101 and 201 Pool Rummy Explained
Pool Rummy is Indian Rummy played over many hands. Instead of one hand deciding the winner, everyone collects penalty points until they reach a limit. Then they are out. The limit is the name: 101 or 201.
How a pool game works
Each hand is played like normal Indian Rummy. The winner of the hand scores 0, and every other player adds their penalty points to a running total. The first time your total reaches the limit, you are eliminated. The last player left, or the player with the lowest total when the others are out, wins.
101 pool vs 201 pool
| 101 pool | 201 pool | |
|---|---|---|
| Out at | 101 points | 201 points |
| First drop | 20 points | 25 points |
| Middle drop | 40 points | 50 points |
| Maximum for a hand | 80 points | 80 points |
| Length | Short, about 3 to 5 hands each | Longer, more room to recover |
Drop values vary between websites and house rules; these are the common ones, and they are the ones used on the Cheettukali table.
What is a Drop?
A drop means leaving the hand and taking a fixed penalty instead of playing. A first drop is made before you have drawn a card. A middle drop is made after you have started playing. They exist so that a bad deal costs 20 or 25 points instead of 80.
When to drop
- No pure sequence possibility and no joker in your starting 13.
- Your cards are all different suits and ranks with no connected cards.
- You are close to the limit and cannot afford an 80-point hand. Then a drop does not rescue you, but it may stop you being eliminated.
When not to drop
If you have one pure sequence or even two connected cards plus a joker, playing on is usually correct. Among average hands, dropping every time you feel unsure costs more than it saves: 20 points every hand is eliminated in five hands.
Strategy by game
101 pool is short. A single 80-point hand almost ends you, so avoid being caught without a pure sequence. 201 pool allows a recovery: two bad hands do not eliminate you, so you can play for more complete hands.
On the Cheettukali Indian Rummy table you can choose the target and the Drop button appears for your first turn.
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FAQ
What is the maximum penalty in a hand?
80 points in the standard rules.
How many points is a drop in 101 pool?
20 points for a first drop and 40 for a middle drop in the common rules. 201 pool uses 25 and 50.
Is 201 pool better for beginners?
It is more forgiving, because a couple of bad hands do not end your game.
Is pool rummy gambling?
At many websites it is played for money. On Cheettukali it is played only for fun against the computer.