This Rummy game is designed to be played by one person playing against the computer.
For those familiar with Rummy, this is a 7-card version (rather than the usual 10) with the following characteristics:
- the game is not played for points - just to be the first to achieve a 3-card and a 4-card meld;
- no melds are shown until the end of the game;
- Ace counts as high or low, but runs cannot include high and low. i.e. A, 2, 3 or Q, K, A are acceptable melds, but K, A, 2 is not;
- a card selected from the top of the discard pile cannot immediately be discarded;
- after the last card has been taken from the stockpile, a new stockpile is formed by taking all but the top card from the discard pile and shuffling these.
Overview and objectives of the game
In this version of 7-card Rummy, a dealer is selected who shuffles the pack, deals 7 cards to each player, and then deals the next card face up to form a discard pack, and places the remaining cards
face-down to form the stock pile.
The opponent then selects one card - either the top card of the discard pile or the top card of the stock pile - adds it to their hand, then discards one of these 8 cards (any one except the card just picked up if this came from the discard pile) by placing it face up on the discard pile.
After this, each player in turn (the dealer's turn is next) does the same, i.e. selects a card from either the discard pile or stock pile and then discards one to the discard pile.
The objective of the game is to be the first player to form two melds - one of 3 cards, one of 4 cards - with the 7 cards remaining after the eighth has been discarded.
Each meld may be either a run of cards of the same suit, e.g. [9 Hearts, 10 Hearts and Jack Hearts], or a set of cards of the same face value (but different suits, obviously), e.g. [7 Hearts, 7 Clubs, 7 Spades]. Note: for runs, Ace counts as either high (the card above King) or low (the card below 2), but it cannot count as both in that run. So, valid runs would include [Jack, Queen, King, Ace] or [Ace, 2, 3] but not [King, Ace, 2, 3].
When one player achieves the 3-card meld and the 4-card meld, that player wins, the game stops and all cards are revealed.
Note: when the last card is taken from the stockpile, a new stockpile is formed by taking all but the top card from the discard pile and shuffling these.
Playing the game
The computer's hand is shown at the top, while your hand is shown at the bottom. Your hand is always revealed, while the computer's is, by default, hidden from your view.
When the application is first opened, a new game is automatically begun with the computer dealing, so that it will be your turn to select a card from the discard or stock pile. You may, however, choose to
start a new game at any time, e.g. one in which you deal first.
Selecting one of your cards
To select a card (if one isn't already selected) - something you need to do when moving or discarding one of your cards - just press on the card. The selected card will have a purple frame around it.
Discarding one of your cards
To discard one of the cards in your hand, first ensure that it has been selected (purple frame), then press the discard pile (the pile on the left, which is black if it contains no cards).
Remember, you can't discard the card you've just taken from the top of the discard pile, and the system won't let you.
Arranging the cards in your hand
It can be helpful to arrange the cards in your hand to show full or partial melds. To re-arrange the cards, first select a card to be moved. Then press the card (or the gap for the eighth card) to the right of where you wish the selected card to be placed. If you have only seven cards in your hand, they are then moved so that the gap for the eighth is at the right end. Note: you can only arrange your cards when it is your turn to go - either before you have selected a card or before discarding.
Recognizing patterns and arranging cards is a key Rummy skill, so you should normally do this manually. However, if you wish for some assistance, press the Sort button and a simple sort into existing melds or partial melds (without gaps in runs) will be carried out for you. Again, this can only be done when it is your turn.
Selecting a card from the discard or stock pile
When it is your turn to select a card from the discard or stock pile, simply press on one of these piles (the discard pile is on the left, the stock pile on the right).
The card will be displayed in the vacant position in your hand (at the right).
By default, the card you pick will not be automatically selected (with a purple frame). If you would prefer to have automatic selection of the card you have picked, ready for you to insert it into an appropriate position in your hand or to discard it, press on the More button, then select the On option for Auto-select on pick - followed by the Back button to return to the card table.
The computer's turn
When it is the computer's turn to select a card from the discard or stock pile or to discard a card, you will be informed of the computer's decision and see the moves taking place.
The message display
At the bottom of the playing area is a message board. This informs you what you need to do or what the computer is doing and announces the winner.
Finding a winner
The system checks at the end of each turn to see whether the player who has just discarded has won. If so, this is announced and all cards are revealed.
Cheating
If you wish, you can choose to see the computer's hand at any time. Just press on the More button, then select the Show cards option - followed by the Back button to return to the card table. You can press the Hide cards option to hide the computer's cards again.
Computer memory settings
If you press the More button, you'll see a display of the Computer Memory level near the top (Levels 1-4). By default, the computer's memory level is 4 (maximum), but you can change this to any of the other settings by pressing one of the other numbers; the black square beneath the numbers shows the current setting.
To understand what these settings mean, you need to understand something about the way the computer behaves and evaluates its moves.
The part of the program that decides what the computer should do is provided only
with the current status of each card, according to what it should know given a certain memory level. So, for every card it might be told:
- it is in the computer's hand;
- it is in the discard pile (when cards are discarded they are, of course, visible to both players)
- it is in your hand (it will only know this if you took the card from the discard pile and haven't discarded it later)
- its position is unknown (either in the stock pile or in your hand)
The status of each card is determined before each move based on a record of the moves made and on the Computer Memory setting for what the
computer should 'remember':
- if the level is 4, the complete record is used, so the computer will have good knowledge of the card locations, and play at its best;
- if the level is 3, only the moves made in the last 20 turns are remembered (so, at the beginning of the game, Full and Long memory are indistinguishable);
- if the level is 2, only the moves made in the last 5 turns are remembered;
- if the level is 1, none of the previous turns are remembered.
In addition to what the computer should 'remember', it also knows what is visible to it, i.e. its own hand and the top card in the discard pile.
Note: you can alter the computer's memory level every turn if you wish, and make the computer a better or worse player accordingly.
About the computer's decision-making
The computer makes all decisions about selecting or discarding based only on its objective to create its own melds. It does not try to prevent your melds by holding back cards that
might be beneficial to you.
Starting a new game
To start a new game at any time, press on one of the two Deal buttons: the one at the top, near the computer's cards, for the computer to deal, or the one at the bottom, near your cards, for you to deal. Note: Computer Memory level settings and the hiding/revealing of
the computer's cards are unaffected when a new game starts.
Terms of use
This software may be used for personal purposes only. It may not be used for commercial purposes.
The software, code and script of this application may not be copied or be distributed to others.
The software, code and script may not be altered in any way.
Copyright of the software, code and script, and its
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documentation, is held by TopAccolades Limited. No part of
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as intended, TopAccolades Limited provides no warranty of
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fitness for a particular purpose, in relation to this application or
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support.
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Limited shall not be liable for any damages whatsoever arising
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Version: 3.0 (20170327) Scale:
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