How to Play

Shanghai Rummy is a contract rummy variant for 3-8 players played over 10 escalating deals with specific meld combinations; its signature 'buy' mechanic lets opponents claim your discard at a penalty cost, and lowest cumulative penalty total after 10 deals wins.

Shanghai Rummy is a popular American contract rummy variant played over a fixed set of ten escalating contracts (one per deal). Each contract is a specific combination of sets (3+ matching ranks) and runs (4+ consecutive same-suit cards) that a player must lay down complete before doing anything else that deal. The signature rule is buying: when the active player draws from the stock, any other player (in clockwise priority) may say 'buy' and take the top discard plus one penalty card from the stock, then pass the turn back to the active player. Each player is capped at 3 buys per deal. Contracts start at 2 sets of 3 in deal 1 and rise to 3 runs of 7 in deal 10. After laying down, a player may lay off extra cards onto any visible meld (theirs or opponents'). The round ends when one player empties their hand; all other players score penalty points for the cards they are caught holding. Lowest cumulative total after 10 deals wins.

Players

3 to 8 players, best at 4 to 5. Each plays for themselves; no partnerships. Deal rotates clockwise after each of the 10 deals (so each player deals at least once or twice per match). Play runs clockwise. The game is fairly long; a typical 4-player match runs 60-90 minutes.

Card Deck

For 3 to 4 players: two standard 52-card decks plus 4 Jokers = 108 cards. For 5 or more players: three decks plus 6 Jokers = 162 cards. Jokers are always wild and can substitute for any card in any set or run. Rank for runs, low to high: A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K. Aces are low and cannot wrap (Q-K-A is a valid run, K-A-2 is not). Card penalty values (for cards left in hand at the end of a deal): A = 15, K/Q/J/10 = 10, 9-2 = 5, Joker = 25 (in some rules 15).

Objective

Across 10 sequential deals, each with a specific meld contract, lay down your contract as early as possible then empty your hand by discarding or laying off. Scoring accumulates penalty points for cards left in hand at deal end; the player with the lowest total penalty after 10 deals wins the match.

Setup and Deal

1. Combine the required decks (2 + 4 Jokers for 3-4 players; 3 + 6 Jokers for 5-8 players) and shuffle thoroughly.
2. Deal 11 cards face down to each player for deal 1 (the number increases on some deals per variant, see Contracts below; most rulebooks keep 11 constant).
3. Place the remaining cards face down as the stock and turn the top card face up next to it to start the discard pile.
4. Announce the contract for this deal (see Contracts section).
5. The player to the dealer's left takes the first turn.

The 10 Contracts

• Deal 1: 2 sets of 3 cards each (e.g., three 7s + three Kings).
• Deal 2: 1 set of 3 + 1 run of 4.
• Deal 3: 2 runs of 4.
• Deal 4: 3 sets of 3.
• Deal 5: 2 sets of 3 + 1 run of 4.
• Deal 6: 2 runs of 4 + 1 set of 3.
• Deal 7: 3 sets of 3 (or 3 runs of 4 in some rulebooks).
• Deal 8: 2 sets of 3 + 2 runs of 4 (some versions: 1 run of 7).
• Deal 9: 1 set of 3 + 2 runs of 5.
• Deal 10: 3 runs of 4 (or 1 run of 10, 'going out on one run').
• Variant rulebooks differ on the exact contract sequence; a common alternative is: 1: 2x3; 2: 1x3 + 1 run 4; 3: 2 runs 4; 4: 3x3; 5: 2x3 + 1 run 4; 6: 2 runs 4 + 1x3; 7: 4x3; 8: 3x3 + 1 run 4; 9: 2 runs 4 + 2x3; 10: 3 runs 4. Groups should agree in advance.
• Hand size across deals: Classic Shanghai Rummy keeps 11 cards constant; some rulebooks expand hands (11 in deals 1-3, 13 in 4-7, 15 in 8-10) to accommodate bigger contracts.

Gameplay

1. Your turn starts with a draw: Take either the top card of the stock or the top card of the discard pile.
2. Buying rule (on stock draws only): If you choose to draw from the stock, other players in clockwise order may say 'buy' before you actually pick up the stock card. The first buyer takes the top discard into their hand plus a penalty card from the stock (also into their hand); turn priority then returns to you to continue your turn normally.
3. Buy limit: Each player is capped at 3 buys per deal (some houses allow only 2). A player who has used all buys cannot claim the discard out of turn.
4. Laying down the contract: Once your hand contains exactly the deal's required combination of sets and runs, you may lay them down face up in front of you on your turn, before discarding. You may not lay down partial contracts; it must be the complete contract in one play. A laid-down contract cannot be re-arranged; you are committed to that structure.
5. Jokers in contracts: Jokers are wild and may be used in any set or run. A joker in a run can be replaced by the holder of the actual card it represents (on their turn, after they have laid down their contract); the replaced joker returns to play in new melds.
6. Laying off: After you have laid down your contract, on each subsequent turn you may add single cards to any existing meld on the table (yours or any opponent's) as long as the additions are legal (correct rank for a set; extending a run correctly).
7. Discard: Every turn ends with discarding exactly one card face up on the discard pile.
8. Going out: A player who plays their last card (via a discard, a lay-off, or the final card of their contract+lay-offs) ends the round immediately. The player going out must be able to discard their final card; they cannot simply 'run out' by lay-offs alone unless house rules permit.

Scoring

• Penalty values (for cards in hand when the round ends): A = 15, K/Q/J/10 = 10, 9-2 = 5 each, Joker = 25 (some rules 15).
• Round score: Each player adds the penalty values of their unplayed cards to their cumulative total. The player who went out scores 0 for that round.
• Contract not achieved: A player who never laid down their contract during a deal scores the full penalty value of their entire hand.
• Match score: Sum each player's penalties across all 10 deals. Lowest total wins the match.
• Bonus variant: -50 or -25 bonus points for going out on the first turn (opening hand already contains the contract plus a discard).

Winning

After 10 deals, compare cumulative penalty totals. The lowest total wins the match. Ties are broken by playing an 11th sudden-death deal with the final contract (3 runs of 4 or the agreed hardest contract); the tied player with the lower penalty wins.

Common Variations

• Contract Rummy: Close relative (see entry id 206) with 7 contracts instead of 10 and no formal buying mechanic; older variant of the same family.
• Liverpool Rummy: British 7-contract version with slightly different contracts (see entry id 209).
• Progressive Rummy: 6 or 7 contracts; simpler hand-size progression (see entry id 300).
• Limited-buys Shanghai: 1 or 2 buys per deal instead of 3; faster games, harder luck.
• Shanghai with Deuces Wild: 2s join Jokers as wild cards; much easier contracts.
• Natural-first Shanghai: Contract 1 requires natural melds only (no Jokers); forces conservative opening play.
• Quick Shanghai: Play only the odd-numbered or even-numbered contracts for a 5-deal match.
• Big Shanghai: Add an 11th deal requiring 3 runs of 5 for extra challenge.

Tips and Strategy

• Hoard buys for the hardest contracts. The buy limit of 3 per deal means waste-not, want-not: save buys for contracts 7, 8, 9, and 10 where every missing card matters.
• The discard pile is public information. Track which cards each player has claimed via buy; their contract focus is usually obvious after two buys.
• Discard only what opponents cannot possibly use. The contract for the current deal tells every opponent what shape of cards matters; discard cards that the contract does not include at all (e.g., 5s discarded when the contract calls only for sets and runs of 7+).
• Lay down quickly in easy contracts, late in hard ones. Contracts 1-4 favour fast lay-downs to enable lay-offs; contracts 8-10 reward patience and a single perfect lay-down to avoid lay-offs being blocked by opponents.
• Joker usage is asymmetric. Jokers are 25-point penalty cards if stuck; use them proactively once your contract is close, but never hoard a Joker past turn 6.
• Opening lay-down bonuses. Some rulebooks give -50 for going out on turn 1 (contract already in hand); if dealt a perfect hand, go out without buying.

Glossary

• Contract: The specific meld requirement for each deal; must be laid down complete in one play.
• Set: 3 or more cards of the same rank (any suits).
• Run: 4 or more consecutive cards of the same suit.
• Meld: A completed set or run laid face up on the table.
• Lay off: Adding single cards to an existing meld (yours or an opponent's) after your contract is down.
• Buy: Taking the top discard plus a penalty stock card out of turn; capped at 3 per player per deal.
• Joker: Wild card; may substitute for any card in any meld; -25 penalty if caught in hand.
• Going out: Playing your last card (including a final discard) to end the round.