Rummy is a family of card games where players try to form sets or sequences of cards. In most versions, you win by collecting groups of matching cards (like three 7s) or runs of cards in order (like 5-6-7 of hearts). Players take turns drawing cards from a deck and discarding ones they don't need, trying to be the first to arrange all their cards into valid combinations.

What makes rummy appealing is its balance of luck and strategy: you need good cards, but you also need to watch what other players are picking up and discarding, because that gives you clues about what combinations they're building.

There are dozens of rummy variations played around the world. Gin rummy is popular in America, while Rummikub is a related game that uses tiles instead of cards. Some versions are quick games for two players, while others work better with larger groups. Many families have their own house rules that make their version unique.

Learning rummy teaches useful skills like pattern recognition, planning ahead, and noticing subtle signals from other players' choices. Once you understand the basic concept of forming sets and runs, you can adapt to almost any rummy variation.