Common Rummy Terms used while playing rummy you should know about

In India, people mostly play Indian rummy, a 13-card variation of traditional rummy. With multiple online platforms promoting online rummy games and how-to-play tutorials, people have begun to participate in online tournaments. But if you are new to the game, rummy terms used by regulars could throw you off your game. Before you learn how to play rummy, Here is a list of the most commonly used rummy terms.

13-Card Rummy: 

In a rummy variant, where each player is dealt 13 cards, which needs to be arranged into sequences and sets.

Ace: 

Ace has the highest rank. Its rank depends on its position in a sequence. High-J,K ,Q,A ; Low-A, 2, 3,4 

Buy-in:

A buy-in refers to the entry fee that a player has to pay during a cash tournament. The buy-ins from different players decide the size of the prize pool. Be sure to check the buy-in before entering a tournament. 

Deck:

A deck is a pack of 52 standard playing cards. A closed deck of cards in rummy terms refers to face-down cards, which are left after the deal has split the deck to deal the cards. Players may pick a card from the closed deck or discarded pile during their turn. 

Discard:

In rummy terms as dicards refers to the card the player discards after picking up a card. At all times the player can have only 13 cards in their hand. To win in rummy games, a player has to place a card face down to declare rummy. 

Deadwood:

In rummy games, Deadwood is a rummy term that describes unmatched cards. These cards don’t belong to any set or sequence and can invite penalty points.

Deal:

In rummy games, dealing refers to the distribution of cards by dealers. In rummy terms, A dealer refers to a designated person responsible for dealing cards and keeping track of the game.

Declare:

A declaration is an announcement that is made when you believe that your valid sequences and sets will win the rummy game. In 13 card rummy, the 14th card needs to be placed down to make the announcement. 

Hand:

A hand refers to the pile of cards that are presented to each player at the beginning of the game. The hand needs to be arranged into sets and sequences.

Impure and Pure Sequence: 

An impure sequence is a collection of 3 or more consecutive cards that belong to the same suit and/or may contain a joker. A pure sequence is a collection of 3 or more consecutive cards without a joker.

Joker:

In rummy terms, joker refers to an alternate to a missing card in a sequence or set. 

There are two types of jokers in rummy: printed jokers and wildcard jokers. A printed joker is the card that comes as part of the pack. The dealer chooses a face or numeric card in addition to a wildcard joker.

Rummy Melds:

Melds refers to cards that are to be arranged into valid sequences and sets. Melds can be in a group of three or more cards, for example, 9, 9, or 9 in different suits. It could also be a sequence of 3 or more consecutive numeric/face cards with the same suit. 

Set:

In rummy terms, a set is a collection of three or four cards of the same rank but of different suits. A set is part of a valid declaration.

Sequence: 

In rummy terms, a sequence is a collection of consecutive cards of the same suit. There are two types of sequences: pure and impure. To have a valid rummy declaration, you need to have one pure sequence; otherwise, it will be considered invalid, and you may lose the game. 

Suit:

In rummy terms, a suit defines which family the cards belong to- colour or symbol. The suits are hearts, diamonds, spades, and clubs.

Unmatched Cards:

Unmatched cards are those that are not part of any set or sequence at the end of the rummy game.

Wild Joker: 

When the dealer has dealt all of the cards to the players, the dealer can choose a wild joker. The wildjoker can be used as a replacement for a missing card in sequence or a set.

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