13 CARD POOL CLASSIC RUMMY GAME

Pool Rummy Rules & Strategies

Pool Rummy is a multi-deal, 13 card Online Rummy Game in India which can be played at 2 and 6 player tables amongst a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 6 players. 13 Cards Indian Pool rummy is available in 2 variations; 101 and 201. In order to win Pool Rummy Online, you have to push your all opponent(s) to cross 101 or 201 points depending on the game selected. In other words, Pool Rummy is an extended form of Points Rummy where you don’t have to win one game but a series of games so that your opponent(s) cross the magic number.

Just imagine if a single game of Points Rummy gives you a thrilling experience then that thrill gets multiplied many folds in Pool Rummy. Classic Pool Rummy is available on 2 player and 6 player tables where 2 to 6 players can play together with 1 or 2 decks. The rules are very simple – make valid sequences/sets before your opponents. Try to do this as fast as you can so that your opponents don’t accumulate many valid groups and ultimately get pushed towards losing. This Classic Pool Rummy game will continue till all except one player cross 101 points.

13 Cards Indian Pool Rummy Rules

13 Cards Indian Pool Rummy rules are to get all opponents to cross predefined points based on the variation selected while making sure that his or her own points don’t cross the predefined points.

How to play 101 and 201 Pool Rummy

  • 13 Cards Indian 101 Pool Rummy is played with all cards from Ace to King and all 4 suits i.e. Hearts, Spades, Diamonds, Clubs and one printed Joker. 101 pool rummy is played on 2 player or 6 player tables with 1 deck or 2 decks of cards respectively. In 101 Pool, the goal of the players is to push all opponents beyond 101 points. The player who is left at the end with total points less than 101 is the winner.
  • In 13 Cards Indian 201 Pool Rummy the player who pushes all opponents beyond 201 and maintains his or her points less than 201 is the winner. 201 Pool Rummy is played with all cards from Ace to King and all 4 suits i.e. Hearts, Spades, Diamonds, Clubs and one printed Joker. Number of decks depends on the table selected. 2 decks of cards are used for 6 player tables and 1 deck of cards is using while playing on 2 player tables.

Rules and strategies are almost the same as in Points or Deals Rummy with a couple of twists which are detailed below.

Start Playing Pool Rummy Game Online

First, you need to select the table of your choice amongst various possibilities available in the lobby. You will need to choose type of game i.e. 101 or 201 Pool Rummy, table size and Entry Fee and then click on the JOIN button in green. Once you click on Join, the selected game table will pop-up and all available seats will be marked ‘SIT HERE’. Pick a seat you like and click on it to occupy that seat. Once you are seated your selected Avatar, username and default points i.e. 0 will be visible to you and all other players at that table.

Now, depending on the table, occupied seats and game in progress, there are multiple possibilities to actually start the game which are as follows:

  • Wait for other player: Being first is not always good at a 13 Cards Pool Rummy table. You will need to wait for another player to occupy a seat to start the game
  • Other players are already playing: It’s not good either to be early or very late to get in the game. If other players are already playing at a 6 player table then you need to wait for the game to end in order to participate in next game. Tip: while waiting for the game to end, you can quickly play 2-3 hands of Classic Points rummy in another popup window
  • Other player is waiting for you: It’s all about timing. Don’t be too late or too early to take your seat. There may be other players waiting for you to come, so reserve your seat and start the game

Game Begins - At the starting of a game, a toss defines the sitting/turn arrangements. Higher card value player will get the first turn and so on in descending order. Now, 13 cards will be equally divided amongst all players. But before that, a wild card joker will be opened and placed below the closed deck. You can sort your cards by just clicking on ‘Sort’ button which will segregate your cards on the basis of suits in ascending order to give you a more comfortable display of your cards in hand.

Making Sequences / Sets - Your primary goal is to make at least 1 pure sequence out of a minimum 2 sequences and you can meld remaining cards into sets or pure or impure sequences. On your turn, you can pick a card either from the closed deck or you can pick the last dropped card from the open deck. Then you will need to discard one card to the open deck. This should be a card you don’t need. You have 30 seconds to pick and drop a card and an additional 40 seconds buffer for that particular game.

Drop - If you feel like your cards are not good enough to defeat your opponent players then it is better to make a drop even before picking the first card. This is known as the initial drop and by exercising this option; you will collect 20 in 101 & 25 in 201 Pool points. In contrast to the initial drop, if you still take a chance and realize after your first turn that your cards are not good, you can make a drop at this point. This is a mid drop and you will accumulate 40 in 101 & 50 in 201 Pool points. So in conclusion, if you feel your cards are not favorable then it’s always better to make the initial drop. Please note if you drop, your cards will not be visible to other players as only players who declare their cards will be shown on the result board.

The game continues till all except one player drop or till the time one player hits the ‘Finish’ button. Once a player finishes then he has to make valid groups of sequences/sets and click on the ‘Declare’ button. You will get 30 seconds to declare. If you go beyond the time limit, you will be considered a loser. After you hit declare, the Rummy Passion intelligent server will verify your groups of cards. If your card groups are valid then 30 seconds are given to other players to declare their cards as well.

Cards Declaration in Pool Rummy

Once a player clicks on ‘Finish’, makes valid groups and ultimately declares; there are two types of declarations possible. These are:

  1. You made a valid declare - After declaration, the Rummy Passion server will immediately validate your cards with all possibilities and instantly announce the result. If the declaration is valid then all other opponents get 30 seconds to make possible groups and declare
  2. You made invalid declare - If the game server finds that the declaration of groups is not according to predefined rules, it will consider the declare as invalid and you will get 80 points

Hand Winning and ‘Score Board’ in Pool Rummy

Hand Winning - As mentioned above, you need to make a minimum of 2 sequences of 3 or more cards and one of these must be pure in order to make you the winner for that particular deal / hand. In most cases we try to make 1 group of 4 cards and 3 groups of 3 cards, ultimately melding all 13 cards in either sets or sequences.

Scoreboard - The game is on even after 1 deal has been successfully completed as we are talking about 13 card Online Pool Rummy here. Hands / Deals will continuously go on till the time you have either crossed the magic number or lost or you have pushed all other opponents across that number and have ultimately become the winner. On the scoreboard, you will see all the players’ which gives you a firm idea about your further strategy to beat your opponents.

Pool Rummy Rebuy Rules

1. In a pool game, players who are eliminated from the game are allowed to join the game back. Rejoin is possible if the highest score among the players (who are not eliminated) is less than 79 points in a 101 pool game and 174 in a 201 pool game.

2. Every time a player rejoins a buy-in amount is deducted from player wallet.

3. When player rejoins a game, starting score will be 1 point above the highest score among the players who are not eliminated. E.g. If three players are not eliminated and have scores of 72 points, 45 points & 56 points respectively in a 101 pool game then rejoining player’s starting score will be 73 points after rejoin.

4. As long as the player meets the following conditions, he/she will be able to rejoin the game any number of times:

  • Player has enough real balance in their account to rejoin.
  • The highest score among the players who are not eliminated is less than 79 points in a 101 pool game and 174 in a 201 pool game.

5. Players are offered to rejoin ONLY after elimination, but before the next deal starts.

6. Player who has eligibility to rejoin (after elimination from the game) will get a rejoin popup with the rebuy amount and rejoin score. Confirming the above will rejoin the player back to the table.

Example 1 – Single Player Rebuy

Three players joined 101 pool game, completed 3 deals and at the end of 3rd deal player’s scores are as follows -

Player 1 - 35

Player 2 - 45

Player 3 – 110 (eliminated)

  • Player 3’s score is above 101, hence the player is in eliminated status.
  • Now the game logic will check if the rest of the players in the table doesn’t have score above 79.
  • As per above example, the condition is true (no other players score is above 79).
  • Next condition – if player 3 has enough real money to make a rebuy.
  • Then player 3 is offered for rejoin popup (popup will show rebuy value and rebuy score).
  • The player is seated at 46 points back in table because the highest scorer in the table is player 2 at 45 points.

Example 2 – Multiple Players Rebuy

Four players joined 101 pool game, completed 3 deals and at the end of 3rd deal player’s scores are as follows -

Player 1 - 35

Player 2 - 45

Player 3 – 110 (eliminated)

Player 4 – 104 (eliminated)

  • Player 3 and 4 score is above 101, hence the players are eliminated.
  • Now the game logic will check if the rest of the players in the table doesn’t have score above 79.
  • As per above example, the condition is true (no other players score is above 79).
  • Next condition – if player 3 & 4 has enough real money to make a rebuy.
  • Then players 3 and 4 are shown rejoin popup showing rebuy value and score.
  • Player 4 accepts rebuy first and rejoined into the table at 46 points.
  • Player 3 accepts rebuy second and rejoined to the table at 47 points.

Splitting Winnings in Pool Game

The preconditions for using the split option in Pool Rummy 101 or 201 is:

  • The split can happen only in the games where the game started with 3 or more players.
  • The minimum number of players remaining in the game at the end of a deal should be 2 or 3.
  • The number of drops/buy-in remaining after equating all players drops should be equal to at least 1 Entry fee.
  • A player has to initiate request for split and all remaining players have to accept. Only then system will process the split request.

Among the players who accept for prize split, the split will be processed as follows -

1. Drops remaining for each of the players will be equated to that of the player with least drops remaining. After equating, the excess drops remaining with each player will be paid out from the prize pool as (number of excess drops remaining * Entry Fee).

2. The remaining amount in the prize pool will then be equally distributed among the players.

For example: In a Pool 101 table with Rs 25 where the game started with more than 3 players and the table is now down to 3 players. Assuming Player1 has 3 drops remaining, Player2 has 1 drop and Player3 has no drops remaining respectively. Below representation is applicable even if there are rebuy on the table.

Prize Pool - Rs 150

1 Drop - Rs 25

Player1 - 3 Drops

Player2 - 1 Drop

Player3 - 0 Drops

RummyPassion.com will first equate the number of drops remaining for each player to the player with least drops i.e. Player1 and Player2 will get a better cut of the prize pool

Player1 - 3 X 25 = 75, remaining drops - 0

Player2 - 1 X 25 = 25, remaining drops - 0

Player3 – 0 X 25 = 0, remaining drops - 0

Remaining Prize Pool = (150 - 75 + 25) = Rs 50 (is greater than Rs 25 or 1 drop)

Remaining Prize Pool distribution = 50 / Number of Players = 50 / 3 = Rs 16.67

Prize split amounts:

Player1 – (75 + 16.66) = 91.66

Player2 – (25 + 16.67) = 41.67

Player3 – (0 + 16.67) = 16.67

Points Calculation in Pool Rummy

There is no value of suits while defining the point value of cards. All cards from 2-10 have respective points value and all photo cards (including Aces) have a fixed value of 10 points each. Also, the Joker card has no point value. So if you win, your points will be 0 and if you lose your points will be calculated according to the groups as defined above.

POOL RUMMY – RULES AT A GLANCE

  • Two type of tables: 2 player and 6 player tables
  • Two variants – 101 and 201 Pool Rummy available
  • Can play with Real Money or Practice Chips
  • Entry fee ranges from Rs. 25 to Rs. 5000
  • At least 2 players required to start the game
  • 2+ and maximum 6 players can play on a 6 player table
  • Spades, Diamonds, Clubs and Heart suits to play
  • 53 cards including single printed Joker in 1 deck. Classic Pool Rummy available in 1 and 2 decks variations
JOKER USAGE IN POOL RUMMY
  • Joker: In each deck - Printed Joker – 1, Wild Card Jokers – 4
  • Printed Joker: That unique card on which an image of a Joker is printed
  • Wild Card Joker: Randomly picked 1st card before distributing cards to all players is the wild card Joker. Wild card Joker is placed under closed deck of cards. Remember: if Printed Joker is a wild card Joker than all Aces will act as Jokers
  • Joker Usage: Joker(s) is used to fill the gap of missing card(s) to make a valid Sequence/ Set
  • Note: All sequences made with Joker are always impure sequences
POOL RUMMY DECK SYSTEM
  • Open Deck: Players discard their extra card to open deck. In their next turn, the player has an option to pick a card from the open deck
  • Closed Deck: : Player can pick a card from closed deck on their turn. Its self explanatory – closed deck cards are not disclosed to the player before they pick
CARDS POINTS
  • 2-10 have face value Points each
  • All photo cards and Aces have 10 points each
PLAYING OPTIONS
  • Sort: Distinguish between suits and place them in ascending order
  • Drop: Withdrawing from the game is called making a Drop. Points calculation for drop are - Initial Drop – 20 in 101 & 25 in 201 Pool, Mid Drop – 40 in 101 & 50 in 201 Pool
  • Pick Card: Its self explanatory, picking a card on your turn either from closed deck or open deck is called pick card. You can only pick a Joker if it’s the very first turn of the game
  • Discard: Placing the 14th card after picking the card to open deck is called discard
  • Finish: Finish option is used to raise your hand to declare that all your sequence/ sets are in place
  • Declare: Once you finish, the system gives you 30 seconds to cross check all your sequences/ sets and finally declare. After successful declaration of cards, system will give 30 seconds to losing players to make valid groups
GROUPS
  • Groups:Sequences (pure or impure) or sets which are valid are called groups
  • Invalid Cards: Cards which cannot be used in order to make a valid group
  • Sequence: 3 or more cards of the same suit in continuous series is called a sequence
  • Pure Sequences: Sequence without joker (printed or wild card) is called pure sequence
  • Impure Sequences: Sequence completed with the help of Joker are called impure sequences
  • Minimum Sequences: Minimum 1 pure and 1 impure sequence is required to make a valid show
  • Maximum Sequences: Up to 4 sequences in 13 cards Classic Pool Rummy games
  • Sets: Same card of different suits are called sets. Please note: there are no pure or impure sets
  • Minimum Sets: You can declare even without any set
  • Maximum Sets: Maximum 2 sets in order to valid groups
WINNING AND CALCULATION
  • The player who pushes their all opponent(s) to cross 101 or 201 points depending on the game selected will ultimately be the winner
  • Winner will get all the winnings which is calculated as entry fee x number of players with minor adjustment of service charges