Rummy quiz: do you really know the rules?

By The Atlas Carta teamUpdated on October 17, 2026✓ Rules checked in the app

Think you know rummy inside out? Prove it in 15 questions, from beginner to expert, on the rules used in the Atlas Carta app: Simple, Rummy 51 and Rummy 71. Write down your answers (A, B or C), then check them against the explained answers at the bottom of the page.

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Beginner level

The basics: the deck, the melds and the end of the game.

Question 1 — How many cards in Simple rummy?

In Simple rummy, how many cards does each player get at the start of a round?

A. 13 cards, and 14 for the dealer
B. 14 cards, and 15 for the dealer
C. 13 cards for everyone

Question 2 — How many jokers in Rummy 51?

The Rummy 51 deck combines two 52-card decks. How many jokers are added?

A. 2 jokers (106 cards)
B. 4 jokers (108 cards)
C. No jokers

Question 3 — Is this run valid?

Can you lay down the Suivi run (K♥ A♥ 2♥) below?

King of hearts — Proposed run: K♥ A♥ 2♥.

A. Yes, the Ace links the King and the 2
B. No, the Ace is low or high, never both
C. Yes, but only with a joker

Question 4 — Is this set valid?

The deck holds two copies of every card. What about the Tria set (9♠ 9♥ 9♥)?

A. Valid: three cards of the same rank
B. Refused: two cards of the same suit
C. Valid in Simple rummy only

Question 5 — When do you lose the game?

In 2 vs 2, penalties add up from round to round. At what total does a team lose the game?

A. 600 points in Simple, 351 in Rummy 51 or 451 in Rummy 71 (300 points in Simple or 251 in Rummy 51 and 71 in 1 vs 1)
B. 500 points in every format
C. After 4 rounds, the highest total loses

Intermediate level

The counting: opening, threshold and penalties.

Question 6 — What is this run with a joker worth?

In Rummy 51, how many opening points does the Suivi run (6♦ joker 8♦) score?

A. 14 points (the joker does not count)
B. 21 points (the joker is worth the 7♦)
C. 34 points (the joker is worth 20)

Question 7 — And the Ace?

What is an Ace worth in a Tria set (A♠ A♥ A♣) at the opening, and what does an Ace left in your hand cost at the end of a round?

A. 1 point at the opening, 1 point as a penalty
B. 10 points at the opening, 11 points as a penalty
C. 11 points in both cases

Question 8 — The rising threshold

In Rummy 51, the opposing team opens first with 63 points. How many points do you need for your own opening?

A. 51, as always
B. 63, to match them
C. 64, their total + 1

Question 9 — Who pays in Simple rummy?

In Simple rummy, 2 vs 2, a player goes out. What does the opposing team pay?

A. The value of the cards left in both their hands
B. A fixed 100 points per player, 200 for the team
C. Nothing: only the winner’s partner scores

Question 10 — The player who has laid nothing

In Rummy 51, an opponent goes out while you have not laid anything down yet. What do you pay?

A. A flat 100 points, whatever your cards
B. The value of your cards, joker counted 20
C. Double the value of your cards

Expert level

The cases even regulars forget.

Question 11 — Opening in Rummy 71 with the discard

In Rummy 71, you take the 8♥ from the discard pile to open. Which of these openings is accepted?

A. Run (6♥ 7♥ 8♥) + set (9♠ 9♥ 9♦) + set (K♠ K♥ K♣) = 78 points
B. Run (6♥ 7♥ 8♥) + set (9♠ 9♥ 9♦) + run (10♣ J♣ Q♣ K♣) = 88 points
C. Run (6♥ 7♥ 8♥) + set (9♠ 9♥ 9♦) + run (5♠ joker 7♠), joker counted

Question 12 — A joker as the first card

In Simple rummy, the dealer throws a joker as the very first card of the round. What happens?

A. The joker becomes the tournante and anyone can take it during the first round
B. It goes on the discard pile, there is no tournante this round and nobody can ever take it back
C. There is never a tournante in Simple rummy, but the next player may take it

Question 13 — Only one card in hand

Your turn starts and you have just one card left. What can you do?

A. Take the face-up card of the discard pile
B. Take the tournante if it is still there
C. Only draw from the stock

Question 14 — Swapping the joker in a set

A Tria set (6♠ joker 6♦) is on the table. You have already opened and you add the 6♣. What happens?

6 of spades — Set on the table: 6♠ joker 6♦.

A. The 6♣ replaces the joker, which you take back
B. The 6♣ is added to the set and the joker stays
C. Refused: the set is already complete

Question 15 — The partner of an opened player

In Rummy 51, 2 vs 2, your partner has opened with 60 points. What do you need for your first lay-down?

A. 61 points
B. 51 points
C. No threshold: you lay down freely

Answers and explanations

A. 13 cards, 14 for the dealer, who starts without drawing. In Rummy 51 and 71 it is 14 and 15. → How many cards in rummy
B. 4 jokers in Rummy 51 (108 cards); Simple and Rummy 71 have 2 (106 cards). → Equipment
B. The Ace is low (A♥ 2♥ 3♥) or high (Q♥ K♥ A♥), never both: a run (K♥ A♥ 2♥) is refused. → The Suivi run
B. A Tria set (9♠ 9♥ 9♦) needs all-different suits: two 9♥ cannot sit in the same set (9♠ 9♥ 9♥), not even in Simple. → The Tria set
A. 600 points in Simple, 351 in Rummy 51 or 451 in Rummy 71 in 2 vs 2, 300 points in Simple or 251 in Rummy 51 and 71 in 1 vs 1. No fixed number of rounds, and only one side pays each round. → Game end
B. In Rummy 51 the joker is worth the card it replaces: 6 + 7 + 8 = 21. Left in your hand at the end of a round, however, it costs 20. → The joker in Rummy 51
B. The Ace is worth 10 in a set (A♠ A♥ A♣) or at the top of a run (Q♦ K♦ A♦), 1 at the bottom of a run (A♥ 2♥ 3♥); as a penalty it costs 11. → Card values
C. The other side must open with at least the first opening’s total + 1: 63 + 1 = 64. → The rising threshold
B. In Simple, each losing player gets 100 points, whatever their hand: 200 for the team in 2 vs 2, 100 for the loser in 1 vs 1. The winner’s partner pays nothing. → Simple rummy penalties
A. In Rummy 51 and 71, a player who has laid nothing pays a flat 100 (200 if both players of the team). Had you laid down, you would pay your cards: 2 to 10 face value, picture cards 10, Ace 11, joker 20. → Penalties
B. In Rummy 71, after taking from the discard pile you need a joker-free run built without the card you took, here the run (10♣ J♣ Q♣ K♣). In A, the only run (6♥ 7♥ 8♥) contains the 8♥; in C, the joker does not count towards the 71 and only 48 points remain. → The discard in Rummy 71
B. The tournante exists in all three variants, Simple included, but a joker is never the tournante: it goes on the discard pile, and a discarded joker can never be taken back. → The first round and the tournante
C. With a single card in hand you draw from the stock: neither the discard pile nor the tournante. → Draw or take the discard
B. In a set, the joker can only be taken back when it is the fourth card: with a set (6♠ 6♥ 6♦ joker), the 6♣ frees it; with (6♠ joker 6♦), the 6♣ is simply added and the joker stays. → Swapping the joker
C. The partner of a player who has already opened has no threshold: in Rummy 51 they lay down freely; in Rummy 71 they need a joker-free run (5♥ 6♥ 7♥). → Partners rummy

Your score

0 to 5 right answers: start with rummy rules in 30 seconds, then take the quiz again.
6 to 10: the basics are there. Review scoring and penalties and Rummy 71.
11 to 14: a seasoned player. Sharpen your game with our strategy tips.
15 out of 15: unbeatable. All that is left is to prove it at the table, 1 vs 1 or 2 vs 2.

Missed a word? The whole vocabulary is in the rummy glossary.

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Frequently asked questions

Do the quiz answers follow the app’s rules?

Yes. Every answer matches the rules used in the Atlas Carta app for Simple, Rummy 51 and Rummy 71. Other house rules exist elsewhere: they are covered on the variants page.

Do you need a joker-free run (5♣ 6♣ 7♣) to open in Rummy 51?

No. In Rummy 51 only the 51 points count, and the joker is worth the card it replaces. Rummy 71 is the one that requires a Suivi run (8♠ 9♠ 10♠) and a Tria set (9♠ 9♥ 9♦) without jokers.

How much does a loser pay in Simple rummy?

Always 100 points, whatever their hand: 200 for the losing team in 2 vs 2.

Other games on Atlas

Play Rummy online

On iOS and Android, play all four games online and invite your friends to a private table.

Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

Rummy quiz: do you really know the rules?

Beginner level

Question 1 — How many cards in Simple rummy?

Question 2 — How many jokers in Rummy 51?

Question 3 — Is this run valid?

Question 4 — Is this set valid?

Question 5 — When do you lose the game?

Intermediate level

Question 6 — What is this run with a joker worth?

Question 7 — And the Ace?

Question 8 — The rising threshold

Question 9 — Who pays in Simple rummy?

Question 10 — The player who has laid nothing

Expert level

Question 11 — Opening in Rummy 71 with the discard

Question 12 — A joker as the first card

Question 13 — Only one card in hand

Question 14 — Swapping the joker in a set

Question 15 — The partner of an opened player

Answers and explanations

Your score

Frequently asked questions

Do the quiz answers follow the app’s rules?

Do you need a joker-free run (5♣ 6♣ 7♣) to open in Rummy 51?

How much does a loser pay in Simple rummy?

Read also

Other games on Atlas

Play Rummy online