The Complete Guide to Rummy The card game rummy date back to the early 1800s and has been a favorite among players for centuries. Even though the game's exactsattakig origins are a little unclear, it is generally accepted that Rummy developed from a number of earlier card games, such as the Spanish game "Conquian," which is frequently mentioned as a forerunner. Many of the mechanics used in contemporary Rummy were first introduced in Conquian, a game played with a 40-card deck.