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Rummy History index
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When was the first rummy-like game played? The first recorded record of a rummy-like game goes way back to the the early 1000's when a rule book was published describing a game called Gin Poker. Incredibly, the rules were almost identical to the present day Gin Rummy. Some theories conclude that the game started in China, Spain, Mexico or the Southern United States. The most popular theory is that the game was invented in Mexico.
The game then found its way to England where it was called Rum, (rum being English slang for odd or strange). The game of Rum, then made its way back across the Atlantic where it became Rummy. Some believe that Cooncan was the original version of rummy and that it was created in the American South and later exported to Mexico where it became Conquian. In this case, the Spanish name Conquian does not mean "with whom" but is the closest approximation to the sound Cooncan. Others insist that Rummy evolved from Poker. They believe that French settlers in the new world disseminated the game. Rummy and poker share similarities such as the concept of sequence which are straights in Poker and groups, three-of-a-kind in poker. Rummy developed from a game called Whiskey Poker, which morphed into Rum Poker, later becoming Rum and finally Rummy.
The Chinese card game called Khanhoo and Kon Khin, played in the late 1800's contained rummy and poker characteristics of creating combinations of sequences and groups of cards. The Chinese game of Mah Jongg which is played with dominos or tiles also has the same rummy and poker characteristics. The theory is that these Chinese games were westernized in versions such as Conquian, Kanhoo and others. The common assumption regarding the rapid spread is that the games were disseminated by Chinese immigrants and British and Portuguese merchants who learned these games during their stay in China.
Although we cannot be certain as to the roots of rummy, the beginnings of Gin Rummy is well known. Rummy is not a game but a family of games that share the same basic draw and discard structure. All rummy games also have their particular rules for forming sets, runs and scoring. Gin Rummy is just another of hundreds of rummy variants... but a very important one because it is the most popular version of rummy in the world. Gin Rummy or Gin was developed by the New Yorker, Elwood Baker and his son, Graham Baker in 1909. The game of Gin evolved from the 18th. century Whiskey Poker game. The advantage of Gin was that it was more fast-paced than standard rummy. |
There are many theories that attempt to detail the origins of the game of rummy that we so enjoy today. These theories are so diverse and widespread that we must come to the conclusion that there is no authoritative or definitive answer as to when and where the first game of rummy was played. Throughout history there were many games that resembled rummy in some way but... which of these can be proclaimed the father of modern day rummy?
The earliest game in the rummy family was Conquian (Spanish language contraction of "con quien" meaning "with whom"). Some believe it originated in Spain and was exported to Mexico. The game is played with the Spanish 40 card deck. Others believe the game was developed in Mexico in the mid 1800's. It later crossed over into Texas and the American Southwest in the late 19th. century. There it was called Cooncan and also known as Conkin, Coon-King, Coon Can and Coon-Can.
Copyright © OnlineRummyRules.com – Revised July 28, 2009
