TallynightHow to keep score in Rummy 500
In Rummy 500, everyone scores every hand. Add up the cards you've melded and laid off, take away the cards still in your hand, and keep a running total. The first player to reach 500 wins.
- Players
- 2 to 8, best with 3 to 5
- Who wins
- First to 500
- Dealt
- 7 cards each, 13 with two players
- Scored
- Your melds minus your hand, every hand
What each card is worth
Cards you've put on the table count for you. Cards left in your hand when the hand ends count against you, at the same values.
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Ace | 15, or 1 when melded low in A 2 3 |
| 2 to 10 | Face value |
| Jack, queen, king | 10 |
| Joker, where jokers are used | 15 |
An ace in Q K A or in a set of aces is 15. An ace caught in your hand is 15 too. Only an ace melded low, in a run starting A 2 3, counts 1.
Adding up a hand
The hand ends when someone plays their last card, or when the stock runs out and the next player doesn't want to take from the discard pile. Every player then adds up the cards they've put down, including cards laid off on other players' melds, and takes away the cards left in their hand.
The result is your score for that hand, and it can be below zero. There's no bonus for going out. Going out ends the hand while everyone else is still holding cards, and that's the reward.
Reaching 500
Keep a running total for each player. The first to reach 500 wins. If more than one player passes 500 in the same hand, the highest total wins, and if they're level, play another hand.
Some tables give the game to the player who went out in that last hand, and some say you have to go out to win at all. Agree before you start.
The discard pile is where the points are
Rummy 500 keeps the discard pile spread out so everyone can see it. On your turn you can take a card from deeper in the pile, as long as you take every card on top of it too and meld the card you picked straight away. A big pickup can win a hand, but whatever you can't meld is still in your hand when someone goes out.
Variants that change the score
- Aces always 15, even when melded in A 2 3.
- 5, 10, 15: 2 to 9 count 5 each, 10s and picture cards 10, and jokers and high aces 15. An ace melded low counts 5.
- Laid-off cards score for the player who laid them off, not for the player whose meld they went on.
- Partnership 500 rum: four players in two teams. Partners can add to each other's melds, and each team is scored as one.
People also call it 500 rum, 500 rummy, pinochle rummy and Michigan rummy. For basic Rummy, where only the winner scores, see Rummy. For two players, try Gin Rummy.
A scoring example
Three players, a whole game of six hands. Each number is that player's melds minus their hand.
| Hand | Ana | Ben | Cleo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60 | 36 | −4 |
| 2 | 45 | 110 | 72 |
| 3 | 130 | 25 | 88 |
| 4 | −12 | 140 | 95 |
| 5 | 105 | 64 | 51 |
| 6 | 90 | 133 | 40 |
| Total | 418 | 508 | 342 |
Hand 1 in detail. Ana went out with three kings (30), the 7 8 9 of hearts (24) and the A 2 3 of clubs (6): 60, with nothing left in her hand. Ben had Q K A of spades (35) and three 5s (15) down, but a jack and a 4 in his hand (14): 50 − 14 = 36. Cleo had three 9s (27) down and an ace, a 10 and a 6 in her hand (31): 27 − 31 = −4.
Ben passes 500 in hand 6 and wins with 508.
Keep score for Rummy 500 in Tallynight
Rummy 500 isn't one of Tallynight's built-in games yet, but it takes a minute to set up. Choose Something else and call it Rummy 500. Under How you score, pick Rounds, where everyone scores each round, and under Who wins, pick Highest. Turn on Play to a target and set it to 500.
Tap the star to Add to favourites so it's ready next time, then Start game. After each hand, type everyone's melds minus their hand on one keypad, minus signs included. Tallynight doesn't know what the cards are worth, so count them as usual.
- Everyone's score for the hand on one keypad, below zero included
- Offers to end the game when someone reaches 500
- Tap any hand to fix a miscount
- A race chart that replays the game, hand by hand
A Rummy 500 score sheet to print
Playing on paper tonight? Print a free Rummy 500 score sheet, or save it as a PDF.
Questions
How do you score Rummy 500?
At the end of each hand, add up the cards you've melded and laid off, and take away the cards left in your hand. Keep a running total, and the first to 500 wins.
How much is an ace worth in Rummy 500?
15, unless it's melded low in a run of A 2 3, where it counts 1. An ace left in your hand costs you 15.
How many points is a joker in Rummy 500?
15, the same as a high ace. It counts for you when melded and against you when it's left in your hand.
Do you get points for going out in Rummy 500?
No. There's no bonus for going out. You score your melds like everyone else, with nothing taken off, while the others are caught holding cards.
What happens if two players reach 500 in the same hand?
The higher total wins. If they're level, play another hand. Some tables give the game to whoever went out in that hand.
Can your score go negative in Rummy 500?
Yes. If the cards in your hand are worth more than the cards you've put down, that hand scores below zero, and your total can drop below zero too.
How many cards do you deal in Rummy 500?
7 each with three or more players, and 13 each with two. With five or more players, shuffle two decks together.