21 Cards Rummy Rules - How To Play 21 Cards Rummy Online

Introduction

21-card rummy is a variant of Indian rummy, usually played in households and among friends for entertainment. 21-card rummy combines a blend of strategy, skill, and excitement, and this game can keep the players immersed for hours. The rules of 21-card rummy remain the same as those of Indian rummy. Whether you are an experienced player or a beginner, this article will provide you with the basic rules, card arrangement strategies, winning strategies and common mistakes to avoid in 21 Card Rummy, enabling you to improve your gameplay.

What is 21 Card Rummy?

21-card Rummy is one of the best rummy games. It can be played by 4 to 6 players, and the game is played for points that are pre-decided based on the rupee value. Here, the players play to become the first player on the table to form the hand sequence. Every player pays a certain amount of money before the game begins. This amount is given to the player who wins the game.

In this game of 21 cards, each player is dealt 21 cards. To declare and win, players must meet the following mandatory requirements:

• Three pure sequences of a minimum of 3 cards each.
• If three sequences are not made, the entire hand is counted as points, except for the pure sequences and jokers. The rest of the cards can be made into impure sequences and sets. An impure sequence is defined as a sequence that has been made with the help of a joker. These sets or impure sequences are mandatorily made of 3 cards but can also be made of 4 cards. Jokers can be used to make these sets/sequences.

Important Terms Used in 21 Card Rummy

Here are some standard terms used in 21-card rummy:

• Tunnela: Three matching cards of the same suit and same rank form a pure sequence called Tunnela. For example, three 7s of diamond (7♦7♦7♦) form a tunnela.
• Dublee: A pair of cards from the same suit and same face value form a dublee. For example, a pair of Kings (K♠K♠).
• Toss: Toss is just a way to decide who will play first. During a toss, each player is distributed one face-up card. The player who gets the best card gets to play first, while the player with the smallest face value plays last.
• Joker: It is a wild card that can replace any card to complete the set or sequence. This card is selected randomly at the start of the game.
• Upper Joker: A Joker ranking higher than the cut Joker is called an upper Joker. For example, if the joker card is 9, then the Upper joker is 10.
• Lower Joker: A Joker ranking lower than the cut Joker is called a Lower Joker. For example, if the joker card is 9, then the Lower joker is 8.
• Sequence: Combination of three or more cards of the same face value and different suits. For example, 6♠6♦6♥ form a sequence.

21 Card Game Rules

• The upper and lower jokers can be used as wild cards and replaced with other cards to complete the set or sequence.
• Jokers can also be a part of a pure sequence.
• You can make a Tunnela by grouping three jokers.
• The same suit cards that are upper and lower to the wild card joker are called wild cards.

Declaring a show

• You must declare at least three pure sequences, and the rest of the cards should be arranged in sets and sequences.
• You must declare at least three Tunnelas; the remaining cards cannot be arranged.
• Declare at least eight dublees; the remaining cards cannot be arranged.
• Eight jokers have been declared lately, and the remaining cards cannot be arranged.

How to Play 21 Cards Rummy?

• There are three decks with 53 cards, with three jokers.
• You will also have an upper and lower joker. These act as a wild card and replace a card to help you make sets.
• The game begins with everyone getting 21 cards each. To win, you have to arrange them in a specific order.
• You can make three pure sequences, eight jokers in one group, eight dublees, or three tunnels.

Understanding Points in 21 Card Rummy

Point Calculation for Jackpot:

• 1 Upper + 1 Same Suit + 1 Lower = 100 points
• 2 Upper + 2 Same Suit + 2 Lower = 300 points
• 3 Upper + 3 Same Suit + 3 Lower = 500 points

Calculations of points for different combinations of Value Cards

• 2 Upper Jokers – 30 Points
• 1 Upper Joker, 1 Lower Joker – 20 points
• 2 Upper Jokers, 1 Lower Joker – 40 points
• 2 Same Suit Jokers, 2 Lower Jokers – 60 points

Winning

The calculations of the prize money that will be rewarded to the winner are straightforward. All the players who lose are awarded negative points. Now, for example, if on a ₹3/rummy point table where 5 players are playing, once a player declares, all the other 4 players lose and say they have -5, -15, -25, -35 points. So, the positive score of the winner is calculated by adding the points of all these players.

So, the Positive Score of the Winner = 5+15+25+35 = 80.

Here, we have assumed that the Rupee-value of the point is ₹3/rummy point, as mentioned above.

Now, as per the calculation,

Winnings = (Positive Score of the Winner) x (Rupee-value of the point) - Rake Fees 

Hence, the Winnings in the above case will be calculated as 

Winnings = 80x3 - Rake Fees = 240 - Rake Fees

Suppose 5 friends are playing the friendly game. Then, the winner will get ₹240.

Non-Winning Player

To count the non-winning players, the player’s points are calculated by adding the value of the ungrouped cards. However, there are a few specific points that need to be considered while calculating the score.

• In case there is no pure sequence, all the card’s values are counted.
• If there are 2 pure sequences formed, then these sequences will be considered before calculating the scores.
• If there are 3 pure sequences formed, then the sets and sequences formed with the jokers will be considered before calculating the penalty scores.

Once the calculation is done, the players with the positive score are declared the winner. The players with the negative score lose the game.

Card Arrangement Strategies

Minimum Three (3) Pure Sequences

At least three pure sequences are required to make a declaration. Each of the pure sequences should have a minimum of three cards. Try to make pure sequences first, as Jokers cannot replace them. Other cards can be arranged in the form of sets and sequences.

Minimum Three (3) Tunnelas

You need to make a minimum of three tunnelas before you go and make the declaration. The remaining cards you hold do not need to follow a specific arrangement. They can be left ungrouped, or you can choose to group them into a single set if you wish.

Minimum Eight (8) Dublees

You need to make at least three dublees before you make the declaration. During the declaration, pairs must be arranged in their own individual group. Like tunnelas, once the eight dublees are declared, the remaining cards in your hand don't have to follow a specific order or grouping.

Minimum Eight (8) Jokers

Similarly, if you have declared eight jokers in one group, then the remaining of your cards need not be in order to proceed for declaration. This strategy can be successful if you are dealing with multiple jokers, thus allowing you to aim to collect the maximum number of jokers.

Winning Strategies

Here are some tips and tricks to win Rummy 21:

• Learn and understand all the rules of Rummy 21. There are elements like tunnelas, dublees, etc. Knowing these rules will make it easier for you to play.
• Once cards are dealt, arrange them in your desired combinations. This way, you can keep track of the cards you need and the ones you want to discard.
• The first step towards card formulation is to create a pure sequence.
• Some number cards, such as 6, can help you make multiple combinations. You can also use 456, 567, 678, etc. Try to keep these cards.

What is new in this 21-card rummy game?

In addition to all the points discussed above, certain VALUE cards will depend on the cut joker opened for every game. 

These cards change with every game because the cut joker changes. These cards are called VALUE cards. For easy identification, these value cards are highlighted for each game. Each value card holds 20 points.

Three consecutive value cards of the same suit = Marriage = 100 Points

What are Value cards?

The Value Cards are like jokers because they can be used as regular jokers. Still, they are also “valuable” in the sense that if a player possesses any of these cards, all the other players in that game will give specific additional points for these value cards to the player who has these value cards in their hand irrespective of the fact that the player has declared or not in that particular game. Similarly, all other players will get points for the value cards they have in their hand from each player while playing that specific game.

Example of Value cards

Let us assume that 5 of Hearts is the cut joker opened in a particular game.

Then all 5s are jokers, as in a regular Rummy game.

Six of hearts – is a value and carries 20 points. Each six hearts in each player’s hand will get 20 points from all the other players. It will also be called Paplu.

The four hearts are also worth 20 points. Each four hearts in hand will receive 20 points from all the other players. It is also called Nichlu.

Five of hearts – is a value and carries 20 points. However, please remember that we are playing with three decks of cards, so there will be only two five hearts. Each five hearts in hand will get 20 points from each player in that particular game. It will also be called Titlu.

The most exciting aspect of the 21 Cards Rummy game is that if a player in a particular match has four hearts, five hearts, and six hearts, then it is called Marriage Hand. Marriage in the Rummy game will attract 100 points. Each marriage in hand will get 100 points. This marriage is also treated as a pure sequence.

New Validation Rules

Three pure sequences & remaining cards in valid sets/sequences.

OR

8 Jokers in one group.

OR

Eight dub lee in separate groups, wherein Dublee is a pair of cards of the same suit and face value.

OR

Seven dublees arranged in groups will be a free hand. 

OR

Three trials in separate groups.

Moreover, three paper jokers together form a valid Tunnela.

The "Ace spades and 2 of Clubsub" together form Star Cards. Each Star holds 10 points and & cannot be treated as a joker.

Drop Points :

All the "Value Cards" will be honoured first. Full-hand points will vary from 0 to 120, ensuring the maximum point a player gives out in one hand is 240.

As the values play a significant role in 21-card rummy, the rules for players also will change when they wish to opt for a drop/leave seat.

Initial Drop: Initial drop penalty of 30 points

No values are honoured, either in the hands of a person opting for an initial drop or those of other players on the table.

Middle Drop: Middle Drop penalty of 75 points

All values are honoured, whether in the hands of the person opting for the initial drop or those of other players on the table.

Leave Seat: Not allowed after the game starts.

Exit Room: Full points levied, i.e. 120 points. Always allowed, a warning is shown if the player leaves the Room after dropping.

No values are honoured - either in the hands of the person opting for an initial drop or those of other players.

Like cut joker, even value cards cannot be picked from the discarded pile except the very first time.

New Rules:

In the case of Declaration in the first round, players who did not get the chance for their first turn will have a Maximum of Middle Drop deduction + value cards in 21-card rummy.

If a player exits the Room without dropping his hand (after the cards are distributed), the Full Hand will be deducted for that particular player.

A set is only valid when it has four or less than 4 (which is 3) cards.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in 21 Card Rummy

Holding Ungrouped High-Value Cards

Holding ungrouped High-Value Cards such as Aces (A), Kings (K), Queens (Q), and Jacks (J) can lead to significant penalties. Each of these cards is worth 10 points. But if you are unable to form sequences using these cards, it is advisable to discard them early in the game and focus on forming sequences using the low-value cards.

Discarding Wild Jokers

Usually, players make the common mistake of discarding wild joker cards without calculating how these cards can help them make hand combinations. So, you should look closely at your cards before you start discarding them.

Making Invalid Declarations

The penalty of 80 points for an invalid declaration is the highest in a rummy game. So you should check your cards thoroughly and avoid declaring in a rush, as this can be a major setback.

Ignoring Opponent's Moves

Rummy is not a game where you can win just by focusing on your game. Here, you have to be very alert about how and what your opponents are trying to do. Hence, focus on your opponent's moves and take advantage of their weakness wherever possible. Failing to do so can be fatal and cost dearly.

13 Card Rummy vs 21 Card Rummy

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rummy the same as the 21-card rummy game?

No. Rummy is a traditional card game, whereas 21-card is an extended version.

How should I arrange my 21 cards?

You can arrange them in three columns with seven cards each.

How do I earn points in 21 Card Rummy?

Points are earned by forming valid sets and sequences.

What is a Joker in 21 card game?

Joker is a wild card that can replace any other card to form a set or sequence.

Conclusion

If you love rummy, try the variation and opt for 21 Rummy. It is a fun and intuitive game. Before playing, learn the nitty-gritty of the game and practice with your friends. Practice can help you come up with new strategies which can help you win.