The American game of Rummy was derived from Mexican Conquian after 1900 and the name "Rhum" or "Rhummy" had appeared by 1905.

[1] As Rommee, the game arrived in Germany from Austria and its rules were first recorded in 1933.

[3][4] The aim of Rommé is to organise one's hand into sets or runs and to meld them by placing them on the table.

The other players sit to the left of the dealer in the order of the rank of the cards drawn.

The remaining cards are placed face down in the middle of the table as a Stoß (i.e. a talon or stock, pronounced "shtowss") and the top card is turned and placed beside the stock to form the waste pile.

This is known as robbing or plundering (rauben), not to be confused with the rule allowing a joker to be exchanged (see below).

The card values are as follows:[5] The dealer goes first and begins by laying out any melds, provided the requirement for the first meld is met, and ends by placing a card face-up next to the pile ("discards").

[6] The player who is first to get rid of all cards by melding and/or laying off and, if need be, placing a last card face down (verdeckt) on the discard pile, while announcing "Rommé" - to signify the end of the game - wins the game.