceed the limit loses the game
In 4-player games, the winner is the player with the lowest score at the end of the hand in which someone reaches the limit
Important Notes
Jokers are versatile but must be played immediately if taken from the discard pile
Openings of 40 or 50 points require attention: laying down less than the minimum incurs a 20-point penalty
Managing negative points and cards in hand is crucial: keeping high-value cards or unused jokers can have a significant impact