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21 Cards Rummy Game

The game of 21-card rummy is usually played in the points rummy format. It is played by 2 to 6 players with three decks of cards and this variant uses an extra group of Up and Down Jokers apart from the standard set of printed and wild jokers. In this variant, every player gets 21 cards and they have to arrange their cards in sequences, or sequences and sets. Since this variant uses more cards, every round takes longer than some other variants of rummy such as 13-card rummy.

The 21-card game is one of the most complex and challenging rummy variants. Every 21-cards rummy round is very strategic, time-consuming, and has points calculations that you must keep in mind. The game is played by 2 to 6 players and each player is dealt 21 cards. This version is played with three rummy decks. In each deck, there are 52 cards and one printed joker. The players must arrange their cards in valid sequences, or sequences and sets, and declare their hand before their opponents to win.

What Is 21 Cards Rummy/Indian Marriage?

21 cards rummy is also called Indian Marriage rummy in many places. This is a longer and more complex rummy variant played all across the country. This game requires strategies and you must make every move after contemplating all the cards. The goal is to arrange all cards in valid sequences, or sequences and sets, before your opponent and make a valid declaration. The player who arranges all the 21 cards and makes a valid declaration first becomes the winner of the game.

How to Play 21 Card Rummy Online

Here is a guide that will help you play 21-card rummy online.

• In 21-card rummy, 3 decks and 1 printed joker per deck are used.
• Each player is dealt 21 cards.
• A cut joker is randomly selected and placed face up, and the remaining pile of cards is kept face down on the table.
• The cards with a rank above and below the joker are classified as upper and lower jokers, respectively.
• On their turn, each player draws and discards a card.
• They can draw cards from either pile (open or closed deck), and discard a card to the open pile.
• The game progresses in a similar manner until any of the players declares their hand. This means that all their cards are sorted into valid groups.
• The player who makes a valid declaration first according to the 21-card rummy rules is declared the winner of the game.
• In the event of an incorrect declaration, the declarer will be penalized with a maximum penalty.
• The other players who are playing the game keep arranging or sorting their cards. Their cards are validated and the points of all other players are calculated as per the 21 cards rummy points system.

Basic Rules of 21 Card Rummy

In this version of rummy 21 cards must be arranged in valid sequences and sets. But there are some very important rummy rules for making a declaration. To make a valid declaration, you must have one or a combination of the following:

• According to 21 cards rummy rules, you should have three pure sequences (three or more consecutive cards of the same suit without a joker) and the remaining cards arranged in any combination of sequences and/or sets.
• Eight jokers in one group.
• Eight dublees (a dublee is a pair of two cards of the same rank and suit or two jokers) in eight different groups.
• Three tanalas (a tanala is three cards of the same rank and suit) in three different groups.
• Two marriage groups in hand (marriage is a combination of the lower joker (taplu), cut-joker (sterling), and upper joker (paplu) of the same suit. These must be presented as a group to be valid.

How to Download 21 Card Rummy Game App

You can play the 21 card rummy game on your phone. The free rummy app is available on the Play Store and App Store. You can play 21 card rummy online free on the Rummy.com app, but if you want to play cash games, here is a guide to download the cash app.

Steps to download on Android

• You can find the download link for the cash rummy app on our website.
• Using the link, you can download the rummy app APK onto your mobile.
• Once the APK is downloaded, you simply have to install it, and you can start playing cash rummy games on your phone.

Steps to download on iOS

• iOS users can find the Rummy.com cash app on the App Store and download it from there.
• Once you have downloaded and installed the app on your phone, you can start playing cash rummy games online.

How to Form Sequences and Sets in 21 Card Rummy

The objective of this rummy card game online is to arrange the 21 cards in valid sequences, or sequences and sets. To win the game you need to form 3 pure sequences, and the rest can be any valid sequence or sets. Without 3 pure sequences, you cannot make a valid rummy declaration. Here is how you can form sequences and sets in a 21-card rummy game.

21 Card Rummy Sequence

In this marriage cards game, a sequence is a group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit. There are two types of sequences that you can form: a pure sequence and an impure sequence. To win the game of rummy, you need at least 3 pure sequences in your hand.

Pure Sequence

A pure sequence is a group of three or more cards of the same suit placed in consecutive order without using a printed or wild card joker as a replacement for any card. For example, 5♥-6♥-7♥ (It’s a pure sequence with three cards. No printed joker or wild joker is used.)

Impure Sequence

An impure sequence is a group of three or more rummy cards of the same suit where one card is replaced by a printed or wild joker. For example, 6♦-7♦-Q♠-9♦ (Here Q♠ has been used as a wild joker replacing 8♦ to form an impure sequence.)

21 Card Rummy Set

A set is a group of 3 or 4 cards of the same value but different suits. You can use printed and wild card jokers to form sets. For example, 8♦-8♣-8♠-8♥ (This rummy set is formed with four 8s of different suits.)

Role of Jokers in 21 Card Rummy

In 21-cards rummy, jokers are used to form impure sequences and sets. Jokers are also used for Indian marriage (a rummy game) that can bring you closer to winning the game. Here are the different types of jokers used in 21-card rummy.

• Printed Joker: This joker is already included in the deck. The card has a picture of a joker printed on it.
• Cut Jokers: After dealing the cards to all the players, the topmost card from the stockpile becomes the cut joker. For example, if 8♥ is the top card, the 8s of all suits can be used as jokers to form sequences and sets.
• Upper Joker: The card one rank above the cut joker and of the same suit as the cut joker is the upper joker. In our example, 9♥ will be the upper joker.
• Lower Joker: Similarly the card of the same suit and one rank below the cut joker becomes the lower joker. In our example, 7♥ will be the lower joker.

Winning Tips and Trick for 21 Card Rummy Online

• To win the game, keep the rummy cards that you have arranged in valid sequences, or sequences and sets, together. The unmatched cards should be kept separate. This will help you clearly identify which cards you need to discard or focus on to create new sequences or sets.
• Unless you can arrange the high-value cards (Ace, Jack, Queen, and King) in sequences or sets, discard them early on. They will bring you unnecessary points if you are not able to use them in the first few turns.
• If your opponents are drawing cards from the open deck, then try to guess their game plan. It will help you gain insights into the game and learn which cards they need to form sequences or sets. And if you possess those cards, hold on to them to stop them from winning.
• In the 21 card game online, hold on to the useful cards. For example, a 5 from any suit can be used to form sequences with 6 and 7 or 4 and 6 or 3 and 4.
• Play a few practice games with free chips given to you. You won’t lose any money and you will get to improve your rummy skills and knowledge.

How to Calculate Points in 21 Card Rummy Game

In 21-cards rummy, the winner gets the total of the points lost by all the losing players. The losing players get negative points as per card game 21 rules.

• All face cards (K, Q, J) and the ace (A) are worth 10 points each.
• All number cards from 2 to 10 are worth their face value.
• For the losing player in 21-card rummy, the negative score is calculated based on the points of the ungrouped cards.
• 120 is the minimum criteria, any points less than 120 will be taken as points lost.
• The cut joker, upper joker, and the lower joker, each are worth 10 points when the player has a single card, 30 points when a player has 2 cards, and 50 points when a player has 3 cards.
• 1 Indian marriage is worth 100 points, 2 are worth 300 points, and 3 are worth 500 points.

21 Cards Rummy FAQs