On each turn, a player picks one card either from the draw pile or the discard pile (so-called “upcard”).

Round: 1 run of five and 3 sets of three cards.

Round: 1 set of three and 1 run of ten cards.

Round: 2 sets of three and 1 run of five cards.

Round: 1 set of three and 1 run of seven cards.

Round: 1 set of three and 1 run of four cards.

Players aim to achieve a different number or combination of sets and runs in each of the rounds.

The person to the left of the dealer goes first.

Flip the top card and place it next to the pile as a new discard pile.

Put the rest of the cards in a stockpile face-down to the center of the table.

Now that you understand the fundamental principles of the game, proceed with the setup:

At least half of your cards in a run must be genuine (unless the excessive 2 fits the run naturally).Įvery run starts or ends with an ace, but you cannot “go around the corner.”Įxample: King, ace, 2, 3 is NOT a valid run.

You can only use one wild card per set (unless you’re building an entire set of 2s).

That means that you can use a two/joker to replace any card in a set, with a few constraints: Twos and jokers are considered wild cards in this game.

Runs: Three or more cards in consecutive order and same suit.

Sets: Three or more cards of the same ranking (e.g., three 5s or three Qs).

Shanghai Rummy revolves around two types of card assemblies: Starting the Gameīefore you start playing, there are a few basic concepts you should understand. If you’re new to the game, you might want to keep them at hand until you get used to them.

Shanghai Rummy is played over 10 rounds, each with its unique, relatively complex rules. Tip: Add one more deck of cards for every two additional players beyond three (e.g., five players use three decks seven players use four decks, and so on). To play Shanghai Rummy, you’ll need the following: Our take: Shanghai Rummy is an excellent alternative for those who like rummy-style card games, adding a fresh twist to this classic game. Main Objective: Have the lowest score among the players after ten rounds of play. Similar to: Rummy, Continental, Gin Rummy, Ruckus It is challenging but not too complicated and keeps you entertained for hours.

In Shanghai Rummy, players match cards into formations and aim to end each round with empty hands.

Other Similar Games to Shanghai Rummy (Our Guides) What is Shanghai Rummy?.

How to Play Shanghai Rummy – Video Tutorial.

What You’ll Need to Play Shanghai Rummy.

Shanghai card game score sheet