What is 21 Card Rummy?

21 card rummy is very similar to 13 card rummy just with more cards. It’s played among two to five players with three standard decks of 52 cards each and two printed jokers in every deck.

What are the Rules of 21 Card Rummy?

Gameplay: Every player is dealt 21 cards and a wild joker is randomly selected from the deck. Players need to arrange their cards into valid sequences and/or sets by picking a card from the closed or open deck and then discard one of their hand cards to the open deck.

Rules for Jokers & Value Cards

Printed Joker: These can be used as any card to form sequences and sets.

Jokers: These are special cards that can be used to replace other cards to form sequences and sets. For example, if 5♥ is selected as the wild joker, then 5 of all suits can be used to form sequences and sets.

Cut Joker: A specific card selected as a wild joker at the beginning of the game is called a cut joker. For example, if a 5♠ is selected randomly as the wild joker, then 5♠ will be the cut joker.

Upper Joker: The card which is a rank above the wild card joker and is of the same suit as the wild card joker is termed as the upper joker. For example, 7♥ will be the upper joker if 6♥ is the wild card joker.

Lower Joker: The card which is a rank below the wild card joker and is of the same suit as the wild card joker is termed as the Lower Joker. For example, 5♥ will be the lower joker if 6♥ is the wild card joker.

Note: The upper and lower jokers can also be used in place of any other card to form a sequence or a set. Wild card joker can also be part of a pure sequence, for example 2♥ 3♥ 4♥ is a pure sequence, where three of heart (3♥) is a joker, yet it’s a pure sequence.

Example 1: In case an Ace of club (A♣) is picked as the wild card joker then (K♣) will be the lower joker and (2♣) will be the upper joker. Though, it has to be kept in mind that a sequence of K-A-2 is not a valid one even if Ace is a joker.

Example 2: In case a printed joker is picked as the wild card joker then all Aces (A♠ A♥ A♣ A♦) will be considered as wild card jokers. In such a scenario K♠ will be lower and 2♠ will be upper joker (as ♠ is considered to be the highest suit)

Value Cards: Same suit cards that are upper and lower to the wild card joker are known as value cards. Same value and same suit cards as the one picked randomly as wild card joker are also termed as value cards. A card higher to this selected card and a card lower is also considered as value cards and will have the same attribute as joker and thus be referred to as upper joker and lower joker respectively. Beside this, all the three value cards (8♣ 9♣ 10♣ - here 9♣ was the randomly picked wild card joker) For example: If 9♣ is the wild card joker then 10♣ will be the upper joker and 8♣ will be lower joker. These three cards (8♣ 9♣ 10♣) are all value cards.

Marriage: A cut joker along with a lower joker and an upper joker of the same suit constitute a marriage. For example, if 5♠ is the cut joker, you can have a marriage in your hand if you have 4♠, 5♠ and 6♠. A player with marriage in hand gets 100 points from each of the non-dropped players.

Note: If A♥ is the cut joker, you can have a marriage in your hand if you have K♥, A♥ and 2♥.

Point Calculation for Marriage or Jackpot
1 Upper + 1 Same Suit + 1 Lower = 100 points
2 Upper + 2 Same Suit + 2 Lower = 300 points
3 Upper + 3 Same Suit + 3 Lower = 500 points

Tunnela or London: A group of three identical cards of the same value and same suit is termed as a Tunnela or London in 21 Card Rummy. An example of this would be 6♥ 6♥ 6♥.

A Tunnela or London is a valid one when it’s formed out of three printed jokers grouped together. Two identical cards with a joker is not a valid Tunnela or London. Example: 6♦ 6♦ K♦ (where K♦ is a joker), a joker can’t be used to make a Tunnela.

Dublee: Two identical cards of the same value paired together is termed as a Dublee in the 21-card rummy and an example of this would be 4♥ 4♥.

Note: A valid Dublee can also be formed with two printed jokers grouped together. One card plus a joker, such as 6♦ K♦ (where K♦ is a joker), is an invalid Dublee. Joker can’t be used to make a Dublee, unless used as a regular card and not a Joker, for instance , K♦ K♦ (here K♦ is a joker yet it’s a valid Dublee).

Terms Used In 21 Card Rummy Game

Upper Joker: The card which is a rank above the wild card joker and is of the same suit as the wild card joker is termed as the upper joker.

Lower Joker: The card which is a rank below the wild card joker and is of the same suit as the wild card joker is termed as the Lower Joker.

Tunnela: A group of three identical cards of the same value and same suit is termed as a Tunnela or London in 21 Card Rummy. However, you cannot use a wild card joker to make a tunnela.

Dublee: Two identical cards of the same value paired together is termed as a Dublee. Two printed jokers can also be called a valid dublee.

Value Cards: Same suit cards that are upper and lower to the wild card joker are known as value cards. Same value and same suit cards as the one picked randomly as wild card joker are also termed as value cards. A card higher to this selected card and a card lower is also considered as value cards and will have the same attribute as joker and thus be referred to as upper joker and lower joker respectively. For instance, if 9♣ is the wild card joker then 10♣ will be the upper joker and 8♣ will be lower joker. These three cards (8♣ 9♣ 10♣) are all value cards.

Why is the 21 Card Rummy Game Popular?

21 Card Rummy is a popular card game because it is easy to learn, fun to play, and allows for strategic gameplay. Here are some of the reasons behind its popularity:

Simple rules: The rules of 21 Card Rummy are relatively simple, making it easy for anyone to learn and play. Players need to create melds, or sets of cards, in order to score points.

Exciting Gameplay: The game offers exciting gameplay as players try to create melds as quickly as possible to score points. The game is fast-paced and players need to think quickly in order to stay ahead.

Strategic Thinking: The game requires players to think strategically and plan their moves carefully. Players need to know when to discard cards and when to hold onto them in order to create a winning hand.

Multiplayer: 21 Card Rummy is a multiplayer game, allowing players to compete against each other. This adds a social element to the game and makes it even more enjoyable.

Variations: There are several variations of the game, which keeps the game interesting and challenging. Players can choose from different types of 21 Card Rummy games, such as Points Rummy, Deals Rummy, and Pool Rummy.

How to win a 21 Card Rummy ?

• A player has to declare at least three pure sequences (minimum of three cards or above) and the rest of the cards arranged in sets or sequences. Tunnela is also treated as a pure sequence.
• A player has to declare at least three Tunnelas- the remaining cards need not be arranged in any order; these remaining cards need not be grouped or can be clubbed in a single group.
• A player has to declare at least eight Dublees- the rest of the cards need not be arranged in any order. Each pair of Dublees should be arranged in individual groups during declaration.
• A player has to declare eight jokers in a single group- the rest of the cards need not be arranged in any order. All the jokers should be arranged in one group during declaration.

How to save points, if someone else declares?

• Make at least three pure sequences and arrange the rest in sets or sequences. A player will lose points only for the cards that are not arranged.
• Make at least six Dublees. You will lose points only for the rest of the cards.

If a player has six Dublees and three pure sequences, then he/she will lose points based on the option that causes him/her to lose fewer points.

How does dropping out work in 21 card rummy?

While a player can drop from 21 card rummy however dropping out a different level will have various impacts.

First Drop: When a player drops from the game during the very first round without picking up any card from any pile, it is called the first drop. It makes the player lose 30 points.

Middle Drop: When a player drops from the game after picking up one or more cards from the discard or draw pile, that player loses 70 points.

Calculation of Drop Points