How to play German Rummy (Rommé)

You lay your cards on the table in sets and runs and try to be the first player with no cards left in your hand. Anyone still holding cards gets penalty points for them. After the agreed number of rounds, the player with the fewest penalty points wins.

This guide covers German Rummy (Rommé), the version played in Germany with two decks and six jokers. For the standard game with one deck, see Rummy.

You need two 52-card decks and 6 jokers, 110 cards in total.

1. The dealer deals 13 cards to each player, one at a time. The player to the dealer's left gets 14.
2. The rest go face down in the middle as the draw pile.
3. The player with 14 cards starts by discarding one card face up. This starts the discard pile.

In this version, nobody may meld until every player has had one turn.

Some groups play with only 4 or 2 jokers. Others deal 13 cards to everyone and turn over the top card of the draw pile to start the discard pile.

• Set: three or four cards of the same rank in different suits, such as three kings. Each suit may appear only once.
• Run: three or more cards in an unbroken sequence in the same suit, such as the 4, 5 and 6 of hearts.
• Ace: goes either before the 2 (A-2-3) or after the king (Q-K-A).
• Joker: can stand in for any card. When you meld it, you say which card it represents.

The cards you meld for the first time must be worth at least 30 points in total. Until then, you can't lay off anywhere.

Other versions: Some groups need 31 or 40 points for the first meld, or don't allow jokers in it. Agree on the rules before you play.

1. Draw: Take the top card of the draw pile or the discard pile.
2. Meld (if you want): Lay sets or runs face up in front of you.
3. Lay off (after your first meld): Add matching cards to your own melds and to other players' melds.
4. Swap a joker (after your first meld): If you have the card that a melded joker stands for, swap it for the joker.
5. Discard: Finish by placing one card face up on the discard pile.

Important: In this version, you must meld a joker you've swapped, or lay it off on an existing meld, in the same turn.

The player who discards their last card calls out “Rommé” and wins the round. Everyone else counts the cards left in their hand as penalty points.

Hand Rommé: If you meld all your cards in a single turn and discard your last card without having melded before, you've made a Hand Rommé. The 30-point minimum doesn't apply. In this version, the other players' penalty points are doubled.