Game rule rummoli

Rummoli can be played by two to eight players on the "Rummoli" playing surface with a standard deck of playing cards minus the Joker and counters or chips. The players cut the cards to determine the dealer of the original hand- Ace is high. The playing chips or counters are divided evenly among the players. Each player places a counter on each of the nine sections of the playing cover and the dealer deals out the cards, one at a time, dealing an extra hand which is known as the "Widow".

After looking at the cards in his own hand, the dealer may, if he so desires, exchange his hand for the "Widow", but must not look at the cards in the "Widow" before the exchange is made.

If the dealer decides to play his original hand, he may auction the "Widow" to the highest bidder among the other players, and he, of course, keeps the proceeds. Any player making an exchange of his hand for the "Widow" must accept the "Widow" even though it should turn out to be a poorer hand than his original hand.

The hand which is exchanged for the "Widow" is dead, and not used at all in the play. It should be placed face down so that the cards are not known to any other player. Each player selects from his hand the five cards which he thinks will make the most powerful poker hand and lays aside, for the time being, the remainder of his cards face down. Shuffle and deal all the cards; some players may have more than others.

In the first phase of the game, follow traditional poker rules. The player to the left of the dealer either bets or passes. Continue betting until players reach the agreed-upon limit. The winner collects the markers from the pot and plays his lowest card from the winning hand.

Play the next card in sequence with the discarded suit. If he does not wish to do so, he may auction off the widow, still without being seen, to any interested players the dealer keeps the chips paid in the auction.

If any player uses the widow, their original hand is placed aside, face down. Selecting the five best cards from their hand and temporarily discarding the rest, players ante up for a poker round. Starting with the dealer, players may raise the ante if they wish. All players that stayed in throughout the ante process reveal their cards and high hand takes the pot.

All poker hands are now discarded and the players return to the rest of their cards. Arranging their cards in suits, players begin the Rummy phase of the game. The Poker phase winner begins by placing the lowest value card in his hand face down on the table at any time if a player has a numerical sequence of the same suit, all cards can be played at once. Play passes to the left, with each player placing the next card in the suit on top of the pile, if they have it. Playing the ace of a suit or going around to each player and discovering that no one holds the next card in the numerical sequence of the suit breaks the play.

The player who played the last card discards the lowest card they have in a suit of a different color and play continues.