Online rummy is a card based skill game and there are two online rummy games that use jokers.  These two games are Kalooki 40 and Kalooki 51.  Both of these games are available for players on the Rummy Royal website.  These games are played using two decks of cards and two jokers.  These games may have the similar names but there are some exciting differences between the two.

Both of the Kalooki games allow players to use jokers to complete melds or sets and players can also switch out the joker with the card it is being substituted for once it is on the table.  An example of this would be where you opponent laid down two nines and a joker.  If you have two nines you can lay these down and pick up the joker.  You do have to use the joker in the in the same turn that you pick it up so make sure that you have a run or set ready to use before you use this move.

The main thing you need to be aware of when using jokers and playing Kalooki is not to be left holding a joker in your hand when you opponent goes out.  If you are playing Kalooki 40 and you have a joker in your hand it will cost you 15 points.  If you are playing Kalooki 51 and you have a joker it will cost you 25 points.

If you haven’t played Kalooki before and you would like to try it out then you should visit the Rummy Royal website.  They have an excellent tutorial for both of the Kalooki games and you can even use the free play that is available on this online rummy website to practice your skills before playing for real money.

Rummy Royal also hold some great Kalooki tournaments on their website too and the prizes up for grabs in these are over $10,000.  You can check out their promotions page to see their latest tournaments and don’t forget there are usually freerolls and qualifiers for these tournaments on a daily basis on this website too.

Until next time,

Deal Those Cards,

In the last post we explored the objective of Rummy and in today’s post I am going to explain how to play the different variations of rummy. The first variation is Gin Rummy.

Gin Rummy is a classic variation of this skill based card game. Gin rummy is very easy to both learn and play and it is a relatively quick and exciting game too. The winner is the first person to dispose of all his cards at once. This move is called Gin. There is another way of winning and this is called knocking. This is where you dispose of all your cards at once and making sure that your deadwood is less than 10. If your opponents deadwood is less than your when you knock then they will undercut you and they win.

Oklahoma Gin is a variant on Gin rummy. This game is for two to four players. With 2 players each gets 10 cards, more than 2 players each gets 7 cards. The object of this game is to form as many melds as you can. This game is won in the same way as Gin rummy.

Kalooki 51 is next. This variation of rummy uses jokers as wild cards. These help to spice things up and provide players with a number of opportunities to use their skills. In this variation the melds a player creates must reach a total of 51 or more before they can be laid down. The winner is the first person to dispose of all of his cards at once which is called a Hunt. You can also win by going out which is where you dispose of your cards by gradually melding and building.

Kalooki 40 is the British version of Kalooki 51. In this variant melds must reach a total of 40 or more. Another rule in this game which adds more excitement is that it players are not allowed to pick up from the discard pile without laying down one or more melds. Winning is the same as Kalooki 51.

Traditional rummy is based on all the variants and the winner is the first player to dispose of all their cards at once. This move is called going rummy. Another way to win this game is to be the first person to get rid of all his cards gradually which is known as going out. In traditional rummy there is no restriction on when you can lay down melds or add matching cards to your existing melds.

That’s it, how to play and win at all rummy variations.

Until next time,

Deal those cards,

While the rules of the various Rummy games are simple to learn and easy to follow, strategy is a whole different ball game and it takes time to learn. While you can read about strategic moves in Rummy, strategy is something you only really learn by playing. Take discards. Beginning players often think of them as nothing more than unwanted cards and don’t bother to keep up with which cards have made it to the discard pile. By the same token, there are times when it is more important to risk losing higher value cards that you may need if it means getting rid of a load of deadwood.

Keep in mind that every card you pick up from the discard pile gives your opponent a peek into what you may be holding onto. By the same token, you get the same advantage when your opponent chooses to draw from the discard pile. By looking at the cards already on the table and paying attention to the cards your opponent picks up, you can do a great deal of surmising as to what he or she might need next. Employing this one strategy can buy you the time you may need to either get the cards you need or get rid of some heavy deadwood.

Discards work pretty much the same way in almost every version of Rummy, with the exception of Kalooki 40. In this game, once you pick up a card from the discard pile, you must play it in a meld in the same turn. While this can be somewhat of a burden, it also frees you from trying to memorize the cards your opponent picks up because, unlike other Rummy games, they won’t be holding onto the card, waiting for another card with which to meld, knock, or go out.

At any rate, don’t discount the discards. They are an important part of any Rummy game. Try this. Head on over to Rummy Royal and see if you can remember every discard that is picked up by your opponent. When it’s your turn to discard, don’t just think about the cards you don’t need, think about the point value of the deadwood you’re holding onto and think about whether or not you’re handing your opponent a winning combination with your next discard. You’ll find more winning Rummy tips at RummyRoyal.com.

Of all the Rummy games you can play at Rummy Royal, only two, Kalooki 40 and Kalooki 51 use jokers. While each game is played with two decks of cards and two jokers, there are vast and exciting differences between the two games. However, both games allow you to use a joker to complete a set or a run upon melding, and also, you can switch out the joker with the card it is being substituted for once it is on the table and use it again. For example, say your opponent lays down two 9’s and a joker. Then let’s suppose you have or get the other two 9’s. You can then lay down your two 9’s and pick up the joker. If there are already three 9’s and a joker on the table, you won’t be able to exchange the joker with the remaining 9 but you can still use it as a builder. You’ll need to use the joker in the same turn you pick it up in so be sure you have a run or a set all ready to go before you try this crafty move. If it is a run instead of a set that the joker has been played on, you can substitute just the card that the joker is filling in for and then you’ll be able to use it.

Don’t get caught holding a joker when somebody goes out in Kalooki! In Kalooki 40, it will cost you 15 points and in Kalooki 51, it will cost you a whopping 25 points if you’re caught holding a joker at game’s end. If you haven’t played either version of Kalooki, head on over to Rummy Royal and give it a shot. Remember, you can play free for as long as you like and once you’re comfortable with the game then you can play for real money. Good luck and have fun!