But if a player has a joker or 2 he could play in place of an 8 (8/8/joker). An example of this would be if one is trying to get a set he must have three or more cards of the same rank (8/8/8). A player is not allowed to have more jokers than face-cards in either a set or run. Jokers are wild cards and can be played in the place of any card. Once a player discards their card, the card underneath that card is now considered a 'dead' card because it is no longer in the game. To get a card that isn't yours a player must say, “BUY', before the next player draws their card, or else it is already considered 'dead'. That card then becomes the new upcard, which the next player in turn can take or other players can buy. (Also, the other players in the game have the ability to get the upcard.) After the player draws his card, either from the deck or the upcard, he must then choose any card in his hand to discard, and he then places this card face up on the discard pile. They may either pick up one new card from the top of the deck or take the upcard.

This card is called the upcard and becomes the beginning of the discard pile.Įach player has a choice at the beginning of their turn. One card is taken from the top of the deck and placed face up next to it.

The rest of the deck is then placed face down in the middle of the players this is referred to as the deck. Each player is dealt eleven cards for each of the ten rounds. One person begins as dealer for the first hand, and then the person to the dealer's left becomes dealer for the next hand, and so on. Each game has ten hands, and the rules for each hand are unique. Aces are high (above a King) or low, (below 2). Two decks are required for a game of up to four players. Shanghai Rummy is played with multiple decks of 54 standard playing cards, including the Jokers.

1.5 Play for the player who has gone down.

Shanghail rummy app