Rummy players always try to improve their gaming skills. This helps them to upscale their game-play and defeat opponents. They are always trying to find tricks to confuse rivals. One of the ways to learn how to play rummy like best of experts is to play the practice games. Here, you do not have to spend any money. You can play without a cash deposit or buy-in. Also, these games do not carry many restrictions. If you are a beginner, then a free rummy game is your best choice. You can gain experience before playing the tougher games.
- When we talk about a tough rummy game, it is the tournament format. Here, there are several rounds. So, you have to win each round and then reach the finals. Each round may consist of several games.
- So when the round 1 ends, there will be a set of winners who proceed to the round 2, and henceforth. The winners of the finale are eligible for a reward. Mostly, the reward is a cash prize.
- This prize amount can be used to play further cash games, or transferred to your bank account. You can also shop for merchandise and products from the partnered retail stores of the gaming platform.
Tips to Play Rummy like a Professional
In online rummy, the games are timed. So you have to focus from the very start of the game. As the cards are dealt, you have to arrange your hand. It is advisable to group similar cards, such as those in consecutive order and same suits. The next challenge is to outsmart your opponent and make a pure sequence as soon as possible. A pure sequence is the one with cards grouped in consecutive order of same suit.
- An example of a natural run is 7, 8, and 9 of Spade. A natural run is needed for a win. If you do not have this pure sequence, then you will lose the game despite having sets and impure sequences.
- In rummy online, a set is an arrangement of cards of the same face value but different suits. An example of a set is a combination of three 5s of Heart, Club, and Diamond.
- An impure sequence is consecutive order of cards completed with a help of a Joker. An example of impure sequence is: 7 and 8 of Spade with a Joker card. The Joker card acts as a substitute to the missing card. In this case, it can act as a replacement for either 6 or 9 of Spade.
How to Group Cards in Rummy?
So how exactly should you group the playing cards? After all, you may receive too many unrelated cards in the original hand. This is where your skills come into play. With your intelligence, you need to change a bad hand to a good one. You simply must know which cards to discard and keep. But in the bout of picking cards, it is best not to pick one from the open deck. This deck is visible to all. One of the rummy rules (unsaid one) is to never leave a clue for the opponent.
- So if you pick a card from the discard pile, the rival will get to know you are trying to group this card with another.
- This will prompt the rival to not hand out a related card you may need. Thus, if possible, replace the cards in Indian rummy with the ones from the closed deck.
- But if an open deck has a card that helps you form a pure sequence then go for it.
Things to Consider Before Trying a Hand at Tournaments
So, how do expert players shift from a practice game to a tournament? Here are a few tips that you must check out.
- Quit or Stay: When playing free card games, quitting a game is not much of a problem, as there are no points at stake. But in tournaments, this is not the case. If you think you have a bad hand and no wild cards, then you may drop out of the game instantly. You can always go for the next game. Doing so will save you from losing cash on a bad hand.
- Group the Cards: The manner in which you group the cards has to be analyzed from time to time. As you pick and discard cards, the requirement of arranging the cards will also change. You may have to experiment with a new order of cards as you form new melds. Rearrange the cards in a timely manner so that if your opponent declares before you, it will help lower the points in your hand.
- Pick the Cards: In real cash rummy, it is all about the points in hand. You must reduce the points of your hand as much as possible. So stick to low point cards, such as any face value card from 2 to 5. Try not hoarding cards that carry 10 points, such as the number 10, King, Queen, and Jack. If you may use the high point cards, make sure you group them into a pure sequence than sets. However, it is your choice with which cards you want to form a pure sequence, impure sequence, or a set.
- Discard the Card: As understood, you must try and discard high point cards as soon as possible. These cards include Ace, King, Queen, and Jack. If you have duplicate cards of high points, you can form a set of these. However, if these cards are unmatched, it is risky to retain them. So discard these before your opponent declares. You must also observe the cards your rival picks. This will help you understand the meld they intend to form. So, you can then discard cards without giving the ones that the rival needs.
To Conclude
Get a rummy app for your smartphone or device. Then you can practice the game at any time of the day and get better at it. By improving your rummy playing skills, you can easily face a tough tournament or cash game and thwart the opponents.