Rules for Playing Michigan Rummy
Michigan Rummy (also known as Tripoli) is sort of a combination card and board game, although one could play it without the board. It is a casino type game that involves a bit of chance and strategy. Many people substitute chips for small denomination coins (such as pennies or nickels) when playing with friends and family. It is an easy game to learn and play, and can be enjoyed by all ages.
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Betting/Paying
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One chip is placed by each player into each of the eight compartments of the game board (or tray) and one into the center, bonus tray. In some versions, the dealer is not required to put chips in.
Dealing the Cards
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The first dealer is chosen by dealing each player a card. The player with the highest-value card deals. The deal shifts clockwise with each subsequent hand.
Cards are dealt one at a time to each player, the dealer and to one "dummy" hand until all cards are dealt. Players do not have to have the same number of cards.
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The Dummy Hand
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Prior to play, the dealer may choose to play the dummy hand if his own hand contains none of the bonus cards designated on the game board. If the dealer does not take the "dummy" hand, the other players may bid for it. Bidders must not have a bonus card in their original hand.
Playing the Hand
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The player to the left of the dealer begins play by laying down the lowest card of any suit in her hand. The player with the next card in sequence plays it, and so on until the ace is reached or the sequence is stopped by a "dead" card (previously played or in the "dummy" or "dead" hand). For example, the first player may play the five of hearts. The player with the six of hearts plays next. Play stops because the seven of hearts is in the dummy hand (no active player holds it). The player who last played a card begins a new sequence.
Playing Bonus Cards
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As play continues, a player collects on a bonus card (or money card) when it is played by him. The player collects the money in the designated tray of the game board. If a bonus card (or sequence) is not played, the money carries over to the next hand.
Completing the Hand
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The object is to discard all of one's cards before anyone else does. This ends the hand. Cards remaining in a player's hand can be counted as a negative amount (by face value or otherwise determined valuation) to hold a running tally throughout the game.
Completing the Game
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When a player has amassed a predetermined amount of negative points, the game is finished. For example, for a hand in which a player has a queen, a six and and an ace remaining in her hand, she may be charged with a negative point value of 30 points (15 points for aces, 10 points for face cards, 5 points for all other cards). If a player reaches a cumulative total of, say, 500 points, the game is finished and the player with the lowest points wins.
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