Rummy Strategy Tips

Every great card game involves strategy, and Rummy 500 is not different from the rest in that regard. The 500 Rummy strategy that you choose to use differs depending on which stage of the game you are in. You will use different strategies in the early stages of the game than you will as you are approaching the end of the game. Always pay attention to the cards that are discarded and also watch which cards the other players pick up from the discarded pile. Attention to detail is often what wins a game such as Rummy 500. Below are a few helpful tips and strategies that any player might find beneficial:

500 Rummy Tips

• When you get to the point in your game where another player only has a few cards left, start discarding your high point cards such as Aces, Tens, Jacks, Queens and Kings. Since they are worth more points than the other cards, they could cause you to have a low or negative score if they remain in your possession when that hand is over.
• If possible, do not discard a card that might be used in a sequence with cards that have already been discarded. For example if there is a queen in the discard pile, do not discard a queen. All it would take is for one other player to have a queen and they could score many points.
• Early in the game, collect high scoring cards. That way you can start high scoring sequences and prevent others from using those cards to their advantage.
• Try to lure another player. For example if a two and a three of spades are at the bottom of a big discard pile, go ahead and discard a four of spades and see who goes for the whole stack.
• Keep an eye out for what has been played and discard accordingly. For example if two Kings are used in two different sequences and there is another King in the discard pile, go ahead and discard your King as well. That way you won’t be stuck with it and there may not be a great opportunity to use it.
• Avoid taking a large stack of discarded cards if it looks as if another player may go out soon. However, early on in the game taking a large stack of the discarded cards may be beneficial. You will be able to find many melds are sequences and you will likely be able to rack up points. It is a gamble that can easily pay off.
• If it is early in the game and you have an Ace of Hearts, 2 of Hearts and 3 of Hearts, it may be beneficial not to uses the Ace but to save it for an occasion where you can play it as a suit of Aces or as Queen, King, Ace Sequence. In those cases the Aces are worth more points.
• Play the Ace, 2, 3 meld if it looks like another player is going to go out (so you don’t have to deduct the big points that would remain in your hand) OR when the other Aces and Kings have already been played (then you will at least score 5 points for the laying down the Ace).