Game rules Penang Rummy

1 game rules

1.1 wildcard substitution
1.2 passport
1.3 declare dead
1.4 declare game

game rules
wildcard substitution

a player may substitute wildcard on table (in run or set) card in hand, provided card fits. can keep wildcard future use.

wildcard substitution not counted action. player must still take 1 other action of either melding or laying off, after perform wildcard substitution, if has not done turn.

there no limit how many wildcard player can substitute in turn.

passport

at beginning of each game, mandatory player play meld before else. first meld called passport . failing result in instant dead , , sitting out rest of game round. there no point requirement passport meld, unlike other rummy rules. lay-off cannot used passport. in addition, wildcard substitution cannot carried before player has passport.

failing obtain passport rare occurrence, given large number of cards in hand, large number of wildcards, , relatively low requirement of passport. player considers oneself unlucky if failing obtain passport.

declare dead

when player can neither meld nor lay-off when comes turn, has declare dead . game still goes on rest of players, participates no further in rest of game.

the effect player can no longer reduce deadwoods in hand, , therefore stuck points in dead hand. subsequently when there new melds player have been able lay off more cards, cannot because out of game. desirable delay declaring dead as possible. in other words, players try real hard keep hand alive.

it not unusual see player laying off 3-of-a-kind of aces in hand one-by-one, if there existing set of aces on table. helps keep hand alive 3 more rounds. common strategy not meld if 1 not have to. melding helps keep other players alive, not desirable oneself.

it worth noting tragic type of dead declaration failing passport right beginning. in other words, player not chance play in game round.

declare game

when player has gotten rid of of cards, declare game , wins hand. same going out or knocking in other rummy variants. other players start total points of deadwoods, may include wildcards. cannot play on though still have melds or lay-offs can play in hand.

a player s attempt keep hand alive can backfire badly if player declares game . biggest satisfaction catch opponent holding several wildcards (therefore high points) in his/her hand when 1 declares game .

note in penang rummy, not unusual have no 1 declares game . instead, many games end 4 players declaring dead . therefore, more realistic strategy minimise points in hand when declaring dead .