I've been playing various card games since I was in grade school. I have created this page to give new players a better understanding of the rules of 500 Rummy. There are variations of 500 Rummy. These rules listed on this page are what I use when playing with family and friends. Included are the rules for 4 players, 3 players and 2 players. — Steve
1. Game Equipment
A standard 52 card pack is used. Jokers are not used.
2. Object
The object of the game is to get rid of all your cards by forming melds or laying off cards on preexisting melds.
3. Rank of cards.
Ace (high or low), K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, A.
4. Scoring
Score points by laying down and laying off cards in matched number sets of 3 or 4, and/or in sequences of 3 or more cards of the same suit. For example, three or four 7s can be laid or a sequence of 3, 4, 5 of diamonds can be laid. An ace can be played either high or low in a sequence.
When any player gets rid of all of their cards, the play immediately ends. Each player’s score is then figured as follows: The player is credited with the point value of all cards that the player has showing on the table. From this figure is subtracted the point value of all cards remaining in their hand. The difference is added or subtracted from the player’s score. For example: If the cards showing for a player total 87 points, and the cards left in the player’s hand total 90 points, 3 points are subtracted from the player’s previous net score.
The first player whose score reaches 500 wins the game. If two or more players reach 500 on the same hand, the one with the highest score is the winner.
Follows are the value of cards played and remaining in hand. An Ace remaining in hand is always valued at 15 points.
| Card | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Ace played high | 15 points | |
| Ace played low | 5 points | |
| 10 thru King | 10 points | |
| 2 thru 9 | 5 points |
5. Dealing the cards
Shuffling
The dealer must shuffle the cards prior to dealing. The deck must be shuffled a minimum of 5 times. The pack is (optionally) cut by the player to the dealer's right. The cut must not leave less than four cards in each packet.
Dealing
The cards are dealt clockwise, to the left, one at a time, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer. After the first deal, the deal passes to the player on the dealer's left. The number of cards dealt depends on the number of players participating.
| Players | Cards Dealt | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 7 | |
| 3 | 9 | |
| 2 | 13 |
Place undealt cards face down in the center of the table, forming the stock. The top card is turned face up and is placed beside the stock as the up card to start the discard pile. The discard pile should be slightly spread, so that players can readily see all the cards it contains.
8. The Play
Each player, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer, may draw either the top card of the stock or any card from the discard pile. There are two conditions when drawing a card from the discard pile:
- The player must take all the cards above the selected card.
- The drawn card must immediately be used, either by laying it down in a meld or by laying it off on a meld already on the table.
- If only the top card of the discard pile is drawn, it does not need to be immediately used.
The remaining cards taken with the discard may be melded in the same turn or simply added to the player’s hand.
Each player in turn, after drawing but before discarding, may lay down any meld or may lay off any card that matches a meld already on the table.
If a player already has a meld of their own, they may lay down cards on an opponent's meld. Although played on an opponent's meld, the cards are placed in front of the player, not the opponent. If a card can be played on more than one meld of an opponent, the player must declare which meld he is using.
Cards that are laid off are kept on the table in front of the player. Sequences may not “go round the corner”; thus, A, K, Q or A, 2, 3 may be melded, but not K, A, 2.
9. End of Hand
The hand can end in one of two ways. First, when a player disposes of all the cards in their hand via forming melds, laying off cards, or adding a final card to the discard pile, then the hand is done. Note that it is not required to include adding a card to the discard pile when going out. All the remaining cards in a player’s hand may be played if they are all going to valid melds or lay offs.
The other way that a hand can end is if the stock pile is exhausted and the current player does not want to draw any cards from the discard pile. If the player is able to use something in the discard pile then they take their turn like normal and play continues on to the next player.
Once the game has ended in one of the ways described above then the hand is over and other players may not meld or lay off cards even if they have valid combinations in their hand. Calling “Rummy!” also not allowed.
11. Strategies
It may be beneficial to delay laying down melds even if able to do so. If you lay down too early, your opponent will be able to lay down on your melds to aid is getting rid of the cards in their hand. However, if you lay down too late you may be stuck with cards in your hand if your opponent goes out before you.