21 Card Rummy - Rules, Gameplay, and Strategy for Winning

Playing rummy online at adda52 has been fun, and we have all enjoyed it. In our endeavour to be innovative and bring something new to you to keep up the excitement and fun in the online gaming and social networking space, we have decided to bring something new.

21 Card Rummy

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.

Terms Used in 21 Card Rummy

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

• Tunnela: Three matching cards forming a pure sequence.
• Dublee: Pair of cards from the same suit and same face value.
• Toss: It’s a way to decide who will play first.
• Joker: It is a wild card that can replace any card to complete the set or sequence.
• Upper Joker: A Joker ranking higher than the cut Joker is called an upper Joker.
• Lower Joker: A Joker ranking lower than the cut Joker is called a lower Joker.
• Sequence: Combination of three or more cards of the same suit.

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.

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 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.

Declaring a show Top

• 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.

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.

How Winner Decided in Rummy

Here are the criteria for selecting the winner:

• First and foremost, the winner is a player who melds all their cards into legal sets and sequences.
• After melding, you must declare your hand to show the arrangement of sets and sequences.
• You win if you have the lowest points.

How to Identify Non-Winning Players in 21 Card Rummy

Here are some ways to identify non-winning players:

• Once everyone has shown their hands and points have been calculated, the player with the highest score loses.
• If your declared hands are considered invalid.
• If you are unable to complete the necessary number of sets and sequences.
• There are so many unmatched cards left in your hand.
• You are considered a loser if everyone has left the game and you are the only player left.

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.