Five Hundred Rummy (2 player card game)

Objective: The objective of Five Hundred Rummy is to be the first player to score 500 points or more by forming melds and laying down cards.

Adaptation for 2 Players: In the 2 player version of Five Hundred Rummy, the game is adapted to suit only two players. The adaptation involves modifying the rules for melding and laying down cards to accommodate the smaller player count.

Setup:

1. Use a standard deck of 52 cards with jokers removed.
2. Determine the dealer randomly.
3. Shuffle the deck thoroughly and deal 13 cards to each player, one at a time, face down.
4. Place the remaining cards face down in the center to form the draw pile. Flip the top card face up next to the draw pile to start the discard pile.

Scoring: Scoring in Five Hundred Rummy is based on the following:

1. Melds: Players score points for forming melds, which are combinations of three or more cards of the same rank, or in consecutive order of the same suit.
   • Aces are low, so A-2-3 is a valid sequence, but K-A-2 is not.
   • Melds can also include groups of four or more cards of the same rank, known as sets.
   • Each meld earns points based on its value: 4 points for a set, and 2 points for a sequence.
2. Laying Down: Once a player has formed a meld, they can lay down their cards on the table to score additional points.
   • The first player to lay down all their cards ends the round and earns a bonus of 10 points.
3. Remaining Cards: Players lose points for cards remaining in their hand at the end of the round. Each card is worth its face value in points, except for face cards (J, Q, K), which are worth 10 points each.
4. Game End: The game ends when one player reaches 500 points or more. The player with the highest score at the end of the round is the winner.

Gameplay:

1. Turns: Player 1 starts the game. The players take turns in clockwise order.
2. Drawing: On their turn, a player must draw either the top card from the draw pile or the top card from the discard pile.
3. Melding: After drawing, the player may lay down any melds they have in their hand.
4. Discarding: Finally, the player must discard one card onto the discard pile to end their turn.

Summary: Five Hundred Rummy is a classic 2 player card game where players aim to score points by forming melds and laying down cards. This adaptation ensures that the game remains engaging and strategic with just two players.