Liverpool Rummy rules

How a hand works

1. 1

   Decks and deal

   Use two decks plus Jokers for up to 4 players (three decks for more). Deal 10 cards for hands 1–3 and 12 for hands 4–7.

2. 2

   Buying

   Before the player whose turn it is takes a discard, anyone else may ask to buy it — taking the discard plus one penalty card from the stock. Most tables allow three buys per hand.

3. 3

   Meet the contract

   Lay down the exact contract for the hand on one turn. Sets are 3+ of a kind; runs are 4+ in a row in one suit. Jokers are wild.

4. 4

   Go out

   After laying down you may play onto any meld. Going out ends the hand; in the last hand you must go out using every card, without a discard.

Contracts and penalties

• Hands 1–32 sets · 1 set + 1 run · 2 runs
• Hands 4–73 sets · 2 sets + 1 run · 1 set + 2 runs · 3 runs
• 2 – 95
• 10, J, Q, K10
• Ace15
• Joker50

Winning tips

• Buying gives you cards, but more to get rid of.
• Lay down as soon as you can meet the contract.
• Keep track of how many buys you have left.

Popular house rules

• Some tables let you only play on others' melds after laying down your own contract.
• Some tables give the player whose turn it is first right to the discard.