Contract rummy card game, according to a famous card game specialist David Parlett (who has published his works which are now all in print), all variations date from the Contract Bridge boom in the 1930′s. It was thought that maybe the first version of contract rummy was called “Zioncheck” and was invented by Ruth Armson. This form of rummy only has six contracts.

Another expert stated that contract rummy became the most widespread card game played by womens clubs and organizations or groups that meet on a regular basis in the 1950s.

The name of the game is “contract” rummy and that give a major clue about the make up of the game. What makes contract unique amongst the rummy family is that there are several variations of the game each with its own individual set of rules.

Combination Rummy, Deuces Wild Rummy, Hollywood Rummy, Joker Rummy, Shanghai Rummy and Zioncheck are some of the other names of Contract rummy card game. Although there are various regional and local variations of the game some of the popular variations are:

1. Shanghai – The scoring of the game is much, much more wild, and more contracts compared to the other versions

2. Liverpool – These type of version has more jokers and fewer contracts involved

3. Progressive – With each hand the number of card deals increases

4. Carioca – It is played with 2 people, the South American version

5. Continental – It only has 1 contract

6. King – It is composed of 4 contracts

So all in all contract rummy is a very popular card game with lots of variety and many different ways to play. There’s enough scope there to satisfy most players at every level of ability.