How to Play Rummy 500: Rules for 2, 3 or 4 Players
Nov 9, 2026 · The Editors
How to play rummy 500 card game: how many cards to deal for 2 players or more, taking from the discard pile, melding and laying off, how the cards score, jokers, and how to reach 500.
Rummy 500 is rummy with a twist: the discard pile is spread out so you can see every card in it, and you can dig into it for the card you want. Every meld scores points, cards left in your hand cost you, and the first player to 500 wins. It works with two players and stays good up to six or more.
What you need and how to deal
One standard 52-card deck for up to four or five players; two decks shuffled together for more. Jokers are optional.
| Players | Cards each |
|---|---|
| 2 | 13 |
| 3 to 8 | 7 |
Put the rest face down as the stock and turn one card face up beside it to start the discard pile. Spread the discard pile slightly so every card in it can be seen.
A turn in rummy 500
- Draw. Take the top card of the stock — or take a card from anywhere in the discard pile, plus every card on top of it. If you dig into the pile, you must use that deepest card in a meld straight away.
- Meld (optional). Lay down sets of three or four cards of the same rank, or runs of three or more in one suit (5-6-7 of hearts). You may also lay off single cards onto any meld already on the table, including other players' — and those points go to you.
- Discard one card face up on the pile.
Aces can be high (Q-K-A) or low (A-2-3), but not both in the same run — K-A-2 is not allowed.
How rummy 500 scores
When a player goes out — by melding, laying off or discarding their last card — the hand ends. Everyone then adds up the cards they have melded and subtracts the cards still in their hand.
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Ace | 15 (many play 5 or 1 when used low in A-2-3) |
| King, Queen, Jack, 10 | 10 |
| 2 to 9 | face value |
| Joker (if used) | 15 |
Keep a running total. The first player to reach 500 wins; if two pass it in the same hand, the higher score wins. A minus score is possible — the cards in your hand can outweigh what you laid down.
Rummy 500 with 2 players
With two, each player takes 13 cards, and the game becomes a tight battle over the discard pile. Watch what your opponent picks up: if they take a seven, they probably have sevens or a run around it, so stop discarding cards that fit.
Rummy 500 with jokers
Add two jokers as wild cards. A joker can stand for any card in a meld; it scores 15 to whoever melds it and costs 15 if it is stuck in your hand. Some tables let a player swap the real card for a joker on the table — agree that before you start.
Strategy that wins
- Meld high cards early. An Ace or a King in your hand when someone goes out costs as much as you gained from a small run.
- Dig deep when it pays. Taking six cards from the pile can feel greedy, but it may hand you two melds — and the risk is that you hold a lot of cards if somebody goes out.
- Lay off on other players' melds. It scores for you and shrinks your hand.
If you already know standard rummy or gin rummy, rummy 500 is a short step on. For more games with three, see card games for 3 players.
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