Understanding the Significance of Jokers in Rummy

A rummy game is a game of skill and strategy played with a standard deck of 52 cards with each player receiving a hand of 13 cards. The objective of the game is to create a pure sequence and impure sequence or sets. 

While every deck of cards contains a Joker, the usage of these Joker cards varies from game to game. In order to play a winning game of rummy it is crucial to understand how the Joker works in the game and what are the different ways to use them.

Types of Joker in Rummy

The use of the Jokers in rummy simplifies the game and allows an ease of winning. There are two types of Jokers in rummy. You must learn about how to play rummy. 

The first type of Joker in rummy is the Printed Joker. This is the Joker that already exists in a standard deck of cards.

The second type of Joker in rummy is the Wild Joker. Once each of the players has been dealt their hand of 13 cards, the dealer picks out a card from the closed deck at random and places it face up on the table. This card then becomes the wild card.

For example, if the card that the dealer pulls out is a 6 ♥ ️,  a 6 of any suit becomes a wild joker in rummy and can be used to substitute a card in order to create an impure sequence or complete a set.

Using Jokers in Rummy to make an Impure Sequence

A rummy game is incomplete without a Pure sequence but once this is made the next step is to try and complete an impure sequence. In order to learn to make an impure sequence, you need to know how to use the Jokers in rummy.

Let’s assume that the cards you have are 9♦️ and  6♦️and a Printed Joker in rummy, you can complete the sequence such that the Printed Joker in rummy replaces the required 7♦️

Now your impure sequence will look like this, 

9♦️ 8♦️ 7♦️

Let’s see how to make an impure sequence using a Wild Joker. Let’s assume that the wild Joker of your game is a 10♠️, and the cards you have are 5♦️ 4♦️ 2♦️

You can now create an impure sequence using your 10 which will look like this,

5♦️ 4♦️ 10♣️  2♦️

Using Jokers in Rummy to make Sets

A set is made when you have cards from the same rank and different suits. 

Let’s see how you can make a set using a Printed Joker, if you have a K♦️, K♠️ and a Printed Joker, your set will look like this,

 K♦️ K♠️ PJ

The Printed Joker then substitutes any other King card that was needed to complete the set

The wild joker in a rummy game also works similarly. If you have a 10♠️ , 10♥️ and a wild joker which in your game is a 4♦️, your set can look like this,

 10♠️ 10♥️ 4♥️.

Since when the wild joker is pulled, only the rank is considered as the requirement for the wild card while the card can belong to any suit, the 4 ♥ ️ becomes the wild card helping to complete the set.

Notes on How to use Jokers in rummy 

1. A pure sequence cannot be made using a Joker
2. If you have multiple face cards, it helps to create a set using these and a Joker if it isn’t possible to discard them all
3. If you have multiple Jokers, you may have to discard some since you can only use two to create an impure sequence and set 
4. If an opponent discards a Joker then you cannot pick it up from the discard pile but have to pick a new card from the closed pile.

How to play Rummy Online

Download the A23 rummy app now and learn to play rummy. Your game only gets better with practice and experience. The more you play the game and observe other players playing, the more it helps you to build your strategy.