Pool, Points and Deal- Which game suits you

In case you are wondering what we are talking about, chances are you have not discovered these exciting variations of rummy yet. Let us explain in brief. These are all 13 card rummy variations, and the objective is the same – to make sets or sequences before your opponents. Do check out our detailed articles on rummy variations and rules before you read further,

But in case you are familiar with what pool rummy, points rummy and deal rummy is, read on.

Points Rummy

In this variation, points are allocated for each card which is also the rupee value of the card. A player can get rid of high-value cards by making sets and sequences. The player to get rid of all valid sets and sequences and with the lowest points total, in the end, wins the game. A valid hand must consist of at least two sequences of which at least one should be a  pure sequence. This is a fast-moving game and very popular.

Pool Rummy

In this variation, all players Pool Rummy Game in their money to earn a seat at the table. The rest of the gameplay is similar to points rummy. Players must get rid of their high-value cards by making valid hands. At least two sequences are required of which at least one must be a pure sequence. The points carry a negative value hence it becomes important to get rid of the highest cards before the opponent declares. The person with the least points is the winner whereas the others are given negative points equal to the value of their cards in hand. The numbers 101 and 201 are important as they are considered as the cut-offs for elimination. In Pool Rummy 101, a player is eliminated if his score reaches 101, whereas, in Pool Rummy 201, a player is eliminated if his score reaches 201.

Deal Rummy

In this variation, all players play with the same number of chips. The number of deals is pre-decided. The winner is the one who wins all the chips in each deal. This continues till the pre-decided number of Deals Rummy Game  is completed. The player with the maximum chips is declared the overall winner. This game is generally played between 2 to 6 players using more than one pack of cards. The joker is also included, usually one per deck.

Differences  between Pool, Points and Deal rummy

Depending on what kind of a player you are, any of these three variations can be tried out. Here are some key differences.

1. Points rummy is the fastest of the three as each game is a single deal. In contrast, pool rummy is a longer game as it consists of multiple deals until all players are eliminated at scores of 101 or 201. Deal rummy is more dynamic as the number of deals can be fixed in advance. So if time is short, one can decide a smaller number of deals.
2. The number of players in Points rummy can be anywhere from 2 to 6. However, both pool and deal rummy are better with more than 2 players at the table due to the nature of the rules. For example, pool rummy is about the elimination of players at a score of 101 or 201 and if there are only two players playing, the concept of elimination will not be useful.
3. Winnings are higher when the number of players is more. This makes pool rummy (with six players) a much better option as the winner can potentially make up to six times his investment.

To sum up, all three are variations of 13 Card Rummy Game with the same fundamental rules. There are small variations that result in each game being a unique experience and also give options to the players to keep trying something different.