Shanghai Rummy Rules

While there are seemingly a lot of rules in this game, fear not, there will be a lot of hints that will remind you what to do next when playing.
You can download rules in a pdf file for offline viewing here

Players

• You need a minimum of 2 players. 3-6 players is the ideal size.
• 2-6 players = 2 decks, incl. jokers.
• 7-8 players = 3 decks, incl. jokers.

Start or Join

• Start the game by entering your name. You'll be given a link to share with your friends.
• If you received the link from your friend, join the game by entering your name.
• The game can be stopped and continued at any point.
• Register your account to resume games at a later date and on different devices.
• While not necessary, audio call with your friends while playing is fun. In the future you'll be able to have one directly in the game.

Rounds

• There are a total of 11 rounds.
• Each round is a different combination of sets and runs. (see: sets and runs).
• Each round gets progressively more difficult.

Round progression

1. Two Sets
2. One Set & One Run
3. Two Runs
4. Three Sets
5. Two Sets & One Run
6. Two Runs & One Set
7. Three Runs
8. Three Sets & One Run
9. Three Runs & One Set
10. Four Sets
11. Four Runs

The goal & scoring

• Your goal is to have the least points at the end of 11 rounds.
• Each card is worth its face value.
• Face cards are 10 points.
• Aces are 20 points.
• Jokers and wilds (see: wild cards) are 50 points.

Dealing

• Each player gets 11 cards for the first 9 rounds, 13 cards for the last 2.
• Remaining cards go into the ‘draw’ pile.
• Dealer flips the top card from the draw pile to create the ‘discard’ pile.

Direction of play

• Top to bottom, or clockwise if you’re playing irl.
• The player directly below (or to the left, irl) of the dealer starts the game.

Your turn

• When it’s your turn you must take/draw a new card + discard a card.
• You have the option of taking the card from the ‘discard’ pile or drawing from the ‘draw’ pile.
• If you have the cards needed to form the sets/runs needed for the round, you can ‘lay down’ (see: laying down).
• Once you’ve laid down, if others have also already laid down, you can build on their sets/runs with your extra cards, a.k.a. ‘laying off’ (see: laying off).
• Once you’re done laying down/off, discard 1 card to the discard pile.

Buying

• Each player has the option to ‘buy’ a card 3x per round to help complete their sets or runs (see: sets and runs).
• If it isn’t your turn but you want the card in the discard pile, you can ask to ‘buy’.
• The active player and every player ahead of you has first dibs on that card.
• If no players ahead of you want the card, the active player clicks ‘allow to buy’, giving you the card you wanted + 1 card from the draw pile, a.k.a. the payment.
• Once you’ve laid down, you can no longer buy.

Wild cards

• Jokers (☺☆) and 2 of clubs (2♣) are wild cards and can be used in place of any card.
• You must have a minimum of 2 non-wild cards to complete a set or run.
• In a run, wild cards cannot touch, e.g. ace + joker + queen + joker = good. ace + joker + joker + jack = nope.