Edition: Rummy 500 (also called 500 Rum) with one deck and jokers, played to 500 points. Last checked October 25, 2026
500 Rummy Rules: How to Play Rummy 500
500, also known as Rummy 500 or 500 Rum, is a classic family card game in the rummy family. You collect runs and sets, lay them on the table for points, and try to be first to reach 500. Here are the rules as most Americans play them, plus the spots where Danish families do things differently.
- Players
- 2 to 6, best with 3 to 5
- Age
- 8 and up
- Playing time
- 30 to 60 minutes
How to win: Score points by laying cards on the table. The first player to reach 500 points in total wins.
Who is right?
The classic arguments at the table when you play 500.
Can you lay down three of a kind in 500?
Yes, in standard Rummy 500.
Sets of 3 or 4 cards of the same rank are allowed alongside same-suit runs. Most Danish families play it that way too.
Some families only allow runs in the same suit, so three of a kind does not count.
Do you take the whole discard pile or just one card from inside it?
One card plus everything above it.
In Rummy 500 you may pick any card in the discard pile, as long as you meld it right away and also take all cards on top of it.
In the Danish version you take the entire pile, and you must be able to meld at once or pay a 50 point penalty.
Can you go out without melding anything earlier?
It depends on the table.
In standard Rummy 500 you can go out by melding all your cards in a single turn, with or without a final discard.
Many families require at least one meld on the table in an earlier turn before you may go out.
Can you go out by discarding a joker?
Most families say no.
A joker is meant to be used in a meld on the table, so most players do not allow it as the final discard.
Some tables allow it, but then the joker scores nothing.
Who can call Rummy?
Any player except the one who discarded.
If a discard can be played on a meld, any other player may call Rummy before the next draw, take the card and play it, even if it is not their turn.
Some families let only the next player in turn grab the card.
What you need
- A standard 52-card deck with 2 jokers
- Paper and pencil for keeping score
Setup
- 1Shuffle and deal 7 cards to each player. With only 2 players, deal 13 cards each.
- 2Place the rest of the deck face down as the stock pile.
- 3Turn the top card face up next to it to start the discard pile.
- 4The player to the dealer's left goes first.
How to play
- 1Start your turn by drawing the top card of the stock or the top card of the discard pile.
- 2You may also take a card deeper in the discard pile, but only if you use it right away in a meld. You must also take every card on top of it.
- 3Lay down melds: a run is 3 or more cards in a row in the same suit, like 7, 8 and 9 of clubs. A set is 3 or 4 cards of the same rank, like three queens.
- 4An ace can be low (A, 2, 3) or high (Q, K, A), but not both at once.
- 5You may also lay off single cards on any meld on the table, including other players' melds. Keep those cards in front of you, because they count for you.
- 6A joker can stand in for any card you need.
- 7End your turn by discarding one card face up on the discard pile.
- 8If a player discards a card that fits a meld on the table, any other player can call Rummy before the next draw, take the card and play it.
- 9The hand ends when someone has no cards left. Then everyone scores.
Card values
Cards you have laid down count as plus points. Cards still in your hand when the hand ends count as minus points.
- Joker: 15 points
- Ace: 15 points, but only 1 point when used low in A, 2, 3
- 10, jack, queen and king: 10 points
- 2 through 9: face value
The Danish way: 500 in Denmark
- Everyone gets 7 cards, no matter how many play.
- Jokers are worth 25 points, and every card from 2 to 9 is worth just 5 points.
- You take the whole discard pile, not a card deep inside it, and you must meld right away.
- Common penalties: taking the pile without melding or calling Rummy by mistake costs 50 points.
House rules
Pick the rules you want to play with tonight. Everyone at the table has to agree.
Our 500 rules for tonight
Everything else follows the official rules.
Frequently asked questions
How many cards do you deal in Rummy 500?
Seven cards each with 3 or more players, and 13 cards each with 2 players. In Denmark everyone gets 7.
Is 500 the same as regular rummy?
It belongs to the rummy family. The big difference is that in 500 you score the cards you meld, and you may dig into the discard pile.
What happens if several players pass 500 in the same hand?
The player with the most points wins. If it is a tie, play one more hand.
Source: Common American rules for Rummy 500, standard card game references and Danish family tradition. The rules are written in our own words. Ask the referee if you are unsure.