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Shanghai Rummy
1987
Rules assistance for Shanghai Rummy
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with saved question history.
Rules assistant for Shanghai Rummy
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Shanghai Rummy is a board game released in 1987 for 2–6 players, 40 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement.
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About the game
An abstract strategy game with traditional card suits as scoring symbols. The game is played on a 7x7 grid with 56 tiles, which means that seven tiles (called "cards" in the game) will be left over from each game. Each player always holds 3 tiles in hand and the tiles have a random set of four traditional card suits, one in each corner. When placing a tile the trick is to think about it's orientation when placed next to any other previously placed tile on the board (as the rules stipulate) so that together with some previously placed tile(s) it forms at least one diagonal or straight row of a minimum of 3 of the same symbol. Diagonal rows are more worthy than straight ones, as they give 2 points per symbol as opposed to just 1. There are two types of special square on the board which may give bonus points to the player who manages to cover them with a tile; a bonus point square of 5/10/15 points is achieved if the number printed on it is exactly covered by a symbol which is part of a scoring row when the tile is placed, and a suit bonus square gives 3 points per each of that suit on the tile that is used to cover it. When players can no longer draw new tiles in their hand, the game continues until the board is full and the winner is the player with most points. Parenthetically this game is neither a Rummy, nor is it from Shanghai.
Editions
- Shanghai RummyAlga1987
- Shanghai RummyAlga1987
Questions and answers
Shanghai Rummy supports 2–6 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 Shanghai Rummy is 40 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 Shanghai Rummy for ages 8 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.
Shanghai Rummy has a complexity rating of 1.5 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.
Shanghai Rummy belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement. 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 Shanghai Rummy 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.