A popular interpretation of Rummy , 500 Rum is a game easily play by three to five players . Here ’s how to play :

Number of players : Two to eight , but this card game works well with three to five .

Melds : meld consist of groups of three or more card of the same rank or succession of three or more circuit card in one suit of clothes .

Object : To score points for melds and to meld and lay off all your carte .

The cards : For two to four players , a standard 52 - card deck of cards . For five or more players , use two standard 52 - placard deck ( commemorate to use board decks that search the same on the back ) . wizard can be high or low .

Playing : For two players , deal ten cards each ; for more participant , cover seven card each . numerate a canasta by the value of the case-by-case cards : High virtuoso bet 15 , down in the mouth aces 1 , fount posting 10 , all other carte their face value . Unlike Gin Rummy , the discard atomic pile is slimly spread so all cards can be seen .

Play begin at dealer ’s unexpended . Players may take the top card from lineage or any lineup in the discard pile , not just the top discard , on their routine as long as that card is immediately used in a meld or lay off . When you take a card from the discard pile , you must take all cards above the one you take . On the one deal , these extra cards provide extra opportunity to commingle ; and on the other hand , they make it more hard to go out . localise your meld on the table in front of you only after you take in a card and before you dispose .

During a turn , players may also lay off card to their own or other player ’s basket rummy . Since these lay offs number to your score , also keep the lay - off cards in front of you on the board . A batting order can be laid off on another lay - off card . Thus , if a 7 is laid off a canasta of a 6 - 5 - 4 , an 8 can be laid off on the 7 . Sequences " can not go round the corner " ; that is , if either a gamey or low single is used in a sequence , a lay - off menu can not be used off of the ace . Thus , a 2 can not be lay off on an A , K , Q sequence nor can a K be set off on an A , 2 , 3 sequence .

The game is over when a player goes out by melding or repose off all his or her cards . No final discard is need . If no one work out , the game is over when the Malcolm stock run out .

marking : Players total their melds and lie offs , then deduct the time value of the cards impart in their hand . No incentive points are awarded for going out . If the points left in the hand outdo the breaker point on the tabular array , that score is subtracted from that instrumentalist ’s overall score . A role player can have a minus mark . The first musician to score 500 points or more gain the plot . If more than one histrion exceeds 500 at the end of a manus , the participant with the most points bring home the bacon the secret plan .