TallynightHow to keep score in Rummy
Rummy is scored one of two ways. In basic Rummy, the player who goes out scores the cards left in everyone else's hands. In Rummy 500, everyone scores the cards they've melded, minus the cards still in their hand, and the first to 500 wins.
- Players
- 2 to 6
- Who wins
- Highest total
- Basic Rummy
- Winner scores the cards left in other hands
- Rummy 500
- Your melds minus your hand, to 500
What each card is worth
Both versions count the cards the same way, except aces.
| Card | Basic Rummy | Rummy 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Ace | 1 | 15, or 1 when melded low in A 2 3 |
| 2 to 10 | Face value | Face value |
| Jack, queen, king | 10 | 10 |
| Joker | Not used | 15, where jokers are used |
Scoring basic Rummy
When a player goes out, every other player adds up the cards left in their hand, and the player who went out scores the total. Nobody else scores that hand, and the cards you melded don't count for anything.
Say Ana goes out. Ben holds a king, a 7 and an ace (10 + 7 + 1 = 18) and Cleo holds two 9s (18), so Ana scores 36.
Agree on a target before you start, such as 100, or play a set number of hands. The highest total wins.
- Going rummy, a house rule: if you go out by laying down your whole hand in one turn, without having melded before, your score for that hand is doubled.
- Penalty points, a variant: everyone scores the cards left in their own hand instead. When someone reaches 100, the lowest total wins.
Scoring Rummy 500
At the end of a hand, every player adds up the cards they've laid down, including cards they laid off on other players' melds, and takes away the cards left in their hand. The result can be below zero.
There's no bonus for going out. Going out ends the hand, so everyone else is caught holding cards.
The first player to reach 500 wins. If two players pass 500 on the same hand, the higher score wins, and if they're level, play another hand.
Variants and things people get wrong
- Laid-off cards score for the player who laid them off, not for the player whose meld they went on.
- Aces in Rummy 500: some tables count every ace as 15, wherever it is.
- 5, 10, 15 scoring: 2 to 9 count 5 each, 10s and picture cards 10, and aces and jokers 15.
- Going out to win: some tables say you need 500 and to have gone out that hand to win.
Two players? You may want Gin Rummy. Playing with tiles? See Rummikub.
A Rummy 500 example
Three players, two hands. Each cell shows the cards a player melded, minus the cards left in their hand. Ana went out in hand 1 and Ben in hand 2.
| Hand | Ana | Ben | Cleo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 85 − 0 = 85 | 60 − 25 = 35 | 20 − 45 = −25 |
| 2 | 40 − 55 = −15 | 110 − 0 = 110 | 75 − 10 = 65 |
| Total | 70 | 145 | 40 |
Cleo is at 40 after starting the game below zero. Ben leads with 145, and the first to 500 wins.
Keep score for Rummy in Tallynight
Rummy isn't one of Tallynight's built-in games yet, but it takes a minute to set up. Choose Something else, then Rounds, with the highest score winning. For Rummy 500, turn on Play to a target and set it to 500.
Playing the penalty-point way? Choose Lowest instead, to 100. Add your version to your favourites and it's ready next time.
- Type everyone's points for the hand on one keypad, minus signs included
- Offers to end the game when someone reaches the target
- Tap any hand to fix it
- A race chart that replays the game, hand by hand
A Rummy score sheet to print
Playing on paper tonight? Print a free Rummy score sheet, or save it as a PDF.
Questions
How do you score Rummy 500?
Add up the cards you've melded or laid off, and take away the cards left in your hand. The first player to reach 500 wins.
How much are aces worth in Rummy?
1 point in basic Rummy. In Rummy 500 an ace is 15, unless it's melded low in A 2 3, where it counts 1.
What does going rummy mean?
Going out by laying down your whole hand in one turn, without having melded before. Under a house rule it doubles your score for that hand.
How many points do you play to in Rummy?
In Rummy 500, 500. In basic Rummy there's no set target, so agree one, such as 100, or a number of hands before you start.
Do cards left in your hand count against you in Rummy?
In Rummy 500, yes: they're taken off your score. In basic Rummy they score for the player who went out instead.
Who scores laid-off cards in Rummy 500?
The player who laid them off, not the player whose meld they went on.