German Rummy (Rommé) is a very popular card game in Germany. It belongs to the same family as Rummy, Chinchon, Gin Rummy and Remigio.
The goal of the game is to lay down all your cards before your opponents to win the round. To do so, you must make melds of 3 or more cards (runs or sets). You can also add single cards to melds on the table.
The player with the highest score at the end of 3 rounds wins the match.
| Players | 4 (individual) |
|---|---|
| Number of decks | 2 standard 52-card decks |
| Wild cards | 6 jokers |
| Initial deal | 13 cards per player |
| Combinations | Runs and sets |
| Going out | You must discard a card to go out. |
| “Rummy” play | Doubles the penalty points for the other players. |
| End of the game | The player with the highest score at the end of 3 rounds wins. |
Other games with similar rules: Rummy, Buraco, Italian Burraco, Closed Buraco, Chinchon, Gin Rummy, Remigio, Canasta, Continental…
How to play German Rummy
In each round, 13 cards are dealt to each player. One card is placed face up to start the discard pile, and the rest form the draw pile.
During their turn, each player must:
- Draw a card from the draw pile or the discard pile.
- Make melds or add cards to the melds on the table (optional).
- Discard a card.
Valid melds are:
- Runs of the same suit of 3 or more cards. For example: 5♠ 6♠ 7♠
- Sets of 3 or 4 cards of the same rank. For example: 9♠ 9♦ 9♣
Each player's first move must be a combination worth 30 points or more. Until this requirement is met, the player cannot add other cards to the table.
The ace can go before the 2 or after the king.
Wild cards
There are 6 jokers in total that can replace any other card in a combination. Only 1 joker is allowed per meld.
If a meld on the table includes a joker, a player can replace it with a card of the same rank. The joker must be played in that same turn, forming another valid meld, or be discarded.
A joker cannot be played again in the same combination from which it was taken.
“Rummy” play
A player makes a “rummy” when they combine all their cards except one, which is discarded. That player wins the round and doubles the opponents' penalty score.
This move is only valid if the player has not placed melds on the table before; that is, it is the first move they make in that round.
End of the round
The first player to run out of cards wins the round. You must discard a card in order to go out.
The other players lose points based on the value of the cards left in their hands at the end of the round.
The value of the cards is as follows:
| Cards | Points |
|---|---|
| 2 to 10 | The value of the card |
| J Q K | 10 points |
| A | 15 points |
| Joker | 20 points |
At the end of 3 rounds, the player with the highest score wins the game.
Experience points and ranking
The ranking of this game will start when the betatesting period ends.