Card Games
500 rummy rules
500 rummy rules govern a scoring variant of rummy where players lay down melds to earn points, subtract the value of cards still held when a hand ends, and keep playing until one person's total reaches 500.
- Target score
- 500 cumulative points to win51
- Players
- 2 to 8, with a standard 52-card deck plus two jokers (54 cards); two decks for 5+ players24
- Deal
- 13 cards each for 2 players; 7 cards each for 3+ players13
- Card values
- 2–10 = face value, J/Q/K = 10, Ace = 15, Joker = 15; Ace in A-2-3 sequence scores 152
- Melds
- Sets of 3 or 4; runs of 3 or more cards (can be longer than four)13
Key points
- Players draw from stock or may take multiple discards to reach a buried card, taking all cards above it as well.12
- When a player empties their hand, the hand ends; table cards are counted against cards left in hand.12
- Play continues across hands until someone’s cumulative score reaches 500 or more.51
- 500 rummy differs from gin rummy: gin is a separate variant, while 500 rummy scores melded cards over multiple hands toward 500.12
- Jokers are allowed and score 15 points each, but joker-specific rules (e.g., can they be replaced?) are a subset of the broader 500 rummy rules.52
How to play 500 rummy
- Deal: 13 cards each for 2 players, 7 cards each for 3+ players. Place the remaining deck face down as stock, turn the top card to start the discard pile.13
- On your turn, draw the top card of the stock or take the entire discard pile if you use the top discard in a meld. You may also take a buried discard by taking all cards above it.12
- Lay down melds (sets or runs of 3+ cards) face up. You may add cards to your own or others’ melds. Discard one card to end your turn.13
- When you empty your hand, the hand ends. Score the value of all melded cards minus the value of cards left in your hand. Play additional hands until someone reaches 500 points.51
Card values in 500 rummy
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| 2–10 | Face value |
| Jack, Queen, King | 10 |
| Ace (in most melds) | 15 |
| Ace (in A-2-3 sequence) | 1 |
| Joker | 15 |
Where this term is used
Not the same as
- Rummy vs gin rummy vs rummy 500 — a comparison page that distinguishes the general rummy family, gin rummy, and rummy 500 as separate games
Related terms
Card games
Gin rummy
A two-player rummy variant where players aim to form melds and knock with low deadwood.
Card games
Rummy 500 joker rules
Specific rules for handling jokers in 500 rummy, including scoring and replacement.
Card games
Rummy rules UK
British variations of general rummy rules, often used in social play.
Card games
Indian rummy rules
A popular rummy variant in India, typically played with 13 cards and two decks.
Card games
Rummy set rules
Rules for forming sets (three or four of a kind) in rummy games.
Card games
13 card rummy rules
Standard 13-card rummy rules, common in Indian and international play.
Sources
- How to Play 500 Rum Card Game bicyclecards.com Provides the official Bicycle rules for 500 rum, including deal sizes, meld requirements, and scoring.
- 500 Rummy - Card Game Rules pagat.com Pagat's 500 Rummy page details the rules, card values, and the 500-point target.
- Rules of Card Games: Scoring Rummies pagat.com Pagat's scoring rummies page confirms deal sizes and meld rules for 500 rummy.
- Regeln von Kartenspielen: Rommé 500 - Pagat pagat.com Pagat's German-language 500 Rummy page confirms player range and deck composition.
- 500 rum en.wikipedia.org Wikipedia's 500 rum entry confirms the target score, card values, and game overview.
Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.