Play Rummy 500 online for free against friendly computer players. Draw from the stock or dig into the open discard pile, lay down sets and runs, and race to 500 points.
How to play Rummy 500
Rummy 500 — also called 500 Rum — is a classic rummy game for 2 to 4 players. Like other rummy games, you collect cards into sets and runs. What makes it special is the open discard pile: you can reach deep into it for the card you need, and every meld on the table is open for anyone to add to. The goal is to be the first player to score 500 points over several hands.
The deal
With two players, each player gets 13 cards. With three or four players, each gets 7. The next card is turned face up to start the discard pile, and the rest of the deck is placed face down as the stock. The discard pile is spread out so you can see every card in it, with the oldest card on the left. The deal moves one seat to the left after every hand.
Your turn
- Draw. Take the top card of the stock, or take from the discard pile (see below).
- Meld and lay off as many cards as you like — or none at all.
- Discard one card face up on the discard pile to end your turn.
Drawing from the discard pile
You may always take just the top card of the discard pile. You may also take a card further down — but then you take every card above it as well, and you must use that deepest card right away, in a new meld or by laying it off, during the same turn. Under these Rummy 500 rules you can only pick a card you are able to use, so the game outlines the cards you may take in gold. If you tap a card you can't use yet, a short message explains why.
Melds: sets and runs
- A set is three or four cards of the same rank, such as 8♠ 8♥ 8♦.
- A run is three or more cards in a row in the same suit, such as 4♥ 5♥ 6♥ 7♥.
- An Ace can be low (A-2-3) or high (Q-K-A), but a run can't go "around the corner" (K-A-2).
Laying off
To lay off means adding cards to a meld that is already on the table — the fourth card of a set, or the next card at either end of a run. You can lay off on anyone's meld, not just your own, and the points for that card go to you.
Going out and ending a hand
You go out by getting rid of your last card, either by melding or laying it off, or by discarding it. That ends the hand. A hand also ends when the stock runs out and the player whose turn it is doesn't take from the discard pile.
Rummy 500 scoring
Rummy 500 scoring is simple: cards you meld or lay off count for you, and cards still in your hand when the hand ends count against you.
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Ace | 15 (only 1 when melded low in A-2-3) |
| King, Queen, Jack | 10 |
| 2 through 10 | Face value |
Your score for a hand is the total of the cards you melded or laid off, minus the total of the cards left in your hand. An Ace left in your hand always costs 15. Scores can go below zero, and they carry over from hand to hand.
A worked example
Rose lays down 7♠ 7♥ 7♦ (21 points) and the run 9♣ 10♣ J♣ (29 points). Later she lays off the Q♣ on that run for 10 more, so she has 60 points on the table. Then June goes out while Rose still holds an Ace and a 4. Those cost her 15 + 4 = 19, so Rose scores 60 − 19 = 41 for the hand.
Winning the game
Hands are played until someone reaches 500 points — or 250, if you choose the shorter game in Settings. The player with the highest total wins. If two players pass the target in the same hand, the higher total wins; if they are exactly tied for the lead, one more hand settles it.
Rummy 500 strategy tips
- Read the whole discard pile. Every card in it is fair game. A deep pickup that completes a run and brings along a pair you can use is often the best move of the hand.
- Count the cost of a big pickup. Every extra card you take but can't meld is a card that may count against you. Grab a long stretch of the pile only when the points are worth it.
- Meld high cards early. Points only count once they're on the table. Aces, Kings, Queens and Jacks are expensive to be caught holding.
- Lay off on everyone. Other players' melds are a free place to score. Check every run and set before you discard.
- Don't feed the next player. Avoid discarding a card that fits a meld on the table or matches cards they just picked up — they can take it right away.
- Keep your hand flexible. Pairs and two-card runs can grow into melds, and low cards are cheap to hold if the hand ends suddenly.
- Watch the card counts. When someone is down to one or two cards, meld whatever you can and get rid of your high cards.
- Use the Hint button while you learn. It highlights a sensible draw, meld, lay-off or discard without making the move for you.
Rummy 500 FAQ
Is Rummy 500 the same game as 500 Rum?
Yes. Rummy 500, 500 Rum and 500 Rummy are names for the same game. House rules vary from table to table; BieGames uses the most common ones: an open discard pile you can dig into, lay-offs on any meld, and a game to 500 points.
Can I take any card from the discard pile?
You can always take the top card. To take a card further down, you must take every card above it too, and you must use that deepest card in a meld or lay-off during the same turn.
How much is an Ace worth in Rummy 500?
An Ace is worth 15 points, including when it is left in your hand. The one exception is an Ace melded low in a run such as A-2-3, which counts just 1 point.
Do I have to discard to go out?
No. You can go out by melding or laying off your last card, or by discarding it. Either way the hand ends right away and everyone scores.
What happens when the stock runs out?
Play continues as long as each player takes from the discard pile. As soon as a player needs to draw and doesn’t take from the discard pile, the hand ends and everyone scores what they have melded, minus what is left in their hand.
Can I lay off cards on other players’ melds?
Yes. You can lay off on any meld on the table, and the points for the cards you add count for you, not for the player who started the meld.
Can I play Rummy 500 online on my phone or tablet?
Yes. BieGames runs in any modern browser on phones, tablets and computers, with nothing to install and no sign-up. Your game is saved automatically, and in Settings you can choose two, three or four players and a shorter game to 250 points.