Michigan Rummy

The game board has 8 fields in a circle. Each field is marked with a card or combination of cards. These are: Joker, 10 of hearts, jack of hearts, queen of hearts, king of hearts, ace of heart, queen and king of hearts and six+seven+eight of all four suits. Each of the aces also have a field each, one ace in each corner.

Before the game can start each player gets an equal amount of chips.

Before each round the players have to put one betting chip in each of the eight fields. This is the cost to participate each round. If a player has less than eight betting chips when a new round starts he is out of the game.

When all players have paid to join in it's time to deal the cards. The dealer always deals in one more pile than there are players - if there is four players he'll deal the cards in five piles. The fifth pile is the "buy-pile". If the dealer is not happy with his cards he might change them with the "buy-pile", but he has to make this decision prior to looking at the cards in the buy-pile. If the dealer doesn't want the "buy-pile" the other players might start bidding on it. The player with the highest bid gets the pile and the dealer - not the bank - get's the money. The buy-pile, or the discarded cards from the player who got the buy-pile, is placed on the table, face up, so that all players can see them.

Gameplay

The player who sits to the left of the dealer starts by playing his lowest, black card. If he has got two or more cards in a sequence he plays the whole sequence, for instance 3, 4, 5 and 6 of clubs. Whoever's got 6 of clubs plays it, and then the player who's got 7, 8 and so forth until it stops because the next card is in the pile that's laying face up on the table (that is, the buy-pile or the discarded cards from the player who got the buy-pile). The player who played the last card before play stopped should now play his lowest red card. And then players builds up until it stops again because the next card is in the buy-pile. This is the way play goes, alternating a red and black suit until one player has played all his cards.

When one of the cards marked on the game board is played, the player who played it gets all the chips currently on this field. If a player plays a sequence that's also marked on one of the fields, he gets those chips as well. When one player has played all his cards the round stops. This player also gets all chips currently on the joker field. The players who have got one or more aces on hand when the round ends, if any, must put down one chip on the field(s) that matches the ace(s) he's got on hand.

Winning the game

You can play with three different winning condition:

• You might play until only one player is left
• You might stop when the first player runs out of chips and see who of the remaining players have the most chips
• You might end the game after a certain number of rounds and see who's got the most chips

Reader comments

:

It's been years since I've played this and recently have looked for the game. We used to put pennies instead of chips in the cups and high winnings would be a dollar or two!! big stakes I'm definitely going to order this game

:

MY MICHIGAN RUMMY BOARD IS SO OLD ITS DISINTERGRATING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE TO BUY ANOTHER SET.

Barb Paszkowski:

I am unable to find what store carrys Michigan rummy. I live in the Kalamazoo, Mi. area, where can I find Michigan Rummy? When my parents would take us on vacation this was a game we all gathered around the table and played in the evening.

Vern Heineman:

Our board is a home made one we've had for over 50 years. it would never wear out. Have fun.

Bernice Kizart:

I have loved this game, even as a child. I am now looking to purchase some for gifts, but I am having problems locating them. If you have any suggestions, I am very interested.

Linda :

Never played this game before but we are doing this Xmas eve. Thanks for the instructions otherwise we would have tried to wing it.

Larry Root:

I've found diferent versions of the game by doing a Google search, but I'm still looking for the version with the playing surface printed on a heavy plastic sheet that you unfold to nearly cover a card table top. Any suggestions?

Maureen Compton:

We discovered an old board thru a friend (circa 1960s). Green plastic with a "kitty" and a "poker pool" field but it must be a different make/edition from the one you have played. We had no "joker" field or Aces field other than Ace of Spades. Had a blast tho playing for pennies. 1/4/03

Nick scamuffa:

I've looked everywhere and I can not find a store that has michigan rummy in stock. I also need the green one with the Poker and Kitty on it,Any sugestions? I found the other kind on EBAY.

Nancy Owen:

My friend found an excellant brand new wooden Michigan Rummy gameboard at "The Lakes Mall" in Muskegon county at a christmas game store. Not sure if they are still open now that is is Feb. Just thought I'd let ya all know.

Kristen Mozaffari:

I would love to find the green one again. If anyone finds a way to buy it online, it would be great to find that information. Thanks!

Monica Lanoue:

I just dug our old green plastic board out of the cellar and cleaned off inches of dust. I remembered some of the rules but needed a refresher. Thanks for the help.
Big game tonight.

Monica Lanoue:

I have a question is the ace high or low? In the poker pool can it be used as high and kow like regular poker

Karol :

I am looking to buy another Michigan Rummy Game. I have one now, it is worn out. I have looked all over the country, but can not find one available.
Please let me know If I can purchase on. Thank you Karol

Dan:

I live in the Winter Springs Fl. area and have looked everywhere for Michigan Rummy. We have one but are looking for another one . If you know where I could purchase one I would appreaciate it very much Thanks.

:

how can i order this game by check, item# etc, address to mail to

Karen W.:

There is a simular game called Tripoley or Tripoli. It used to have a green plastic cloth that you layed on the table. You can buy Tripoley from Amazon.com. Also, here is a website that is selling Michigan Rummy. www.abookorgame.com

Barb White:

We just purchased a CHEAP ($2.88)michigan rummy game @ Target....still trying to figure it out!

Kathy H.:

I just found a version at Target also....$2.00. I grew up playing it on vacation, now I'm teaching my kids and husband. Thanks for printing the rules, it's been over 25 years since I've played!

Jennah B:

My granddad used to play this with all my aunts & uncles. He made a board by cutting a round circle out of wood. He then glued cards from an old deck onto it and coated the top of all of it. They played for hours and the board was passed on down the generations. I sure wish my cousin hadn't lost it. My son is in the process of making a new one. Glad I found the original rules. They do differ from the ones found at Target or K-mart.

Anna:

I played Michigan Rummy with my in-laws while my husband and I dated. We had so much fun. My father-in-law was so wonderful, he made a game board for out family. The orginal rules would be helpful.

Becky:

We love this game, too! For a special birthday version of the game, I made a "board" (vinyl like the one we had) and made each section a "store" and called it Mall Rummy. The "stores" reflect the intrests of the birthday guest. Still super fun and an easy way to make our birthday guest feel special!
Thanks for the rules you provided, we sort of forgot!

Mike:

Thank you so much for the rules. I just opened the box and totaly forgot how to play.

Nancy:

I live in St. Petersburg, Fla. area and have checked a few stores, does anyone know what store has this game. Thanks.

Shuane Hill:

My motherinlaw has an old worn game board it's taped up and we are trying desprately to find a new one. Any suggestions?

Winchester:

I found online a good suggestion in leu of buying a game board, Using cards from another deck and placing them on the table for boodle cards!!

Martha Nebeling:

Would like to know where to purchase this game. My children loved it and my grandchildren hearing of their fun, want one to. Please send store name.

Francie:

I made a copy of my brother-in-laws mother's board. I used naugahide ?sp which is a plastic/leather like material you can buy at Wal-Mart. I drew the board with fabric tube paint. It works great!!

fjane:

Look for Tripoli instead of Michigan Rummy.

becky:

I love this game,my mother and I have been looking for the board or how to make our own for yrs I wish that we could ethier find where to buy the game or like I said figure out how to make our own if anyone would mind helping us we would be forever greatful..we love it and had an awesome time playing it!!!!

Cynthia:

I grew up playing Michigan Rummy,but the board I found if called Tripoly and if green and all the pots are hearts. The old board I learned to play on was white plastic and the money pots were the Ace of spades, King and Queen of diamonds, Queen of clubs, 10 of hearts, King of hearts, Jack of diamonds and 8,9,10 of any suit, and it had a Kitty pot, along with the pot. I would like to find one like it again. Does anyone know where I can purchase it?

Cynthia:

I grew up playing Michigan Rummy,but the board I found is called Tripoly and it's green and all the pots are hearts. The old board I learned to play on was white plastic and the money pots were the Ace of spades, King and Queen of diamonds, Queen of clubs, 10 of hearts, King of hearts, Jack of diamonds and 8,9,10 of any suit, and it had a Kitty pot, along with the pot. I would like to find one like it again. Does anyone know where I can purchase it?

carol:

I too am looking for the version on a plastic tablecloth type sheet. Has anyone found those?

Jeannette:

We played this game when we were little. As weare growen up now we started a card night and play rummoli. we can not find Michigan Rummy board anywear. We cheaked Toys R us and they stoped selling it in 1991. We live in Ontario Canada if some one could tell us were else to look we would be very greatful.

Lauren:

The Vermont Country store also sells them on their web site

Joyce Klein:

OK, where can I purchase Tripoli? I have tried and tried and can not find it in any store. Help.

Brenda Hastings:

My 'mat' from the Canadian 'Rummoli' is copyrighted in 1940 ....... that's 66 years ago ....... distributed from Vancouver, Toronto & Montreal, by the 'COPP CLARK PUBLISHING COMPANY'.

stella murray:

Hi thereI am from nz and have played michigan rummy and absolutley love the game. I have been searching for this game for ages it was brought for me from australia and as it has happened wear and tear and completly has now ended up in bits from to much usage. If any one could please assist me on where to purchase one that would be greatly appreciated.Cheers

Debbie B:

Some Toys R Us carry Tripoley Special Edition, but not Michigan Rummy. K Bee (sp) toy stores do not carry either. There are on-line options too. We are going to try and make our own board from a picture I found of Michigan Rummy game. That's the one that I grew up playing with my mom and her friends, and I prefer it over Tripoley.

JD:

Published rules say 3 players minimum. Can this be played by 2? Anyone's opinion or experiences?

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