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CARIOCA RUMMY — Rummy card game rules

Carioca Rummy
The game Carioca Rummy is a variant of Contract Rummy. This two player game is popular in Argentina and Chile and is similar to the Central America game of Loba. Visit Contract Rummy to study the rules of that game.

Number of players
2

Deck used
Two standard 52 card packs which are ranked from high to low: (High) K, Q, J, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, A (Low). The cards 10, 9, 8 are removed from the deck. Optionally, two jokers may be added.

Card values

Play
Play starts with the dealers opponent.

Object of the game

Each hand has a different deal or contract which are the rules for that hand. When a contract is met, players may lay off on their and other players melds. Each player tries tot get rid of all the cards in his hand and the first player to do so, wins that hand.

Contract

Melds are called Trio and Escala in Carioca Rummy.

A set is called Trio in Carioca Rummy and consists of 3 or more cards of the same value.

Trio:

A sequence is called Escala in Carioca Rummy and consists of 4 or more cards of the same suit in sequential ascending order.

Escala:

Note: An escala may go "round the corner":

After forming a contract and discarding, a player is not allowed to lay off additional cards until his next turn.

The eight contracts (examples are shown below).

1st. deal — 2 trios (6 cards)

Trio:

Trio:

2nd. deal — 1 trio, 1 escala (7 cards)

Trio:

Escala:

3rd. deal — 2 escalas (8 cards)

Escala:

Escala:

4th. deal — 3 trios (9 cards)

Trio:

Trio:

Trio:

5th. deal — 2 trios, 1 escala (10 cards)

Trio:

Trio:

Escala:

6th. deal — 1 trio, 2 escalas (11 cards)

Trio:

Escala:

Escala

7th. deal — 4 trios (12 cards)

Trio:

Trio:

Trio:

Trio:

8th. deal — 3 escalas (12 cards)

Escala:

Escala:

Escala:

Melds

A meld is a complete trio or escala. Each of the 8 contracts contain melds.

Game play

Any player may shuffle and cut the deck to determine who deals. Each player draws, and the player who draws the lowest card deals first.

Each play consists of the following:

• Draw
• Possible melding
• Possible laying off
• Discard

Deal

Each player is dealt 12 cards. The remaining cards are placed face down on the table. The top card is placed face up next to the draw pile and forms the discard pile.

The dealer's opponent starts play by taking a card from the draw pile or taking a card from the discard pile.

Laying off

When a player is able to form a contract, he is then able to lay off on his meld and the meld of his opponent.

Going out

The first player who is able to lay off all of his cards and discard, wins the hand. A player may not lay off any cards until he has archived a contract.

Scoring

After a player goes out, the other player must add up the value of the cards remaining in his hand for that hand.

The card values are as follows:

The player with the least number of points at the end of the 8 deals, wins the game.

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