Should you play 2-player or 6-player rummy?

Each type of rummy table has its own advantages. Whether you play on a 2-player table or a 6-player table, it all depends on what you’re looking for. Here are a few pointers that will help you decide:

2-player table

Faster games: Since it’s just 2 players on the table, the games will finish much faster. And this holds true for every format of rummy.

Lower prize pool: A disadvantage of playing on 2-player tables is having a smaller prize pool as compared to a 6-player table. This means that you might need to play more games to get the same profit.

Drop confusion: In a 2-player game, dropping from a deal is not that obvious. You see when 6 players are there and you think you do not have great cards, the right decision is to drop from that deal because the probability of at least one player having great cards is higher.

You both can block each other: A 2-player table enables a heads-up game, which means there are only two players facing each other. This results in you guessing what your opponent is trying to make and vice-versa, you both can block the creation of valid groups for each other by not discarding the cards that the other player needs.

6-player table

Slower games: You will need to wait for the turn of 5 other players before you get into action again. But, this also gives you more time to think about your next move.

Bigger prize pool: The biggest advantage of playing on a 6-player table is the prize pool. The Buy-In of 6 players is pooled together for the prize money whereas in a 2-player table it’s just 2 players pooling in their Buy-in.

Easier to drop: As mentioned above, it’s easier to drop on a 6-player table. Especially when you are the last one to take a turn and you see none of the other players have dropped, it’s smarter to just drop your cards if you do not have something great.

Split winnings (Pool rummy): Another advantage of playing on 6-player tables is that you can split your winnings with other players. Please note, this can only happen in a Pool rummy game. For example, let’s say you are playing on a 6-player Pool 61 table and 3 players have been eliminated, then the remaining 3 players will get an option to split the winnings amongst themselves. A split only happens if all the participating players agree to it.

What should you choose?

A 6-player table suits a new player. You get more time to think while you get used to the gameplay and the rules of the rummy game. You should opt for a 2-player table if you are not a beginner at rummy and want to always be in action. But, the best way to use the tables to your advantage is choosing to play on multiple 6-player tables at once.

Playing on multiple 6-player tables not only keeps you in action but also gives you the chance to win more in less time. Here’s a quick glance at the advantages and disadvantages of 2-player and 6-player tables.

Type	Speed	Winnings	Split winnings
2-player	Fast 🏎️	Low 💸	No 👎
6-player	Slow 🐢	High 💰💰	In Pool games 🤝