Rummy 500 or 500 Rum

Rummy 500 can be played on family game night or it can be played with friends while enjoying a few drinks. No matter who you play with, a good time will be had by one and all.

To begin, you will enjoy the game much more if there are 3 - 5 players, but you can play with 2 - 8 players. If you are playing with more than two people, you should use 2 decks of 52 standard playing cards. Everyone should be dealt 7 cards; some people also deal 9 cards each if there are 4 or fewer players. Play begins with the person to the left of the dealer and continues clockwise around the table.

Unlike Gin Rummy, the discard pile is slightly spread out so that the card's can be seen. The draw pile is laid face down in a neat (not that it will stay that way) stack. Card values are fairly easy to remember, which makes it easy for children to learn. All "number" cards are 5 points, "face" cards are 15 and the Ace can be either 5 or 15 depending on how it is melded. If you meld the Ace with a Queen and King, it is worth 15, if you meld it with a 2 and 3, it is worth 5.

The object of the game is to meld piles of three or more cards in sequential order until you are out. You may only lay out your meld after you draw a card and before you discard. You may also lay cards out on an opponent's meld. If they laid our a 7,8 and 9 of hearts, you can lay out a 6 or 10 of hearts. The game ends when the first person goes all out.

Scoring is pretty easy with multiples of 5. Add up the melds and other cards in front of you and then subtract the number of the cards remaining in your hand.