Favorite 2 player games

[Skywatcher]

This Rummy variant is fun if you don’t mind the non-standard deal.

@Skywatcher

Rummy 5000. Yes, five thousand.

You’ll need a entire deck of cards - by “entire” I mean including Jokers and anything else that can be used as a joker. That one with the poker odds, for example.

Shuffle the deck, let your opponent cut if they desire, turn over the top card and put it in front of your opponent. This is how many cards total they will get that hand - if it’s a 2, they get a second card; two additional cards for a three; three for a four and so on. Face cards count as 10; Aces and Jokers count as 15. Continue for all opponents (more than three playing will require another deck).

The deal to yourself works in the same manner except you also turn over the last card in your hand. This will be wild for that hand, in addition to the jokers. If the last card is a joker then turn over the second-to-last; some also do this if the last card is an ace, you’ll see why in a moment.

Except for the wild cards, play is identical to that of 500 and “floting” is permitted. What’s most fun is working out your initial hand so as to place the wild cards in the best location, hoping to go out on the first draw.

Normally, moving around wild cards once they’re put down isn’t permitted except when they’re on the outside of a run. That part is optional and should be decided upon before playing.

Scoring is the same as in 500 except Aces and wild cards are both 100 (this is why some don’t like aces being wild) and Jokers are 250 or more. Some like to establish “big” and “little” jokers, and that poker odds card could be considered a “huge” joker worth 750 or 1000. The most I’d do is make the odds card 500; I like to keep them simple. Things in 5000 are confusing enough as it is!