Indian Rummy rules and points calculator
How to play 13-card Indian Rummy at home, how to count points, and how Pool 101 and Pool 201 work. Let the scorecard tell you who's out.
How to play 13-card Rummy
- Deal 13 cards each. Use two decks with their printed jokers. Turn one card face up to start the open pile. Turn another as the wild joker if your group plays with one.
- Draw, then discard. On your turn, pick one card from the closed or open pile, then throw one card onto the open pile.
- Build sets and sequences. A sequence is 3 or more cards of the same suit in order, such as 5♥ 6♥ 7♥. A set is 3 or 4 cards of the same rank in different suits, such as 9♠ 9♦ 9♣.
- Meet the declare rule. You need at least two sequences, and at least one must be a pure sequence (no joker). All 13 cards must be grouped.
- Declare. When your hand is complete, discard your last card face down and show your hand. Everyone else counts their points.
How Rummy points are counted
| Card (not in a valid group) | Points |
|---|---|
| Ace, King, Queen, Jack | 10 each |
| 2 to 10 | Face value |
| Jokers | 0 |
| Most you can lose in a round | 80 |
The player who declares correctly scores 0. If you haven't made a pure sequence, every card in your hand counts, up to the 80 cap.
Drops
| When you drop out of a round | Points you take |
|---|---|
| First drop (before your first draw) | 20 |
| Middle drop (any time after) | 40 |
| Wrong declaration | 80 |
Pool 101 and Pool 201
Points add up across rounds. When your total reaches 101 (or 201), you are out. The last player left wins the pool. In Pool 101 a first drop is usually 20 and a middle drop 40. In Pool 201 many groups use 25 and 50.
Example
Pool 201, round 4. Ravi is on 168 and loses with 40 points in hand, so he goes to 208 and is out. The scorecard strikes him off, shows how many points everyone else has left before 201, and names the winner when one player remains.
Some groups allow a player who is out to rejoin at the highest remaining score. 1-0 doesn't do this automatically yet. Add a new scorecard with that score if your group plays this way.
Common questions
What is a pure sequence in rummy?
Three or more cards of the same suit in order with no joker, such as 4♣ 5♣ 6♣. You need at least one to declare.
How many points is a full count in rummy?
In 13-card Indian Rummy the most you can lose in one round is 80 points.
What is the difference between Pool 101 and Pool 201?
Only the elimination limit. In Pool 101 you are out at 101 points; in Pool 201 you are out at 201, so games last longer.
How many points is a middle drop?
Usually 40 points in Pool 101, and often 50 in Pool 201. Check your group's rule before the game.