If a player has a run of ((4/black 2/6/7)(of clubs)) and another play has a 5 of clubs, he may switch the black 2 with the 5 of clubs and move it either to the top or to the bottom of the run. However he may lay the same number of jokers or black 2's as face-cards (8/8/joker/joker). But a player cannot lay more jokers or black 2's than face-cards (8/joker/joker). But if a player has a joker or 2 he could play in place of an 8 (8/8/joker).

An example of this would be if one is trying to get a set he must have three or more cards of the same rank (8/8/8). A player is not allowed to have more jokers or 2's than face-cards in either a set or run. Jokers and black 2s are wild cards and can be played in the place of any card. Once a player discards their card the card underneath that card is now considered a 'dead' card because it is no longer in the game. To get a card that isn't yours a player must say, “BUY', before the next player draws their card, or else it is already considered 'dead'. That card then becomes the new upcard, which the next player in turn can take or other players can buy. (Also, the other players in the game have the ability to get the up card.) After the player draws his card, either from the deck or the upcard, he must then choose any card in his hand to discard, and he then places this card face up on the discard pile. They may either pick up one new card from the top of the deck or take the upcard. This card is called the upcard and becomes the beginning of the discard pile.Įach player has a choice at the beginning of their turn. One card is taken from the top of the deck and placed face up next to it. The rest of the deck is then placed face down in the middle of the players this is referred to as the deck. Each player is dealt eleven cards for the 10 rounds. One person begins as dealer for the first hand, and then the person to the dealer's left becomes dealer for the next hand, and so on. Aces are high (above a King) or low, (below 2), and Jokers and black twos are wild cards.(red twos are just playing cards) Each game has 10 hands, and the rules for each hand are unique. Two decks are required for game of up to four players. Shanghai rum is played with multiple decks of 54 standard playing cards, including the Jokers. Shanghai rum is a Rummy card game, based on gin rummy and a variation of Contract rummy played by 3 to 8 players.

A meld of four cards in the game Shanghai rum

Shanghai game card