Kaluki Rummy | Play Kaluki Online

Kaluki is a game based on melds. You can meld numerous ways, through either sets or runs. It is not just important to meld a set or run, it is important to “build” upon other sets or runs put down on the table previously. This is what makes Kaluki so exciting and fun, because you are constantly adding on to other melds that were put down during previous rounds.

Building can be done in a multitude of ways. After laying down the initial meld of at least 40 points, a player may add the corresponding card to a previous set by simply adding the fourth card to a 3 card set. For example, if you had played three Queens, and you get the fourth Queen when picking out of the stock pile, you may simply lay down the Queen next to your other three. You may also add further consecutive cards to either end of a run. For example, if you already have the 6, 7, and 8 of clubs, then you could place either the 5 or the 9 of clubs, or more if you have it available to you to lay down. The joker can be used to build on melds as well, since it is the card that matches anything. Building onto your melds, or your opponent’s melds is a very strategic part of this game.

There are two different ways to win a round of Kaluki. These two ways are called “Going out” or “Hunt.” Hunt is when a player melds all of their cards and lays them down at one. This means that you are basically saving up all of your cards so that you can go out without anyone knowing what you have. Your last card that you can not put down into a meld is placed in the discard pile. This is especially powerful because it does not give your opponent’s any chance to build upon your melds which means that they may end up with more cards in their hand at the end of the game.

Going out is when a player melds their cards gradually, laying them down as they get them. Just as in Hunt, the player takes their last card and places it in the discard pile. Although your opponent’s will be able to build upon your hand as you place the cards down, they will not be able to lay off any cards after you place your final card in the discard pile, leaving the rest of the cards in their hands. Once the hand is done, and you discard your final card, the cards remaining in their hands are counted against them.

If during the course of the game, the stock pile runs out, the discard pile is shuffled again and placed down to form a new stock. The card that was discarded by the player who drew the last card of the old stock pile is placed faced up besides the new stock pile. This starts a whole new discard pile, and allows you to use cards that you previously were not able to use.
The scoring is simple. A Hunt gives the winning player 40 points and the losers receive twice the value of the cards left in their hand as penalty points. If a player simply “goes out” then the winning player receives 20 points and the losing player gets the total value of their hands.