Rummy is one of those popular card games that have flourished across the world for centuries. While plenty of sports and other games have become obsolete, this classic card game has continued to maintain its charm and popularity. Due to the rise of digital gaming and the constantly increasing craze for rummy in India, today it is one of the most popular card games played in the country.
The availability of cheap internet connections is one reason why people love coming back to the game since they can now play it online from anywhere and at any time. One of the best platforms to play rummy online for free is Junglee Rummy, a free Indian rummy game app available on the Play Store.
Due to the popularity of the game, a lot of people are already aware of its rules and play. However, even expert players might not know the following interesting facts about the game.
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Rummy is believed to have originated in Spain
There are multiple theories about the origin of rummy. According to the most widely accepted theory, rummy originated in Spain. Later it spread across the Americas when the Spaniards began migrating there in the 19th century. According to game scholar and historian David Parlett, conquian, a Mexican card game played with Spanish cards, is an ancestor to modern-day rummy. Conquian was derived from a game called khanhoo, which originated in China.
There is another theory that says rummy was derived from popular card games like bridge and pinochle.
As far as the name is concerned, it is said that the name “rummy” has been derived from rum poker, which makes rummy a distant relative of the famous game of poker.
2. Indian rummy can be considered a hybrid of rummy 500 and gin rummy
The most popular variation of rummy in India is Indian rummy, also known as paplu. This game has slightly different rules and may be considered a hybrid of rummy 500 and gin rummy. Indian rummy is believed to have evolved from a South Asian rummy variant called celebes rummy, which is also known as rhuk. Indian rummy has been a part of Indian culture for a very long time. If you wish to enjoy this timeless game, you can play rummy online on a trusted app like Junglee Rummy.
3. Canasta was invented in Uruguay
Canasta, another popular variant of rummy, was invented by Segundo Santos and Alberto Serrato in Uruguay in 1939. It was formulated after the rapid growth in popularity of rummy in the first half of the 20th century. The game became popular quickly and spread across Chile, Peru, Brazil and Argentina. Later it was brought to the United States in 1949 by Josefina Artayeta de Viel, where it came to be known as Argentine rummy.
4. There are over 60 variations
Rummy is a dynamic game and every variant of rummy offers its own unique level of thrill. Currently over 60 variants or rummy or games derived from rummy exist. These include the vast categorization of contract games, melding games, shedding games, canasta, rummoli games, and Chinese cards and tile games. This is why rummy is often hailed as the “mother of modern card games.”
5. Rummy games are divided into two broad categories
Rummy games are broadly divided into two categories: positive and negative. In positive games, melds are worth points. The aim is to meld as much as possible and to only go out when one can make the most profit.
In negative games, players only score negative points for deadwood and melds are not worth any points. The objective in negative games is to score zero or minimum points and declare the hand as soon as that goal is achieved.
6. Rummy requires players to multitask
When playing rummy, you need to take care of numerous things to keep up with the pace of the game. It involves arranging your hand in a logical order, observing your opponents, anticipating moves that they could make, and strategizing ahead. Only when you learn to multitask can you win these games.
7. Rummy is 100% legal to play online for real money
Rummy is considered a skill game as it requires players to use their knowledge of the game and skills to win. The Hon’ Supreme Court of India has ruled that playing games of skill for real money is fully legal. Such games require gaming skills, analytical thinking and practice to win. Playing skill games like rummy for real money is considered a business activity, making it absolutely legal. The government also levies an income tax on winnings worth ₹10,000 or more in a single game. However, the state laws of some Indian states do not allow people residing in those states to play real money games. Certified platforms like Junglee Rummy offer only free games to people living in such states, not cash games.
8. Certified online rummy platforms ensure fair play
Unknown to a lot of players, trusted apps like Junglee Rummy have a system in place to ensure that cards are dealt absolutely randomly. They have a Random Number Generator (RNG) that ensures that cards are distributed without any bias and every player gets an equal opportunity to win. Besides, seats are allocated randomly to players to ensure fair play in the game.
9. In old times, people played rummy with hand-painted cards
In these times of technology and the internet, you can play rummy online on your mobile. However, in olden days, owning a deck of cards was something only the rich could afford as the cards were hand-painted and very expensive. Making cards required manpower, skill and a good amount of time.
10. Rummy tests your observation skills
Rummy is a fascinating game that involves quick decision-making. It requires players to be alert and level-headed at all times. The game demands constant concentration and requires players to be patient while making critical decisions. All these skills get tested in rummy, which could help players in real-life situations too. The game tests one’s ability to observe astutely, calculate probabilities, make analytical decisions, and plan ahead of time.
Those were some facts that you, as a rummy player, must have found interesting. With almost all of us having a mobile phone and a stable internet connection nowadays, all that you need to play rummy is to download a great app onto your mobile. You can also play cash rummy and win real money on the trusted Junglee Rummy cash app, which you can download from Junglee Rummy’s official website. Hurry! Don’t miss your chance to play the game and win real cash!