"Rummy" Directions
THE CARDS:
• Letter cards – A through Z
• Flip cards – you choose! J or X, V or Z, (indicated by orange dot beneath letter)
• Combo letter cards – the most common consonant combos in the English language: ST, SH, TH, CH, CK plus QU
• Three Wildcards – any vowel, any consonant, and another flip card: Vowel Combo or Double Consonant
OBJECT OF THE GAME: To earn the most points by forming words using letters from cards in hand, adding to existing words already played, and getting rid of all your cards (“going out”) before any of your opponents. Game is played in multiple rounds.
GAME SETUP: Dealer shuffles deck and deals 7 cards face down to each player. The remaining cards are placed face down in the center of the table as a draw pile. All players look at their own cards to begin forming word possibilities. You will need paper and pencil to keep score.
THE PLAY:
• Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, PLAYER ONE’S turn begins by drawing one card from the draw pile, bringing his or her hand to 8 cards.
• PLAYER ONE constructs one 3-or-more letter word and places it face up, rummy style, onto the tabletop center.
• Once a word has been played, points are tallied (see scoring instructions) and PLAYER ONE’S turn is over. (If no word can be made, see Number 4 below.)
• Starting with PLAYER TWO, players begin each turn by drawing a single card from the draw pile. In subsequent turns, players may draw additional cards until they reach a maximum of eight cards.
• The player’s turn is completed in one of four ways:
1. By playing one 3-or-more letter word from the hand.
2. By playing single or multiple cards from the hand into any existing word(s) on the table. This is a called a “play-on.”
Existing words on the table can be added to or rearranged with cards from the hand inserted anywhere to make a new word. Rearranging produces double points! Examples:
• Adding an “R” to “BOW to make “BROW” or adding a “T” to “WIN” to make “TWIN”
• Adding an “I” to “GAME” to make “IMAGE” or adding “A-N” to “MAIL” to make “ANIMAL”
• Adding “E-B” to “CREAM” to make “EMBRACE” or adding “TONU” to “NICE” to make “CONTINUE
WHEN PLAYING ON ANY EXISTING WORDS, WORDS CANNOT BE BROKEN UP. THEY MUST RETAIN ALL ORIGINALLETTERS.
3. Both of the above (one new word plus any play-ons.)
4. Arriving at eight cards in hand, but unable to play a new word or to play-on. Player discards up to three cards of choice. Discards are placed at the bottom of the draw pile. No points are scored and play proceeds with next player.
• Play for the round continues and points are tallied each turn until one of the players is able to go out by playing all their cards on the tabletop.
For enjoyable flow of play, players are encouraged to take one minute or less per turn. (Timer optional.)
ALLOWABLE WORDS:
• Words from a standard dictionary are allowed, as well as words with prefixes and suffixes.
• Proper names, foreign words and profanity are not allowed.
• When pluralizing, the letter “S” can only be used on rearranged play-ons; no plurals are allowed from new words played from hand or as any play-ons of already-played words.
SCORING:
New words:
Two points per letter on any new word played from hand. Examples:
• “BAT” (6 pts); “RAKE” (8 pts); “BOTHER” (12 pts)
Play-ons with no re-arranging of existing letters: One point per letter in word. Examples:
• Adding an “H” to “BAT” to make “BATH” (4 pts)
• Adding an “R” to “BOTHER” to make “BROTHER” (7 pts)
Play-ons with any re-arranging of existing letters:
Two points per letter in word. Examples:
• Adding an “E” to “TAR” to make “RATE” (8 pts)
• Adding an “I” to “GAME” to make “IMAGE” (10 pts)
• Adding “B-E” to “CREAM” to make “EMBRACE” (14 pts)
Play-on scoring exception:
Players can be awarded 2 points per letter without re-arranging if they add multiple letters to an existing word, providing at least one of the letters is added into the body (between the first and last letter) of the word. Examples:
• Adding “S-B” to “TALE” to make “STABLE” (12 pts)
• Adding “S-T” to “JUICE” to make “JUSTICE” (14 pts)
Going out on initial hand:
If a player uses all 8 cards from his or her initial hand at the beginning of a round to form one word, player goes out and 20 bonus points are earned in addition to the two points per letter.
Combining words:
Different words played on tabletop can be combined to form new words if all existing cards from words are used and
if one or more cards have been added from your hand.
“Play-on” scoring applies. Examples:
• Adding “E” to “BOOM” and “RANG” to make “BOOMERANG” (9 pts)
• Adding “S-R” to “NOW” and “MOST” to make “SNOWSTORM” (18pts)
END OF ROUND:
• A round is over when any player goes out, and that player is awarded a 7-point bonus.
• All remaining players, in turn, draw one more card from the draw pile to try to play (or play-on) any additional words to lessen or rid their hand of cards.
• Each player should take their end-of-round turn quickly; no more than 30 seconds per player
• Each unplayed letter counts as a one-point deduction from a player’s score.
MUGGINS STYLE END OF ROUND:
In this optional, competitive end-of-round, after non-winning players finish any last plays, any unplayed cards are laid down, face up, for all players to see. If any opponent is able to play any of the unplayed cards into a new 3-or-more letter word or a play-on, they “mug” a bonus for each card played (2 points per letter). Thirty seconds or less is advised for players to simultaneously look for muggins points. Players cannot combine cards from various players to make words.
END OF GAME: Number of rounds depends on the number of players, targeting a 45-minute game. Two players play four rounds; three or four players play three rounds. Player with highest score wins.
WHAT HAPPENS IF NO ONE GOES OUT?
If no one has gone out and the draw pile is empty, players execute, in turn, any plays or play-ons they can and then lay their cards face up. Muggins rule applies. Any remaining cards result in a deduction of one point per letter from player’s score.
OPTIONAL FEATURE: Wild cards and flip cards can remain fixed or change during course of play.
VARIATIONS TO GAME
“Full Deck” version:
In this variation of the game, the same scoring rules apply. However, players do not draw a card at the beginning of each turn or try to go out. Instead, players are dealt 8 cards to start the game and, after completing each turn, they replenish their hand to eight cards before the next player plays. Continue playing and scoring each hand through the end of the draw pile.
Players continue turns to try to make or play on words until no further words can be played. Muggins rule applies. Any cards not played count as a deduction of one point per letter against each player.
“Casual Game” version:
Players go by the standard rules of the game, but no per-card, per-turn scoring is done. Compete only to see who goes out first each round. Whoever goes out first the most times over the total rounds played is the winner.
• Letter cards – A through Z
• Flip cards – you choose! J or X, V or Z, (indicated by orange dot beneath letter)
• Combo letter cards – the most common consonant combos in the English language: ST, SH, TH, CH, CK plus QU
• Three Wildcards – any vowel, any consonant, and another flip card: Vowel Combo or Double Consonant
OBJECT OF THE GAME: To earn the most points by forming words using letters from cards in hand, adding to existing words already played, and getting rid of all your cards (“going out”) before any of your opponents. Game is played in multiple rounds.
GAME SETUP: Dealer shuffles deck and deals 7 cards face down to each player. The remaining cards are placed face down in the center of the table as a draw pile. All players look at their own cards to begin forming word possibilities. You will need paper and pencil to keep score.
THE PLAY:
• Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, PLAYER ONE’S turn begins by drawing one card from the draw pile, bringing his or her hand to 8 cards.
• PLAYER ONE constructs one 3-or-more letter word and places it face up, rummy style, onto the tabletop center.
• Once a word has been played, points are tallied (see scoring instructions) and PLAYER ONE’S turn is over. (If no word can be made, see Number 4 below.)
• Starting with PLAYER TWO, players begin each turn by drawing a single card from the draw pile. In subsequent turns, players may draw additional cards until they reach a maximum of eight cards.
• The player’s turn is completed in one of four ways:
1. By playing one 3-or-more letter word from the hand.
2. By playing single or multiple cards from the hand into any existing word(s) on the table. This is a called a “play-on.”
Existing words on the table can be added to or rearranged with cards from the hand inserted anywhere to make a new word. Rearranging produces double points! Examples:
• Adding an “R” to “BOW to make “BROW” or adding a “T” to “WIN” to make “TWIN”
• Adding an “I” to “GAME” to make “IMAGE” or adding “A-N” to “MAIL” to make “ANIMAL”
• Adding “E-B” to “CREAM” to make “EMBRACE” or adding “TONU” to “NICE” to make “CONTINUE
WHEN PLAYING ON ANY EXISTING WORDS, WORDS CANNOT BE BROKEN UP. THEY MUST RETAIN ALL ORIGINALLETTERS.
3. Both of the above (one new word plus any play-ons.)
4. Arriving at eight cards in hand, but unable to play a new word or to play-on. Player discards up to three cards of choice. Discards are placed at the bottom of the draw pile. No points are scored and play proceeds with next player.
• Play for the round continues and points are tallied each turn until one of the players is able to go out by playing all their cards on the tabletop.
For enjoyable flow of play, players are encouraged to take one minute or less per turn. (Timer optional.)
ALLOWABLE WORDS:
• Words from a standard dictionary are allowed, as well as words with prefixes and suffixes.
• Proper names, foreign words and profanity are not allowed.
• When pluralizing, the letter “S” can only be used on rearranged play-ons; no plurals are allowed from new words played from hand or as any play-ons of already-played words.
SCORING:
New words:
Two points per letter on any new word played from hand. Examples:
• “BAT” (6 pts); “RAKE” (8 pts); “BOTHER” (12 pts)
Play-ons with no re-arranging of existing letters: One point per letter in word. Examples:
• Adding an “H” to “BAT” to make “BATH” (4 pts)
• Adding an “R” to “BOTHER” to make “BROTHER” (7 pts)
Play-ons with any re-arranging of existing letters:
Two points per letter in word. Examples:
• Adding an “E” to “TAR” to make “RATE” (8 pts)
• Adding an “I” to “GAME” to make “IMAGE” (10 pts)
• Adding “B-E” to “CREAM” to make “EMBRACE” (14 pts)
Play-on scoring exception:
Players can be awarded 2 points per letter without re-arranging if they add multiple letters to an existing word, providing at least one of the letters is added into the body (between the first and last letter) of the word. Examples:
• Adding “S-B” to “TALE” to make “STABLE” (12 pts)
• Adding “S-T” to “JUICE” to make “JUSTICE” (14 pts)
Going out on initial hand:
If a player uses all 8 cards from his or her initial hand at the beginning of a round to form one word, player goes out and 20 bonus points are earned in addition to the two points per letter.
Combining words:
Different words played on tabletop can be combined to form new words if all existing cards from words are used and
if one or more cards have been added from your hand.
“Play-on” scoring applies. Examples:
• Adding “E” to “BOOM” and “RANG” to make “BOOMERANG” (9 pts)
• Adding “S-R” to “NOW” and “MOST” to make “SNOWSTORM” (18pts)
END OF ROUND:
• A round is over when any player goes out, and that player is awarded a 7-point bonus.
• All remaining players, in turn, draw one more card from the draw pile to try to play (or play-on) any additional words to lessen or rid their hand of cards.
• Each player should take their end-of-round turn quickly; no more than 30 seconds per player
• Each unplayed letter counts as a one-point deduction from a player’s score.
MUGGINS STYLE END OF ROUND:
In this optional, competitive end-of-round, after non-winning players finish any last plays, any unplayed cards are laid down, face up, for all players to see. If any opponent is able to play any of the unplayed cards into a new 3-or-more letter word or a play-on, they “mug” a bonus for each card played (2 points per letter). Thirty seconds or less is advised for players to simultaneously look for muggins points. Players cannot combine cards from various players to make words.
END OF GAME: Number of rounds depends on the number of players, targeting a 45-minute game. Two players play four rounds; three or four players play three rounds. Player with highest score wins.
WHAT HAPPENS IF NO ONE GOES OUT?
If no one has gone out and the draw pile is empty, players execute, in turn, any plays or play-ons they can and then lay their cards face up. Muggins rule applies. Any remaining cards result in a deduction of one point per letter from player’s score.
OPTIONAL FEATURE: Wild cards and flip cards can remain fixed or change during course of play.
VARIATIONS TO GAME
“Full Deck” version:
In this variation of the game, the same scoring rules apply. However, players do not draw a card at the beginning of each turn or try to go out. Instead, players are dealt 8 cards to start the game and, after completing each turn, they replenish their hand to eight cards before the next player plays. Continue playing and scoring each hand through the end of the draw pile.
Players continue turns to try to make or play on words until no further words can be played. Muggins rule applies. Any cards not played count as a deduction of one point per letter against each player.
“Casual Game” version:
Players go by the standard rules of the game, but no per-card, per-turn scoring is done. Compete only to see who goes out first each round. Whoever goes out first the most times over the total rounds played is the winner.
