The Complete Handbook of Rummy: History, Variations, Strategies, and More The card game rummy, which has enthralled players for centuries, has a rich & diverse past that dates back to the early 1800s. Although the rammy circalgame's exact origins are still somewhat unknown, it is generally accepted that Rummy developed from earlier card games like the Mexican-originated Conquian. Conquian, which uses similar card-melding techniques to create sets and runs, is frequently considered the forerunner of contemporary rummy. The wide variety of Rummy variations that we see today is the result of the game's many adaptations as it traveled across borders.