Looking for a card game that combines light strategy, a dash of chaos, and just the right amount of family-friendly competitiveness?

This is your go-to guide on how to play Frustration Rummy — including the basics, rules, scoring system, fun house rule twists, and why it’s a must-have in your family game night lineup.

Game Basics

Players: 2–6 (best with 3–5)
Decks: 2 standard 52-card decks + Jokers (include 4 total)
Ages: 8+
Play Time: 30–90 minutes
Extras: Pen & paper, scorecard, or a custom round tracker set (like ours!)

Frustration Rummy is a variation of Contract Rummy with escalating difficulty. Players must complete a set sequence of card combinations (called “contracts”) across multiple rounds. You don’t move on until you complete your current round, which leads to… You guessed it: Frustration.

How the Game is Played

Each player is trying to complete a specific card combination (or contract) each round. These combinations get harder as you progress.

A round goes like this:

1. Deal cards (usually 13 cards per player).
2. On your turn, draw one card from the deck or discard pile.
3. Try to build the required contract (a set, a run, or both).
4. Once you complete your contract, lay it down.
5. You can also play on other people’s cards once you’ve laid down.
6. Discard one card to end your turn.
7. The round ends when someone goes out (uses or discards all their cards).
8. Players who didn’t complete the contract must replay the same round.

The Rounds & Required Contracts

These can vary depending on your house rules, but here’s a popular 10-round format:

1. 3 sets of 3 (e.g., three 5’s, three Queens and three 8’s)
2. 1 set of 3 + 1 run of 4
3. 2 sets of 3 + 1 run of 4
4. 2 sets of 4
5. 2 runs of 4
6. 4 sets of 3
7. 1 set of 3 + 1 run of 7
8. 3 sets of 4
9. 3 runs of 4
10. 2 sets of 5
11. 2 runs of 5
12. 2 sets of 4 + 1 run of 4
13. 2 runs of 4 + 1 set of 4
14. 1 set of 3 + 1 run of 9

Definitions:

• Set: 3+ cards of the same rank (e.g., 8♣ 8♥ 8♠)
• Run: 4+ sequential cards of the same suit (e.g., 4♦ 5♦ 6♦ 7♦)
• Jokers: Wild and can be used as any card, but some house rules restrict them

Scoring the Game

Some families just play to see who finishes first. Others go full strategy mode with score tracking.

Card point values:

• 2–9: 5 points
• 10–K: 10 points
• Aces: 15 points
• Jokers: 20 points

Each round, players who don’t go out tally points for cards remaining in their hand. Lowest score at the end wins. Or they just use scoring for bragging rights and tie-breakers.

House Rules That Keep It Fun

Here’s where you make Frustration Rummy truly your own. These optional twists keep things fresh and help level the playing field.

• Catch-Up Rule: If you are keeping score: If the player with the highest score after adding that rounds points to each players score, they can skip ahead one contract.
• Frustration Flip: Fail to complete the same round 3 times? Move backward one round.
• Joker Tax: If you are keeping score: For every joker in your hand at the end of the round, add +30 points (not 20) to your score.
• Fast Track Variant: Limit contracts to first 9 rounds for a quicker game.

Why this Game Belongs in Your Family Game Nights Rotation

• Scales well by age: Kids 8+ can grasp the basics. Adults stay invested thanks to the evolving challenge.
• Strategic but forgiving: There’s luck, but smart plays and planning matter.
• House rules = infinite replayability: You can tweak the rounds, scoring, and more.
• It gets personal: The “you beat me to round 7 again?!” energy fuels rematches for weeks.

Looking to keep everyone on track without constantly asking “what round are we on?” Check out the Frustration Rummy Round Trackers that our friends at The Riverside Realm produce. They have several different levels with everything you need to play in style.

Bonus: Love Rummy? Try These Variants Next

If you’re hooked on Frustration Rummy, you might also like:

• Progressive Rummy: Similar rounds, but with player-specific contracts and wild scoring
• 500 Rummy: Focuses on melds, point totals, and picking from the discard pile
• Contract Rummy: A bit more structured and formalized
• Treppenrommé (German Rummy): Advanced, combo-heavy version that’s wild fun for experienced players. More on these coming soon!

Final Thoughts

Frustration Rummy is one of those rare card games that hits the sweet spot: easy enough for beginners, strategic enough for veterans, and chaotic enough to create inside jokes that stick around.

Make it a weekly tradition, teach the kids, twist the rules — whatever works for your family. And if all else fails, blame the jokers.

Do You Play Frustration Rummy? Tell us Your Thoughts… 
Comment Below or Post in our Facebook Community — we’d love to hear more!