Contract Rummy is a popular card game that has been played by generations. It is a game that is easy to learn, but it can take years to master. The game requires two to six players and is played with two decks of standard playing cards.
The objective of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all the cards in their hand by forming combinations and laying down their cards on the table. Similar to other rummy games, each player is dealt a hand of cards, and the remaining cards are placed in a draw pile. The top card of the draw pile is then turned over to start the discard pile.
The game has seven rounds, and each round has a different contract that players must meet before they can go out. A contract is a combination of sets (three or four cards of the same rank) and runs (three or more cards in a sequence of the same suit).
The contracts for each round are:
1. Two Sets
2. One Set and One Run
3. Two Runs
4. Three Sets
5. Two Sets and One Run
6. One Set and Two Runs
7. Three Runs
To meet the contract for each round, players must lay down their cards on the table that meet the requirements of the contract. Players can also add to combinations that are already on the table. For example, if there is already a set of sevens on the table, a player can add a fourth seven to the set.
Once a player has met the contract, they can go out by discarding their last card. If a player cannot meet the contract, they must continue drawing cards from the draw pile until they can. The game ends when a player goes out in the seventh round.
Remember, the game is won by the first player to go out, not the player with the least amount of points. Points are awarded to the players who still have cards in their hand at the end of each round. The points are calculated as follows:
Cards 2-9: Face Value
Cards 10-K: 10 points
Ace: 15 points
Once a player goes out, the remaining players tally their points, and the player with the least amount of points wins the game.
In conclusion, playing Contract Rummy requires a good memory and strategic thinking. As with any game, it takes practice to improve your skills. But with these guidelines, you can get started on your journey to master this classic card game.