Contract Rummy

Seven rounds, seven contracts, buy cards out of turn. 3–6 players.

Also known as Liverpool Rummy, Progressive Rummy, Shanghai Rummy, and Joker Rummy.

Who To Play With

or

How to play Contract Rummy

  1. 1Seven deals, each with its own contract: two sets; a set and a run; two runs; three sets; two sets and a run; a set and two runs; three runs. The first four deals give ten cards each, the last three twelve.
  2. 2A set is three or more cards of one rank. A run is four or more cards in order in one suit; aces can be low (A-2-3-4) or high (J-Q-K-A). Jokers are wild. We play with two decks and four jokers (three decks and six jokers for five or six players).
  3. 3On your turn, draw from the stock or take the top discard, then discard one card. You can't throw back the card you just took.
  4. 4Buying: when the player whose turn it is draws from the stock instead of taking the discard, anyone else may buy that discard. The buyer takes it plus one extra card from the stock as a penalty. You can buy up to 3 times a deal, and the window closes after a few seconds.
  5. 5Once you hold your contract you may lay it down (on your turn, after drawing), adding any extra cards that fit those melds. After that you may add cards to any melds that are down, but you can't lay down new ones.
  6. 6The first player to get rid of every card ends the deal. In the last deal you must go out by melding every card, without a final discard; if you're down to one card that fits nowhere, you keep it and end your turn.
  7. 7Cards left in your hand count against you: 2–9 are 5, tens and picture cards 10, aces 15, jokers 25. After seven deals the lowest total wins.

More rummy & melding games

All 225 games, free, in your browser.