Four Suit Rummy

Contributed by Paul Markwick

This is a rummy variation for 2 players.

Deal twelve cards to each player and turn the top card of the stock face up. The object of the game is to make four runs of three consecutive cards, one in each suit, with bonuses for matching sets made of the same numbers.

A player may take either the upturned card or the top card of the stock as in standard Rummy. If a player wishes to lay down a set, he must do so before discarding. If the hand has not finished by the time the stock has been exhausted it is turned over and play continues.

Aces are wild within their own suit - i.e. Ace of Spades can be any Spade, Ace of Hearts can be any Heart, etc. When laying down a run with an Ace at one end, such as 6, 7, A of clubs, the player must make it clear which card the Ace represents, and this cannot be changed - if the Ace was used for the 8 when the run was laid down it cannot later be changed to represnt the 5.

Once one player has laid down all their cards, both players work out their scores as follows:

• For each set laid down score 20 points.
• For each matching set laid down score an additional 50 points - e.g. 3,4,5 of Hearts matches 3,4,5 of Spades. Also 7,A,9 of Hearts matches A,8,9 of Spades as the respective Aces are wild within their suit.

Note that three matching sets scores three separate 50 point bonuses - i.e. Set A matches Set B, Set A matches Set C and Set B matches Set C. Likewise four matching sets scores six 50 point bonuses.

Only sets laid down count, completed sets held within the hand do not score.

The first player who lays down all their cards also scores points for all the cards left in their opponent’s hand. Aces count 15, court cards count 10, other cards face value. Note that even cards in complete sets count against a player in this way if they have not been laid down.

Both players score points for all sets laid down, regardless of who lays down first. In fact it is possible for the player going out first to score less than their opponent if the other player has matching sets.

First to 1000 points wins.

Notes

Scores are only calculated at the end of a hand. Once a player passes 1000 points the current hand is completed. If both players have 1000 points or more at the end of the hand, the player with the higher score wins.

It is possible on rare occasions for the game to become blocked if both players are holding onto cards their opponent wants. If the hand has not finished by the time the stock has been exhausted a second time both players score for all the sets they have laid down and deduct the value of the cards left in their hands.

Example 1

Player A lays down 5,6,7 Hearts 5,6,7 Spades 9,A,J Diamonds A,Q,K Clubs
Player B lays down 8,9,10 Hearts 8,A,10 Spades 2,3,4 Diamonds, has 7,8,K left in his hand

Player A scores 20 for each set, 50 points bonus for the matching Hearts and Spades, plus 25 for the cards in player B’s hand. Total 80 + 50 + 25 = 155

Player B scores 20 for each of his three sets plus 50 for the matching Hearts and Spades. Total 60 + 50 = 110

Example 2

Player A lays down 5,6,7 Hearts 5,6,7 Spades 9,A,J Diamonds A,10,J Clubs
Player B lays down 8,9,10 Hearts 8,A,10 Spades 8,9,10 Diamonds, has 4,7,J left in his hand

Player A scores 20 for each set, 50 points bonus for the matching Hearts and Spades, 50 points bonus for the matching Diamonds and Clubs plus 21 for the cards in player B’s hand. Total 80 + 100 + 21 = 201

Player B scores 20 for each of his three sets plus 50 for the matching Hearts and Spades, 50 for the matching Hearts and Diamonds, 50 for the matching Spades and Diamonds. Total 60 + 150 = 210