ShanghaiContract book Round 1/7 Contract 2 sets of 3 You 0 Mina 0 Leo 0 Rosa 0 Hand 0 Stock 0 Moves 0

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Free Online Contract Rummy Game

Play Shanghai Rummy Online Free

Play a complete four-player Shanghai match against Mina, Leo, and Rosa. Finish seven contracts, buy useful discards out of turn, and keep the lowest penalty score.

Players
4
Deck
2 decks and 4 Jokers
Contracts
7 hands
Goal
Lowest score
First game?

Know the Shanghai Table Before You Draw

The contract at the top tells you exactly what must be placed together before you may go down. Mina, Leo, and Rosa keep their cards hidden, while the stock, discard, and open melds remain visible.

1

Three Opponents

Mina, Leo, and Rosa each hold 11 hidden cards. Their open melds remain visible.
2

Stock

Draw an unknown card when the face-up discard does not help your contract.
3

Discard

Take the visible top card or place your selected card here to finish the turn.
4

Your Hand

Select cards for the contract, then keep one legal final discard.

How to Play Shanghai Rummy in 60 Seconds

Every turn uses the same draw, meld, and discard rhythm. The required contract changes after each hand.

  1. Read the contractRound 1 begins with two sets of three. Later rounds add and combine runs.
  2. Draw one cardTake the visible discard when it helps, otherwise draw from the stock.
  3. Go down with the full contractPlace every required set and run together in one action.
  4. Buy before going downChoose May I? when an opponent passes a useful discard. Take it plus two stock cards, up to twice per hand. Once your contract is down, you can no longer buy.
  5. Lay off and discardAdd to any open meld after going down, then discard. In round 7, meld every card with no discard.
Watch the rules

Shanghai Rummy Rules, Demonstrated

Each replay shows one complete rule with the same cards and decisions used by the game. Written explanations remain available when reduced motion is enabled.

Rule 1

Group equal ranks into a set

A Shanghai set uses three or more cards with the same rank. Suits do not matter, and the two-deck game can contain duplicate suits.

Valid set8♣ 8♦ 8♠
Rule 2

Build a four-card run in one suit

A run needs at least four consecutive cards in the same suit. Aces are high in this version, so J♥ Q♥ K♥ A♥ is valid.

Rule 3

Use a Joker for one missing card

A Joker can replace one missing rank in a set or run. Each individual meld may contain no more than one Joker.

Wild run5♣ 6♣ Joker 8♣
Rule 4

Call May I? to buy out of turn

When the active opponent passes the visible discard, the table pauses. Choose Buy +2 to take it and two unseen penalty cards. You may buy twice in each hand, but only before your contract is down.

BuyTake the face-up card plus two stock cards. The interrupted turn then continues.
Rule 5

Lay off, then keep a final discard

After your contract is down, add legal cards to any tabled meld. You still need a final card to place on the discard pile when going out.

Lay offAdd 9♥ to a 5-6-7-8 Hearts run. Go outDiscard the final unmatched card.
Seven hands

Shanghai Rummy Contracts in Order

Every player receives 11 cards. Complete the entire contract before laying off other cards. Each player may buy a passed discard twice per hand and takes two penalty cards with it.

  1. 12 sets of 311 cards
  2. 21 set of 3 + 1 run of 411 cards
  3. 32 runs of 411 cards
  4. 43 sets of 311 cards
  5. 52 sets of 3 + 1 run of 411 cards
  6. 61 set of 3 + 2 runs of 411 cards
  7. 73 runs of 4Meld every card; no discard
Beginner playbook

Best Shanghai Rummy Decisions

  1. Read the whole contractA useful set is not enough if the same hand also requires a run.
  2. Prefer connected cardsMiddle cards can extend a same-suit run in two directions.
  3. Take a helpful discardA visible card that completes a contract group is stronger than a blind stock draw.
  4. Protect your JokerUse wild cards to bridge difficult gaps, not to replace easy natural cards too early.
  5. Reduce expensive deadwoodDiscard unusable Jokers and aces before an opponent ends the hand.
Penalty points

Shanghai Rummy Scoring

Count only cards left in hand. The player who goes out adds zero. Everyone else adds the penalty value of every remaining card to the running match total.

Shanghai Rummy card values
2 through 75 points each
8 through King10 points each
Ace20 points
Joker50 points
How does the match end? After contract 7, the player with the lowest accumulated penalty total wins.

Controls, Hints, and Table Flow

Table flow

Follow the numbered hint trail

Choose Hint when the next move is unclear. The table marks the source as 1, the destination as 2, then draws a gold trail between them.

  1. DrawChoose Stock or the visible Discard.
  2. BuildSelect the full contract, or lay off after going down.
  3. ArrangeDrag cards into your preferred order. Double-click a card to discard it after drawing.
  4. DiscardFinish every turn with one selected card.

For another exact-contract format, play Liverpool Rummy. For changing wild ranks, try Three Thirteen Rummy, or explore the full Rummy games collection.

Need Help?

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