When you talk about rummy, you are really talking about a family of games. The games of rummy all share the “draw and discard” structure. The main goal of a rummy game is to get rid of all your cards through forming melds and runs. All rummy games have a scoring system making a game easily adapted to playing for money. It is not precisely know where rummy originated from, we have some general information of its roots.
In the 18th century the Chinese played a game called Mahjong ( also called: Mai-Jiang, Mah-Jong, Mah-Jongg). It was played with the rummy pattern of play, draw and discard. It was and is still played today with tiles or cards.
This game swept the globe in various western versions such as Conquian, Kanhoo and others. It is a well respected theory that Chinese immigrants hastened the spread of these Mahjong variants. It is also considered probably Portuguese and British sailors learned Mahjong while in China.
The game Conquian, was brought to the Americas from Spanish immigrants. Many people, including David Parlett, consider this to be the ancestor of all rummy games. It is also often noted it is very similar to Gin Rummy.
Gin Rummy is the most popular rummy game. It is played with two players and a standard 52 card deck. It is intended to be a game faster then rummy, but less spontaneous then knock rummy. The game of Gin Rummy was created by Elwood T. Baker and his son, C. Graham Baker, in 1909 in New York.
It is believed the name for Gin Rummy was derived form the inventor fondness for gin. The popularity of the game was bolstered in the 1930′s from Hollywood. The famous movie stars and Hollywood elite would play this fast and exciting game in between takes. It was a great way to take up the time.
Then came the great depression, and the economic turmoil on the average American. People hadn’t the money to go out for entertainment, night where spent at home. And what a great way to spend the time with the family then a game of cards. Gin rummy was there to fit the bill.
Now with the internet Rummy is coming to a new age. You can now play rummy online with players form across the globe. You can play for fun, or you can play this game of skill for money. Playing online is a great way to keep your game sharp, learn new rummy games, and always know you have some fun close at hand.