Rummy In Blackjack: What You Need To Know

They take place at dining room tables instead of on casino floors. The only thing on the line is bragging rights.

This changes in the context of blackjack in rummy, where familiar concepts are used in new and exciting ways to give players more options when it comes to how they make their bets. So, what are the rules for rummy in blackjack? Read on for everything you need to know.

In blackjack, rummy is a side bet that takes place before the deal has even been handed out. Here, you're wagering that your two cards, as well as the dealer's face-up card, will combine to make a specific set of cards similar to the combinations sought after in rummy.

For example, if you have a three-card flush or straight, you will have won the rummy bet. The nice thing about this side bet is that it is completely independent of the overall outcome. In other words, you could bust on the hand and still win the rummy bet.

Alternatively, you could lose the rummy bet and still win the hand. In this way, the risk is offset because you have multiple ways to win.

That said, rummy combinations are relatively uncommon. The same way you don't come across many three-of-a-kinds or flushes in poker, you shouldn't necessarily expect to make one in blackjack.

It does help that you're seeking a three-card combination rather than the five required by most poker games. Still, it's a relatively rare occurrence, which is why rummy bets pay off well.

Specific payout numbers will vary from casino to casino. However, the numbers are typically based on the specific card combination. A straight will pay out better than a flush.

A face card straight will be more valuable than a numbered straight. A straight flush is better than a regular straight or regular flush, and so on.

Basically, the rarer the combination, the better you can expect it to pay out. You'll, of course, want to understand the specific odds before you make a rummy bet.

Often, the payouts are considerable, for exactly the reason that the circumstances in which you earn them are rare. It's because of this that some players will build rummy into their betting system.

Note that, in this case, the word “system” is being used somewhat loosely. Never forget that hitting a rummy is based exclusively on luck. If you are going to use rummy bets strategically, the best approach is to use them as an indulgence when you are already up.

When it comes to gambling, you never want to use low-probability bets as a way of recuperating a few bad losses.

That mentality can put you in a deep hole. However, if you’ve got a little house money in your pocket and you want to see if you can double down on your luck, making a rummy bet can be a fun way to add spice to your experience.

Victory with rummy has a lower probability than, say, splitting aces. Naturally, rummy combos come up organically often enough. When they do, you might think, “Ah! Of course, I should have made the rummy bet. How foolish!” But if you're constantly making the rummy wager, you'll lose more often than you win.

The only way it's sensible as a strategy is if you're using the relatively large payout of the rummy bet as a way of offsetting your losses. In other words, you go in knowing that most of your rummy bets will fall short, but that one good hit can bring you back to even.

For example, if a casino offers a 40-to-1 payout, even one rummy win can make up for a pretty big number of losses. All of this is to say that rummy bettors need to be prepared to lose much more often than they win. A pessimistic mindset, perhaps, but one that is healthy to have in most gambling situations.

Is it worth the risk? That’s a personal choice. Rummy bets can be fun. However, they also add an aspect of volatility to a casino game that, under normal circumstances, has an unusually high emphasis on skill over luck. Make rummy bets for the thrills, but remember that there are other, higher probability ways to play blackjack.