About Rummy 500
Build face up sets and runs, extend the melds already in play and score points for every card you successfully meld or lay off. Digging into the discard pile can unlock the card you need, but you must also take every card above it.
The game unfolds over multiple hands, with the first player to accumulate 500 points winning. In this version, you can test your decisions against AI opponents.
How to play Rummy 500
You can draw the top card of the face-down stock or choose a card from the discard pile. If you choose a buried discard, you must also take every card above it.
You can always take the top discard, but you must discard a different card that turn. If you take a card from deeper in the pile, you must meld or lay off the card you selected during that turn.
A meld is a set of three or four cards of the same rank in different suits, or a run of at least three consecutive cards in one suit. Runs can be longer than four cards.
Aces can be high or low in a run, but cannot connect King to 2. Ace, 2, 3 and Queen, King, Ace are valid runs; King, Ace, 2 is not.
Jokers are wild and can represent any card in a meld.
You must put down a meld of your own before you can lay off cards onto anyone else’s meld. A card you lay off scores points for you, not for the player who made the meld.
An Ace is worth 15 points, except when used low in a run, where it is worth 1. Jacks, Queens and Kings are worth 10, Jokers are worth 15, and number cards are worth their printed value. An Ace left in your hand always costs 15 points.
Cards you meld or lay off add to your score. Cards left in your hand when the round ends are deducted. The first player to reach 500 points wins.
Rummy 500 strategy and tips
Count the cost of a buried card
Taking a useful card from deeper in the discard pile also means taking every card above it. Before you pick it up, check whether those extra cards help you make melds or leave you holding points you may struggle to play.
Use opponents’ melds carefully
You can lay off a card onto another player’s visible set or run to score it. Consider whether playing it now is better than keeping it for a combination of your own.
Check visible melds before discarding
Everyone can extend the melds on the table. Before discarding, see whether your card fits an opponent’s set or run or makes a useful pickup available to them.
Balance points now against points later
Laying off a card scores immediately, but keeping it might help you form a larger meld. Consider how likely you are to use it before another player ends the hand.
Play for the full match
Rummy 500 is a race to a cumulative 500 points. One difficult hand does not decide the game. Look for ways to recover across later hands without taking unnecessary risks now.
Rummy 500 FAQs
What makes Rummy 500 different from classic Rummy?
In this version, you can take a card from deeper in the discard pile, along with every card above it. You can also add cards to face-up melds made by other players. Scores carry across hands until someone reaches 500 points.
Can I take more than the top card from the discard pile?
Yes. You can select a buried card, but you must also take every card above it. Check whether those extra cards are useful before making your choice.
Can I add cards to another player’s meld?
Yes. You can lay off a valid card onto any face-up set or run, including one made by an opponent. Cards you successfully lay off score points for you.
How do you win Rummy 500?
The first player to reach 500 points across multiple hands wins. You earn points for cards played in melds and layoffs.
Who do I play against?
You play against computer opponents, so you do not need other people to start a game.
Can I choose between the stock and discard pile?
Yes. You can draw from the face-down stock or take a card from the discard pile. Taking a buried discard also puts every card above it into your hand.