What is the Hand card game?
Hand—often called Hand Rummy—is a rummy-style card game popular across Arab countries. Players draw and fire cards while building valid runs and sets. The goal is to empty your hand and finish the selected match with the lowest penalty score.
Cards and the deal
The classic game uses two standard 52-card decks plus two jokers. Each player receives 14 cards. The starting player receives a fifteenth card and begins by firing one card, after which play continues around the table.
Runs and sets
Run
Three or more consecutive cards of the same suit, such as 7♥–8♥–9♥. An Ace may be low or high, but cannot wrap from King to Two.
Set
Three or four cards of the same rank in different suits, such as 8♠–8♦–8♥.
Draw, arrange, open and fire
- Draw one card from the face-down deck or take the visible Fire card.
- Arrange your cards into possible runs and sets.
- Meld valid groups when eligible, or add cards to table melds after opening.
- Fire exactly one card to end your turn.
Why do you need 51 points?
Your first opening in a round must contain one or more valid melds worth at least 51 points. Aces count 11, K/Q/J count 10, and numbered cards count their face value. After you open, you may add suitable cards to melds already on the table.
Using and replacing jokers
A joker may represent a missing natural card. In a run, the exact natural card may replace it and release the joker. In an equal-rank set, the joker may be reclaimed only after the set contains four cards, and only by playing the exact missing suit. The released joker must be reused legally before the player fires a card.
Lowest score wins
A round ends when a player legally disposes of every card. A winner who had already opened receives a 30-point deduction; a winner who finishes without a previous opening receives a 60-point deduction. A player who did not open receives 200 penalty points. For a player who opened, the values of all remaining cards are added and doubled. A remaining Joker counts 10 before doubling, an Ace counts 11, face cards count 10, and number cards keep their face value. The lowest total after the selected 1 to 20 rounds wins.
Preparing is not the same as applying
At the beginning of a round, MJLIS may detect legal runs and sets in your hand and place them in the Meld Workspace as a suggestion. Nothing is sent to the table automatically. You may edit every group or tap a staged card to return it to your hand.
Add Group
Creates another area for a run or set.
Clear
Returns all staged cards to your hand. It does not undo melds already applied to the table.
Apply Melds
Sends legal groups to the table during your turn after drawing. A first opening requires at least 51 points and every group must be legal.
Apply Melds remains unavailable when it is not your turn, you have not drawn, a staged group is invalid, or your first opening is below 51 points.
Suit, Rank and Undo Sort
♦ Suit
Sorts the hand by suit and then by rank within each suit.
123 Rank
Sorts from Ace through King and places equal ranks beside one another.
↶ Undo
Restores the hand order that existed before the most recent sort or hand rearrangement. It does not return a card from the Meld Workspace or undo a draw, Fire, layoff or applied meld.
Tap one staged card to return it, or use Clear to return every card from the Workspace.
Joining modes and turn time
Private table
Join by Room Code or invitation link.
Public with approval
A player requests a seat and the host accepts or rejects the request.
Public with automatic joining
A player enters an available seat immediately. Join Any prioritizes the fullest automatic table, then an approval table.
MJLIS supports two to four players and 1 to 20 rounds. Turn time may be 60, 90 or 120 seconds, or unlimited. Bot practice is unlimited. When time expires, MJLIS performs a safe move; after three missed turns, automatic assistance activates for that seat. If a player leaves an active game, MJLIS AUTO completes the seat so the round can continue.
Gameplay and control FAQ
How many cards does each player receive?
Each player receives 14 cards. The starting player begins with 15 and fires one card.
Are suggested melds applied automatically?
No. They are staged in the Workspace and reach the table only after you select Apply Melds.
Why did Undo not return my card?
Undo restores hand arrangement only. Tap the card in the Workspace to return it.
How many players does MJLIS support?
MJLIS tables support two to four players.
Is MJLIS free?
Yes. MJLIS is free to play in a modern browser and requires no download.
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