It’s a lesser-known fact that the joker card was a late addition to the deck of playing cards. The joker was added to the deck of printed cards as an extra trump card in the 1860s. The rummy joker card in the deck contains an image of a jester in the court. While the joker card doesn’t play a defined role in a deck of playing cards, its role varies depending on the type of game being played.
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In rummy, the joker card plays an important role, and a rummy player must understand how it can be used strategically in sets and sequences to reduce the points in hand. Before learning about the essential tips for joker rummy management throughout the game, let’s understand the importance of joker rummy management.
Importance of the Joker in Rummy
While some players play rummy without the joker card to make the game more challenging, it is advisable that rummy beginners use the joker cards to play rummy as they make the game fun and easy. In Indian Rummy, two types of jokers are used – Printed Joker and Wild Joker. The joker card plays a vital role in the game due to its points – the joker cards carry zero points. Therefore, strategically using the cards (wild and printed jokers) to reduce the points in hand is crucial for the game. The joker cards also help link a group of cards to make an impure sequence or set faster.
Types of Jokers in Online Rummy Card Game
As per the rules of the rummy card game, there are two types of joker cards. One is a printed joker that exists in every deck, and the other is a joker rummy which is generally known as the wild card or cut joker.
Printed Joker
A deck of 52 cards always contains two extra cards. These cards are the joker cards that are printed with an image of the jester in court. As per the rummy joker rules, the printed joker is also used as a joker in the game.
Wild Joker
A wild joker or the joker rummy card is a joker that is chosen randomly from the deck. At the beginning of the game, after the players have been dealt 13 cards each, the dealer pulls out a card randomly from the closed deck on the table. The card pulled out randomly is called the wild card. For instance, if the card is 10♥, then the wild joker in the game will be 10. The 10s of all suits can be used as a substitute for any missing card in a set or impure sequence.
Also read: How Important is the Ace in a Rummy game?
Rummy Joker Rules
Here are several rules to using a joker in rummy for making sequences and sets:
- Jokers, both wild and printed, are only used to make impure sequences and sets. A wild joker can be used to make a pure sequence only if it is of the same suit and consecutive rank.
- A joker card can replace only one card in a sequence or set.
- Players cannot use more than two joker cards to meld cards into a set or sequence.
- If you meld your cards in a set such as 7♣️7♠️7♥️7♦️, you cannot use a joker card as the fifth card as the set can only include 4 cards.
How to Use Rummy Joker to Make Sets & Sequences?
Both wild and printed jokers can be used to make impure sequences and sets. Here are a few examples of how both the jokers can be used to meld cards into sets and impure sequences:
Wild Joker in Impure Sequence
Assuming you have three cards of the same suit, 7♣️ 8♣️ 10♣️, and also have a wild joker – 4♥️. You can use the wild joker as a substitute for 9♣️to form an impure sequence 7♣️ 8♣️ 4♥️ 10♣️.
Printed Joker in Impure Sequence
Assuming you have two cards 10♥️ and Q♥️, and also have a printed joker – PJ. You can use the printed joker to substitute J♥️ and form an impure sequence 10♥️ PJ Q❤️.
Wild Joker in Set
Assuming you have three cards of the same value 8♠️ 8♥️ 8♣️ and a wild joker 3♦️. You can use the wild joker 3♦️ as a substitute for 8♦️to form a set 8♠️ 8♥️ 8♣️ 3♦️.
Printed Joker in Set
Assuming you have 4♥️ and 4♠️ in hand and a printed joker – PJ. You can use the printed joker to complete the set 4♥️ 4 PJ.
Tips to use the Joker in Rummy
The joker cards are an essential part of the Indian Rummy card game that can be used to gain an edge in the game. In situations where you get more than one joker in a particular game, your should know how to use them to your advantage. Therefore, joker management is something you must learn to make the best use of a joker in hand. Here are a few tips you can implement to use a joker strategically while playing rummy online:
Make a Pure Sequence First
When you learn how to play rummy, one of the first rules is to form a pure sequence as soon as possible. Creating a pure sequence at the initial stage is more like a rule than a strategy. Also, with a joker card, it’s best to first make a pure sequence with the cards available rather than using those cards with a joker. A pure sequence is the most important sequence in the cards rummy game as it helps reduce the points in hand even if another player makes a declaration.
Here are a few more tips for beginners on How to Form a Pure Sequence in Rummy
Use Joker with High-Value Cards
In online rummy, you must get rid of the high-value cards at the earliest if they don’t fit in a sequence or set. However, if you have a joker card, you can try using the higher-value cards to meld them into a sequence or set and reduce the points in hand.
Discard Adjacent Cards
If you have a wild joker card, the adjacent cards can be discarded. This is a strategy commonly used by rummy beginners, where they discard the adjacent cards if they receive a wild card. For instance, if you receive a wild card, a 5♥, you can discard cards such as 6 and 7 and instead use the wild joker to make a sequence or set with high-value cards. Alternatively, if you have cards that could be melded into a sequence but only have one card missing, the wild joker can be used to complete the sequence rather than making a new sequence using cards adjacent to the wild joker.
Discard the Joker When Required
As essential as it is to use the joker card wisely, sometimes you may have to get rid of the joker card based on the situation. While getting one or two joker cards may be suitable for your game strategy, getting too many joker cards is not so beneficial for your game. With a lot of jokers, it may become difficult for you to form a pure sequence. This is where you have to get rid of the extra joker rummy cards.
Using A Joker to make an Impure Sequence
When you play rummy, one of the most essential roles of a joker card is in an impure sequence. An impure sequence is a group of 3 or more cards of the same suit, arranged consecutively, with a wild joker or a joker card included. For instance, 6♥, 7♥, PJ, and 9♥ is an impure sequence. Here, the printed joker is used to substitute for the 8♥. Similarly, a wild joker can also be used to complete an impure sequence. Taking the same example, if you have a wild card, say 2♠, you can use it to complete the sequence 6♥, 7♥, 2♠, and 9♥ by replacing 8♥ with the 2♠ card.
Using A Joker to make Sets
Another critical role of the joker card is in the making of sets. A set is a group of 3 or more cards of the same value but different suits. For instance, A♥ A♣ A♦ and 8♦ 8♣ 8♠ 8♥ are two different sets. However, if any one of the cards in the above sets is missing, but you have a wild card or printed joker, you can complete your set by using the jokers.
For example, you can make a set with A♥ A♣ PJ or 8♦ PJ 8♠ 8♥. Similarly, you can use a wild joker in a set; say the wild joker is 8♥, the set can be made using A♥ A♣8♥ or 8♦ 8♣ 8♥ 8♥. Here 8♥ is used to substitute for the missing A♦ and A♠ in the first example or the missing 8♠ in the second example.
Avoid Using Joker as the Fourth Card in a Set
If you think of it wisely, you will see no point in using the joker card in a set of three cards. For instance, if you have A♥ A♣ A♦ as a set, there’s no point in using a joker in the set A♥ A♣ A♦PJ as it will be useless. Instead, you can use the card to group high-value cards in an impure sequence or set.
Also Read: Poker vs Rummy Comparison
Using a rummy joker can be tricky at times, but you can spot a pattern when you use the above strategies frequently. Using the joker cards will be a no-brainer when you gain more experience in this skill-based card game. Keep playing rummy online with different players to polish your skills, and use these tips to place the Joker card wisely in sets and sequences.
FAQs
What is a joker in rummy?
A joker is a valuable card in rummy that can be substituted for any missing card in an impure sequence or set. There are two types of jokers used while playing rummy – Printed Joker and Wild Joker.
How do you use a joker card?
A joker card is used as a substitute for a missing card to form an impure sequence or set. For example, 6♥ 7♥ Printed Joker/Wild Joker, and 9♥ can make a valid impure sequence, and A♥ A♣ A♦PJ/WJ can make a valid set.
How much is a joker worth in rummy?
In a game of rummy, each card has different values, and the goal is to bring down the hand score to zero to win the game. The jokers in rummy are worth zero points and help in bringing down the score significantly.
How many jokers are in cards?
Each deck of 52 cards also involves two printed jokers additionally. Therefore, there are 54 cards in the deck, including the printed jokers. In the rummy game, a wild joker is also chosen randomly. For instance, if a 3♣️ is a wild joker, then all the suits of 3 will be considered wild jokers.
