Gather

Rummy

Collect sets and runs, lay down at least 30 points to open, then add to the table until your hand is empty. Whoever is still holding cards counts penalty points – and after each round you decide whether to play on or tally up.

  • 2–6 players
  • 15–40 min
  • ages 9+
  • works without a TV
  • vs. computer

Get rid of your hand cards and collect as few penalty points as possible.

How it works

  1. Everyone gets 13 cards. At the start of your turn you draw from the deck or take the top discarded card.
  2. Lay down combinations: sets (3–4 cards of the same rank in different suits) or runs (at least 3 consecutive cards of one suit).
  3. Your first lay-down needs at least 30 points in total. After that you can also add to any combination on the table.
  4. Jokers replace any card. If a joker is on the table, you can swap it for the matching card.
  5. Your turn ends by discarding a card. Whoever runs out of cards ends the round – the others count their hand cards as penalty points.

Good to know

  • After each round you decide: keep playing or finish.
  • Jokers left in your hand cost a lot of points at the end.

On the TV and on your phone

What you see and tap, where and when – step by step:

  1. Choose Rummy and join
  2. Draw a card
  3. Sort your hand and select cards
  4. Meld or line up

How to play Rummy with Gather

What makes Rummy work

  • The app checks melds and the 30-point opening, so nobody has to do the maths.
  • Swapping jokers and adding to other players’ melds gives you plenty of options.
  • Several rounds of penalty points make a proper card evening.

Pick Rummy when you want a laid-back card game with some thinking that can fill an evening.

Skip it when young kids who can’t count confidently are playing, or time is short.

Frequently asked questions

How many cards does Gather use for Rummy?

110 cards: two 52-card decks and six jokers. Everyone is dealt 13 cards.

Does a joker count towards the first lay-down?

Yes, it’s worth as much as the card it replaces. In total your first lay-down needs at least 30 points.

Can I take the top discard before my first lay-down?

Yes, but then it has to be part of your first lay-down that same turn. If that doesn’t work out, you can put it back as long as you haven’t done anything else yet.

How does the ace count in Rummy?

In runs it can be low (A-2-3) for 1 point or high (Q-K-A) for 11 – wrapping around like K-A-2 isn’t allowed. In sets and as a penalty in your hand it counts 11, and a joker left in your hand costs 20.

When can I swap a joker that’s already on the table?

Only after your first lay-down. You must lay down or add the joker you took back in the same turn.

Do I have to discard a card to finish in Rummy?

No. You can also go out by laying down or adding your last cards. Afterwards you decide whether to play on or tally up – the lowest penalty total wins.

Variants and house rules

Gather plays by the rules above. Anything you can set in the app is marked – the rest are agreements you make at the table.

Score several rounds setting in Gather

After each round, Gather asks whether you play on or tally up. Play several rounds and the penalty points add up – the lowest total wins at the end.

With computer opponents setting in Gather

With only two players, Rummy can lack pressure. In the mode with computer opponents the app fills empty seats and the discard pile becomes more contested. Also good for practising the 30-point opening alone.

Stop at 100 penalty points table agreement

Agree to tally up as soon as anyone reaches 100 penalty points. That gives the evening a clear end without fixing the number of rounds. The app shows the scores; you decide when to stop.

Good for

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