Play Rummy 500 for free
Rummy 500, also called 500 Rum, is a rummy game where every card you lay down scores. The discard pile is spread out on the table, so you can dig into it for the cards you need. Here on Kitchen Table Cards you can play it free in your browser against one, two or three friendly computer players. The cards are big, your hand is sorted into melds for you, and there is a Hint button, an Undo button and a score sheet.
How to play · The discard pile · Scoring · Tips · Questions
How to play Rummy 500
Rummy 500 is played with one deck of 52 cards. With two players everyone gets 13 cards; with three or four players, seven cards. The rest go face down as the stock, and one card is turned up to start the discard pile. The player after the dealer starts. On your turn:
- Draw: the top card of the stock, or any card from the discard pile together with all the cards above it.
- Meld: lay down sets and runs, and lay off cards on any meld on the table. Every card you lay down scores for you.
- Discard: throw one card on the discard pile. That ends your turn.
- A set is three or four cards of the same rank, such as three Sevens.
- A run is three or more cards in a row in the same suit, such as the 5, 6 and 7 of Hearts. The Ace can be low (A-2-3) or high (Q-K-A), but a run can't go round the corner (K-A-2).
- Laying off means adding cards to a meld already on the table, yours or anyone else's. The cards you lay off score for you.
The hand ends when a player gets rid of their last card, or when the stock runs out. Then everybody's cards are counted.
Taking from the discard pile
The discard pile is spread out so you can see every card in it. You may take any card from it, but you must also take every card above it. If you take more than the top card, the deepest card you took must be used straight away: laid down in a meld or laid off on the table in the same turn.
A big pile can be a gift: lots of cards to meld and score. But every card you can't lay down will count against you if someone goes out, so don't grab more than you can use.
How to play on this site
| Drawing | Click the stock, or click a card in the discard pile to take it with the cards above it. Or drag them into your hand. |
|---|---|
| A card you must meld | A card taken from under the top of the pile is marked in orange in your hand until you meld it. |
| Laying down a meld | Click the cards in your hand to choose them, then click New meld on the table. Or drag them there. |
| Laying off | Choose the cards, then click the meld they go on, or drag them onto it. Melds they fit are marked with a yellow line. |
| Throwing a card away | Choose one card and click the discard pile, or drag the card onto the pile. |
| Hint, Undo and Scores | Hint suggests your next move. Undo takes back a move until you throw a card away. Scores shows every hand so far. |
| Settings | Choose two, three or four players, a game to 500 or 250 points, how fast the others play and the table colour. |
Scoring
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Ace | 15 (1 in an A-2-3 run) |
| King, Queen, Jack | 10 |
| 10 down to 2 | The number on the card |
At the end of each hand, every player scores the cards they laid down (including cards laid off on other players' melds) minus the cards still in their hand. An Ace left in your hand costs 15 points. Scores can go below zero. The first player to reach 500 points wins; if more than one player reaches 500 in the same hand, the highest score wins.
Tips for winning at Rummy 500
- Dig into the pile when it pays. Taking five cards to make one meld is worth it if you can lay most of them down soon.
- Lay down early. Cards on the table score for you and can't be caught in your hand when someone goes out.
- Lay off on everyone's melds. The points go to you, not to the player who started the meld.
- Get rid of Aces you can't use. An Ace is worth 15 on the table, but costs you 15 in your hand.
- Mind what you throw. Every card on the pile stays available to the other players, not just the top one.
Rummy 500 questions and answers
Is this Rummy 500 game free?
Yes. Rummy 500 on Kitchen Table Cards is completely free to play in your browser. There is no download, no sign-up and nothing to buy.
Who am I playing against?
You play against one, two or three friendly computer players: Walter, Rosa and June. Choose how many under Settings. They remember the cards you pick up from the discard pile.
How many cards do you get in Rummy 500?
With two players, each player is dealt 13 cards. With three or four players, each player gets seven cards.
How is Rummy 500 different from ordinary Rummy?
In Rummy 500 the discard pile is spread out, and you can take any card from it as long as you take every card above it too and meld the card you picked straight away. And instead of only the winner scoring, every player scores the cards they lay down, less the cards left in their hand.
Can I take more than one card from the discard pile?
Yes. You can take any card in the discard pile, together with all the cards on top of it. If you take more than the top card, you must use the deepest card you took in a meld (or lay it off) in the same turn.
Is the Ace high or low in Rummy 500?
Both. A-2-3 is a run and so is Q-K-A, but K-A-2 is not. An Ace scores 15 points, except in an A-2-3 run, where it scores 1. An Ace left in your hand costs you 15.
How do you score Rummy 500?
At the end of each hand every player adds up the cards they have laid down on the table, including cards laid off on other players’ melds, and takes away the cards still in their hand. Aces count 15, picture cards 10 and the other cards their number. Scores can go below zero.
When does a hand end?
When a player gets rid of their last card, by melding it or throwing it on the discard pile, or when the stock runs out. Then every hand is counted.
How do you win Rummy 500?
The first player to reach 500 points wins. If more than one player gets there in the same hand, the highest score wins. For a shorter game, choose 250 points under Settings.
Can I take back a move?
Yes. Until you throw a card away, Undo takes back your melds, the cards you have laid off, and cards you took from the discard pile. Only a card drawn from the stock can’t be put back, because you have seen it.
Does the game save my progress?
Yes. Your current game is saved automatically on your device. If you close the page and come back later, you can carry on where you left off.
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