Rummy Glossary: Key Terms and Phrases in a Rummy Game
Are you confused about the terms used in a rummy game? Do you find it difficult to understand what is a sequence or a set?
Don’t worry, as we will make everything clear here. You will learn about common rummy terms and be able to play the game more confidently.
So, let’s start with our rummy glossary.
101 Pool Rummy
The objective of 101 pool rummy is to score the lowest points. Players are eliminated from the match if they cross 101 points.
The game keeps on going till only one player is remaining. They are the winner.
13-Card Rummy
It is the most common version of rummy in India. You get 13 cards during a deal, and your goal is to create two sequences. One of them must be a pure sequence.
The rest of your cards can be sorted in sequences or sets.
201 Pool Rummy
201 pool rummy has the same rules as 101 pool rummy. However, players are removed from the game if they cross 201 points (instead of 101 points in 101 pool rummy).
61 Pool Rummy
The objective of pool rummy is to score the lowest points. Players are eliminated from the match if they cross 61 points.
The game keeps on going till only one player is remaining. They are the winner.
Aces
Rummy is played with one or more decks of cards. It contains four suits – hearts 💗, diamonds 🔶, spades ♠, and clubs ♣.
Aces are the cards marked with “A.”
Example: A💗, A🔶, A♠, and A♣.
An ace has 10 points in a rummy game. It can also serve as the wild card if the wild joker is a printed joker.
Best of Three
A best-of-three game happens for three deals only. The Player who earns the most chips from opponents is the winner.
Buy-In
It refers to the entry fee of a rummy cash tournament. Every player has to pay a fee to participate in the game.
All the “buy-ins” are added to create the prize pool, which the winner takes.
Cash Games
A rummy cash game is played with real money. Winners also receive their winnings in real cash.
Chips
Chips are digital coins used in rummy.
Closed Deck
The closed deck is the pile of cards kept face-down on the table. They are the cards remaining after dealing the hands to all players.
Each player picks a card from the closed deck during the game. It is reshuffled when all the cards are drawn.
Deals Rummy
It is a rummy game with a set number of deals. Players pay a fee to join a game and get a number of chips.
The player who wins a deal gets all the chips from opponents. The player with the maximum chips at the end of the game wins.
Dealing
It refers to the act of handing out cards to all players after the toss.
Deck
A rummy game may use one or two decks of cards. Each player receives 13 cards in a deal.
Declare
A player can declare in rummy when they have a valid hand made of two sequences, one being a pure sequence.
The rest of the cards may be in sets or sequences.
Discard
Each player has to put down a card from their hand after picking one from the closed pile. The act of putting down a card on the open deck is called discarding.
Discard Pile or Open Deck
The discard pile is the open deck. It is formed when players discard their cards during a game. The deck is kept open, and the top card is visible.
Players can also pick a card from the open deck during their turn.
Draw
It refers to the process of picking a card from the open or closed pile.
Drop
Players can quit a game by tapping the “Drop” button during a rummy game.
Face Cards
Aces, kings, queens, and jacks of all suits are known as face cards.
Hand
A player receives 13 cards during a deal which makes a hand.
Impure Sequence
Three or more consecutive cards of the same suit and a joker form an impure sequence.
Example: 5🔶, 6🔶, 7🔶, K♠
(K♠ is the wild card)
Joker
A joker is a wild card in rummy. It can be used to form an impure sequencing by replacing any missing card.
Example: A💗, 2💗, 3💗, K♠
(K♠ is the wild card)
Points
All cards carry points in rummy:
- Aces, kings, queens, and jacks – 10 points each
- Joker – 0 points
- All other cards – points are the face value of cards (10♠ = 10 points)
Points Rummy
It is a rummy cash game and has only one deal. All points have a pre-decided cash value.
Pure Sequence
A pure sequence is made of three or more succeeding cards of the same suit.
Rummy Tournament
A rummy tournament has several rounds. It can be free or have a buy-in. The top performer of all rounds wins the tournament.
Set
A set contains three or more cards of the same value. It may or may not have a joker.
Example:
- A💗, A🔶, A♠
- A💗, A🔶, 5♠
(5♠ is the joker)
Shuffling
Shuffling is the process of mixing the cards before dealing a hand and reforming the closed deck.
Suit
A deck of 52 cards contains four suits of 13 cards each. Every suit has the same symbol and colour.
They are – hearts 💗, diamonds 🔶, spades ♠, and clubs ♣.
Unmatched/Invalid Cards
The cards that don’t form a sequence or set are invalid or unmatched cards.
Wild Card
The wild card is a card that is drawn at the start of the game, which can be used as a joker. It can be used to create an impure sequence or set.
A rummy game has several terms you need to understand to play like an expert.