Smartly Play with Joker in Rummy Game

Rummy is one of the most played card games in India enjoyed by children and adults alike. The rummy rules have gone through a lot of changes over the years, and one of the most exciting transformations to the game is the addition of Jokers. It has the power to make or break your rummy play. So, do you know how to use it to its full potential?

Types of Jokers

There are two ways Jokers are integrated in the game according to rummy rules. Both can be used to complete your impure sequences or sets:

Wild Joker: This is not an extra card in the deck, but at the beginning of every round, a card is chosen at random and all four cards of that rank become the Joker for that game. For example, if 5 of spades is chosen at the start, then 5 of spades, clubs, diamonds, and hearts become Jokers.

Printed Joker: These cards have a joker printed on them. They are extra cards besides the 52 that you play with. Most decks usually have two of them.

The Power of Joker!

The Joker can hold any value in your online rummy game, yet its points value is zero. So, even if you lose, it can help reduce your overall points. This is why it is important to be smart about how you use it. Here are some tips to maximize its efficiency in your rummy play:

Group it with high cards: Joker can be used to work as any card in the deck, but grouping it with higher cards such as 10, Jack, etc gives you an advantage in case someone else declares first. Leaving high cards that are not part of a set or sequence will cost you a lot of points. Face cards are worth 10 points in rummy. Therefore, it is a good idea to group them first in case you are not the one to declare.

Get rid of connecting cards: If you are playing with a wild Joker, using it as its face value diminishes the role it can play for you. Therefore, discard the cards that come immediately after or before it. For example, if 3 is chosen, then get rid of 2s and 4s so that you can use the wild Joker with more versatility.

Keep it for later: When the online rummy game begins, try making a pure sequence first before you decide how to use your Joker. A pure sequence is mandatory if you want to declare the game. Therefore, making one first should be your priority.