Shanghai Rummy

What is Shanghai Rummy?
A card game beloved by Carl's family, Shanghai Rummy is a progressively harder rummy game. There are 10 hands with 11 cards dealt to each player. Each hand has a different and more challenging combination needed to lay cards down on the table. The object of each hand is to go out before any of the other players. The cards left your hand at the end of each round count against you. At the end of 10 hands the lowest score wins. Use the handy-dandy scorecard to keep track of your points.

The progression of hands
Hand 1 - 2 sets of 3
Hand 2 - 2 sets of 3 + 1 run of 4
Hand 3 - 2 sets of 4
Hand 4 - 3 sets of 3

Buying is allowed from hands 5-10 (see buying rules below)
Hand 5 - 1set of 3 + 1 run of 7 (3 buys)
Hand 6 - 2 sets of 3 + 1 run of 5 (3 buys)
Hand 7 - 3 runs of 4 (3 buys)
Hand 8 - 1set of 3 + 1 run of 10 (3 buys)
Hand 9 - 3 sets of 3 + 1run of 5 (3 buys)
Hand 10 - 3 runs of 5 (4 buys)

Definitions
Set- a group of three of more cards of the same value in any combination of suits. Example: 9 of hearts, 9 of spades and 9 of diamonds
Run - a group of three or more cards in ascending value all from the same suit. Example: 2 of spades, 3 of spades, 4 of spades

How to play
Depending on how many people are playing, you will need more than one deck of standard playing cards: 2 people-one deck, 3 to 5 people-2 decks of cards, 6 to 8 people- 3 decks

Each player is dealt 11 cards. After each player has their cards, turn the top card of the deck over to begin the discard pile.

The person to the left of the dealer goes first.

At each turn the player has the choice of taking the card from the discard pile or one of the top of the deck. Only the top card in the discard pile is active. At the end of each player's turn they must discard one card from their hand.

Exception: when "going out" the player must play all their cards. Discarding is not allowed.

To lay cards on the table each player must meet the minimum hand for the round. Once a player has laid down the minimum cards, the object is to get rid of the rest of their cards by continuing to lay down cards or by playing on other players' hands already on the table.

No player is allowed to play cards on another's showing cards unless they have met the minimum for the hand.

When the first player "goes out" all play ends and the scores are tallied.

Scoring

• Jokers = 50pts
• Aces= 15pts (always whether played high or low)
• 10-K= 10pts
• 2-9 = 5pts

Buying
Players are allowed to acquire a card off the discard pile when it is not their turn.

When a player ends their turn by discarding, the first person who says, "I will buy it," may be granted the option to buy the recently discarded card from the player who's turn it now is. If permission is granted to buy the card, the player takes the card, plus two more "penalty cards" off the top of the deck.

When it is your turn to pick up a card and a player asks to buy the discarded card from you, if you refuse, you must pick up the discarded card. You are not allowed to take a new one off the top of the deck.

Buying is allowed in hands 5 through 10. Keep track of how many buys a player has in each round by giving them a token or chip to place in front of them during the hand. Poker chips, rocks, pennies, whatever you feel like. You can also use the scorecard, but it is fun when everyone can see.

Misc. Notes on Playing

• Jokers are wild and can be used anywhere in a set or run (there are no other wild cards)
• No wrap arounds. An ace can only be at the beginning or end of a run, not in the middle. Example: ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 10, jack, queen, king, ace