Rummy

Melding your entire hand in one turn, having laid nothing down previously, is going rummy and traditionally doubles the score for that hand.

Once a meld is on the table, any player may lay off matching cards onto it — adding the 8♣ to a 5-6-7♣ run, for instance. Whether you may lay off before making your own first meld is a house decision; agree first.

One standard 52-card deck for two to four players; add a second deck for five or six.; Aces are low in straight rummy — A-2-3 is a valid run, Q-K-A is not.; Jokers are usually excluded; when included they act as wild cards.

Two players: 10 cards each. Three or four: 7 each. Five or six: 6 each.; The rest forms the stock, face down.; Turn the top card face up beside it to start the discard pile.

Once a meld is on the table, any player may lay off matching cards onto it — adding the 8♣ to a 5-6-7♣ run, for instance. Whether you may lay off before making your own first meld is a house decision; agree first.

The player who goes out scores the value of the cards left in every other hand: Face cards (K, Q, J): 10 points each; Aces: 1 point; Number cards: face value

Gin rummy: strictly two players, melds stay hidden until the end, and you "knock" with 10 or fewer points of unmatched cards.; 500 rum: you score your own melds as you lay them, not just the opponents' leftovers.; Canasta: two decks plus jokers, partnerships, and seven-card melds.

Set: three or four cards of the same rank — 7♥ 7♠ 7♦.; Run: three or more consecutive cards in one suit — 4♣ 5♣ 6♣.