Game Analysis: a variation of Rummy(card game)

General:
This game is a variation of card game Rummy. The game is played with 2 or more people , the aim of the game is to get rid of all the cards in hand. Cards have numeral values of their number and face cards have the value of 10.

steps:
1.from a shuffle deck of cards, player1 gets 13 cards and other players gets 11 cards. and the rest are stock deck faced down.

it it closed hand(players dont know what other person has in his hands just should see the number of cards)

2.player1 discards 2 cards by her choice into discard deck

the looping part:
3.player either can choose the last discarded card to pick or take one from the common deck

4.player CAN(dont have to) lay down a set of cards with either of these conditions:

-three or more cards from same suit are sequential(for example 2,3,4 from same suit)

-three or more cards have the same number or same face(for example 8,8,8 or three kings)

*the condition for the step4 is that the first time one does it, the lay down set should add up to at least 30 based on cards' numerical values.

**jokers are considered wildcard and can fit anywhere

5. Player CAN(dont have to) add some of her cards to the sets of cards laying on the ground if the cards goes with the suit and sequence or has the same face/number

6. Player can take a joker from the laying down cards and replace it with the fitting card

7. player should discards one card from her hand to the discard deck

8.the winner is the player that gets rid of the cards fastest. And the rest of players will count the value of their hands. the player that has not laid down any set will get 80 point automatically.




Game Analysis:
Type of game:

-Non-cooperative (it is a competitive game, no teaming up unless people want to help each other out),

-Symmetrical (rules are same for all)

-Zero-sum(there is definitely a winner)

-Sequential(players take turn in action)

-Games with imperfect information(players don't see each others hands)

-not sure if it is "Combinatorial" or "Infinitely long" although it can not go on for ever if players actually want to win. Maybe this phenomenon does not apply to this game.




Winning strategy:

If we start the game with the mind-set of perfectly logical players and no personal background information on other players:

I have not found a sure way to win but:

-Discard any card that its possible set-mates, are gone to discard already

-It is wise to lay the first +30 set ASP to avoid 80 point

-If had the choice, discard the cards with highest value first

-If laying a set with joker, place joker in place of the card that you are sure is discarded