Indian rummy is all about using your skills and strategies. While the game has its own set of rules and should be played accordingly, smart players know how to utilize commonly available tricks and turn them into a winning strategy. Being an expert rummy player requires you to be highly vigilant. And any expert rummy player will swear by the trick of utilizing unwanted cards to turn the game around in your favor. Want to learn this trick for the next time you are playing a rummy game? Read on.
But first, here is a quick revision of the basics.
Objective of Indian Rummy
The main objective of Indian rummy game is to arrange all the 13 cards dealt to you in required combinations of either sequences or sequences and sets. If you want to win, you need to have at least two sequences in your hand. Out of these two sequences, at least one must be a pure sequence. The remaining two combinations can be either sequences or sets.
In Indian rummy, points are negative. Hence, the winner’s score is zero, while the points of the losing players are calculated by adding up the value of the ungrouped cards in their hand. The lower your score, the higher up you are on the rank list. If you play rummy online for real money, you get a cash prize by winning the game.
Having ungrouped high-value cards in your hand ruins your chances of winning the game. So how do you deal with unwanted cards to turn the rummy game in your favor?
Firstly, what are unwanted cards?
Unwanted cards, as the name suggests, are cards that are of little to no use in the game. These are the cards discarded by players through the course of the game. High-value cards like the ace, king, queen and jack are often unwanted.
Realistically, every rummy player will have unwanted cards in their hand. It is how they deal with those cards that will make or break their game. The key to winning a game of Indian rummy is to keep your score as low as possible and there are a couple of tricks you can use to keep your scores low.
Don’t discard your high-value cards immediately
Most rummy tips and tricks will tell you to get rid of your high-value cards immediately. Therefore, most players start by discarding high-value cards first. This is where your strategy comes into play. Do the exact opposite. Hold on to your high-value cards for the initial 2-3 rounds. When your opponents drop their high-value cards, pick them up from the discard pile and use them to arrange your cards in sequences or sets. This move will also confuse your opponents. Confusion leads to hasty decisions, which may result in an easier win for you.
Now what if one of your opponents is using the same strategy?
Withhold cards that can be grouped with those that your opponent picked
In the event you notice one of your opponents picking up high-value cards, use this technique as a countermove.
Suppose your opponent picks up a Q♣ from the discard pile. Now some valid sequences that they can form are J♣-Q♣-K♣ or Q♣-K♣-A♣. Avoid discarding cards that can help your opponent create these sequences. You can try and create your own combinations in the meantime. Moreover, if you manage to create a sequence or a set with Q♣, you move one step closer to winning.
Make use of your low-value cards
There is a common misconception that forming sets and sequences with high-value cards is the key to winning the rummy game. Do not underestimate the power of low-value cards or middle cards. A sequence is a sequence, regardless of whether it’s made using high or low-value cards. So work the cards to your advantage and see the results. Moreover, picking up low cards and middle cards ensures that your score does not skyrocket.
You can trick your opponent with low cards just like you do with high cards. Picking up low-value cards from the open deck is a golden strategy. However, it is difficult to execute and requires a certain amount of mastery in the game. When you do the opposite of what your opponent expects you to do, it is easy to throw them off. Your bluffing skills must be on point if you are going to utilize this strategy because when you are only playing with low-value cards in your hand, there is a chance that you might not get the required cards in time.
Anticipate your opponent’s moves
As we mentioned, dealing with unwanted cards requires quite a bit of skill. You need to watch your opponents like a hawk and be able to predict their game. Being extremely vigilant and assertive is important, especially if your opponent is equally competitive. Once you are sure you have figured out your opponent’s game, you should start tricking them by picking up unwanted cards. Picking up discarded cards is a golden strategy that can either confuse your opponent or lead them to make a mistake under a false sense of confidence.
Conclusion
If you know how to deal with unwanted cards, you are on your way to mastering the game of rummy. When you pick up unwanted cards and play them right, you can either trick your opponent into declaring dropping out or they can underestimate your rummy playing skills and make silly mistakes. Before you start using these tricks while playing online to win real money, play a sufficient number of free practice games. Once you develop and hone your skill of dealing with unwanted cards, you can ace a game even when dealt a weak hand.
So go ahead, start practicing right away and start acing when you play rummy online for cash prizes!
