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An intense knock rummy game with Italian origin played up to 6 players. Two 52-card decks are used plus 4 Jokers.

Object is to get the other players over 100 points and keep your score low. Everyone draws 1 card, the high card deals, and the subsequent deals are passed to the left.

Each player is dealt 7 cards, the remaining stock pile is spread on the table, and the top card (Upcard) is turned face up to start the discard pile, and the player to the left of the dealer draws the top card from the stock pile or discard pile to make 3-card or 4-card "lays". "Lays" are either Three of a kind, Four of a kind, a 3 card straight flush or a 4 card straight flush (Aces can only be played Low). Jokers are wild. After a card is drawn, one must be discarded, and the next player to the left has the option of drawing either the top discard or top stock card then he must discard.

Extra unused cards in your hand are points, and you can knock when it's your turn with 7 or less points, in lieu of drawing, and stop the current hand, every one shows their hand at the time and adds up their points. "Lays" count as 0 and unusable deadwood cards are "points". Face cards and Jokers count as 10, Aces are 1, and other cards are index value.

If you draw a lay of 4 and a lay of 3, meaning your using all 7 cards, you can announce "gin" (also known as "ten less"), and the hand immediately stops and you are scored -10 points. Other players are stuck with whatever unusable points they have in their hand. (If a player hits "gin" for the 1st three consecutive hands to begin a game, they automatically win)

If you draw a 7 card straight flush or 7 of a kind, you announce "rumino" and the game stops and you automatically win the whole game. If you hold 6 cards to "rumino" and someone discards the card you need, you may pick it up, even if it is not your turn.

When a player gets to over 100 points, they are eliminated from the game, but can rebuy back in for the highest score if they wish, as long as there are at least two other players left. (No Rebuys are allowed if "rumino" is hit, or when the hand started as heads-up). Every time a certain player rebuys, the stake for that player doubles. (In a $10 game, the first time you rebuy it's $10, the 2nd time is $20 etc...)

When only one person is left with 100 pts or less, or someone hits "rumino", they are the winner, and are awarded all the money in the pool. If a new game is played, winner deals the 1st hand.

Sources

• Some Feel Pinch, Others a Squeeze The New York Times, Sept. 9 2003
• Italian Ramino League
• Alberosa.net

See

Continental (card game)