500 Rum Rules (Rummy 500): Deal, Digging the Discard Pile, and Scoring to 500

In 500 Rum, every card you meld scores for you and every card left in your hand counts against you when someone goes out. You may take cards from deep in the discard pile, as long as you meld the deepest one right away and take everything above it. The first player to 500 points wins.

The game also goes by Rummy 500, 500 Rummy and Pinochle Rummy. Played with 2 jokers, it's sometimes called Joker Rummy. The rules below follow the Pagat description, which plays with jokers.

How many cards do you deal?

Deal one at a time, clockwise, starting on the dealer's left. Put the rest face down as the stock and turn the top card face up as the first discard. The player on the dealer's left goes first.

What is each card worth?

Some tables use flat values instead: 5 for 2 to 9, 10 for tens and pictures, 15 for aces. Agree on one system before the first deal.

How does a turn work?

Each turn has 3 parts, always in this order, and the second one is optional.

1. Draw: Take the top card of the stock. Or take 1 or more cards from the discard pile, which stays fanned so every card shows.
2. Meld: Optional. Lay down sets (3 or 4 of a rank) and runs (3 or more in sequence, same suit). You may also lay off on any meld on the table, yours or another player's.
3. Discard: One card, face up. If you took only the top discard, you must throw a different card.

Taking from deep in the pile: you may reach down to any card in the discard pile. You must meld that card immediately and take every card above it into your hand. The rest can wait.

Laying off: cards you add to someone else's meld stay in front of you and score for you. If a card could extend 2 melds, say which one; you can't change it later.

Jokers: a joker can be any card in a meld. When you meld it, say what it stands for. 6 7 joker means the joker is the 8. Fixed for good.

Ace high or low: A-2-3 and Q-K-A are both runs. K-A-2 is not.

What does calling "Rummy!" mean?

If a player discards a card that could have been melded or laid off, any other player may call "Rummy!" before the next player draws. The caller takes that card, plus every card above it, melds it, and discards. Play then continues from the caller's left. Some tables skip this rule entirely. Decide first.

When does a hand end?

The hand ends at once when a player has no cards left, by melding or laying off everything or by discarding their last card. It also ends when the stock runs out and the player whose turn it is doesn't want to draw from the discard pile.

How do you score 500 Rum?

Each player adds up the cards they melded and laid off, then subtracts the cards still in hand. A hand score can be negative, and so can a running total, for example when your first hand ends with a joker and an ace still in your hand.

Worked example, 3 players. A goes out.

Notice the aces. A's low ace counts 1, while B's stranded A♦ costs 15. Getting stuck with a joker is the worst case: C loses 15 for it.

Play more hands until someone reaches 500 or more, and the highest score at that point wins. Tied? Play another hand.

Common Rules Questions

Must you discard to go out in rummy and 500 Rum?

Official rule: no. Under the Pagat rules for 500 Rum, and the Bicycle rules for basic rummy, you may go out by melding or laying off every card, with no final discard. Common house rule: you must finish with a discard, which makes going out harder. Some groups go further and require a discard that can't be played anywhere. Pick one before the first deal.

Can you take the top discard without melding it?

Yes, under the Pagat rules. Taking only the top card of the discard pile is always allowed, and you may keep it in hand. The meld-at-once rule applies when you dig deeper and take more than 1 card. Many books, though, say any discard you take must be melded right away, even the top one. That stricter version is common at home tables, so ask before you play.

What if nobody reaches 500 when the stock runs out?

The stock running out only ends that hand, not the game. Score the hand as usual, add it to the running totals, and deal again. Play continues hand after hand until at least 1 player passes 500. If 2 or more pass it on the same hand, the highest total wins.

What to read next

• Rummy rules: basic rummy
• Types of rummy compared
• Playing cards for card games
• All card game rules

Sources: John McLeod, 500 Rummy, pagat.com (deal sizes, card values, taking from deep in the discard pile, laying off, jokers, calling Rummy, going out, scoring and the listed variations), read 2026-10-10. The worked example is our arithmetic, rechecked by script. Last updated 2026-10-10.