
- BGG rank
- BGG #623
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Sheriff of Nottingham
- 3–5 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2014

1940
Rules assistance for Rummoli
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Rummoli is a board game released in 1940 for 2–8 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. Its main mechanics are Betting and Bluffing.
Rummoli is a mix of Poker and Rummy. Rummoli and Tripoley are variants of the same game, both of which are commercial names for Michigan Rummy. The difference is that in Rummoli, the A-K-Q-J-10 pay cards are Spade-Hearts-Clubs-Diamonds-Spades and you collect the payouts for the pay cards during play of the Michigan phase, while in Tripoley, they are all Hearts, and Tripoley adds 'Hearts' phase to the game, where players take payouts for simply being dealt the pay cards before play of the Poker phase commences. These games all derive from the card game Michigan (also known as Boodle, Stops, and Newmarket), which has only four pay cards (traditionally A Hearts-K Clubs-Q Diamonds-J Spades) and only the Michigan phase (with payouts during the play of the Michigan), and usually no pot -- instead, each play pays the winner one chip per card left in their hand.
Rummoli supports 2–8 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Rummoli is 60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Rummoli for ages 6 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Rummoli has a complexity rating of 1.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Rummoli belongs to these categories: Card Game and Bluffing. Its main mechanics are Betting and Bluffing. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The catalogue lists Rummoli as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.