Section 3: Setup & Deal
- 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.
- Play begins to the dealer's left and moves clockwise.
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Section 3: Setup & Deal
Rummy
🌱Community
What is setup & deal in Rummy?
Verdict
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.
Why people argue about this
People often assume that if you have fewer than five players, they each get seven cards instead of six as stated in the official verdict. The misunderstanding stems from a misinterpretation of "five or six" referring to the number of players rather than the number of cards per player.
Send this to your friend — argument over.
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Rules sourced from Traditional public-domain game — describes Basic (Straight) Rummy · Last verified: Aug 2026