Rummy Glossary: Your Ultimate Guide to Rummy Terminology

A deck refers to a pack of cards. A regular deck consists of 52 cards. In 13-card rummy, two decks (including two printed Jokers) are used.

A suit is a set of 13 cards with the same color and symbol: Spades, Clubs, Hearts, and Diamonds. Every deck has four suits.

The dealer is the player who deals the cards at the start of the game. In online rummy, the dealer is decided automatically. In offline rummy, the players can choose the dealer or through a toss.

Dealing is the process of distributing cards to each player at the start of each round. After a dealer is chosen, the step of dealing takes place.

Shuffling is done to maintain the randomness of cards, either online or with physical cards. You can shuffle the cards by sliding them one over another repeatedly.

A hand refers to the cards dealt to a player at the start of the game. Players must arrange these cards into sequences and sets.

The closed Deck consists of face-down cards left after dealing. Players draw cards from this deck during their turns. Once all cards are drawn, the deck is reshuffled.

The discard pile or open deck consists of cards discarded by players. It's placed next to the closed deck and is used to draw cards during the game.

To declare, a player must complete the objective by discarding cards and getting their 13 cards arranged in various combinations of sequences and sets.

To draw means to pick a card from either the closed or open deck on your turn.

Discarding involves placing a card face-up on the open deck during your turn after drawing a card.

Face Cards include Kings, Queens, Aces, and Jacks of all suits.

A standard deck has 4 Aces, one in each suit: Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades. Aces can form low-value sequences like Ace-2-3 or high-value sequences like Ace-King-Queen.

Each card has a point value. Numbered cards equal their numbers; face cards (Joker, Queen, King, Ace) are 10 points each. Points in rummy are negative, with a successfully arranged hand scoring zero points.

A Joker card can substitute for any card to complete a sequence or set. For example, if you have 5, 7, and 8, you can use a Joker as 6.

The Wild Joker is a card selected after dealing that can replace any card to form a sequence or set.

The Printed Joker is a card marked as a Joker. There are two printed Jokers in addition to 52 cards in a deck. It can replace any card to form a sequence or set.

The buy-in or entry fee is the amount you pay to join a cash rummy tournament. The prize pool, which is awarded to the top players, is formed from this.

Cash rummy games involve playing with real money, and the winner takes home real cash after winning the tournament.

Chips are virtual money used in rummy games. For practice games, players receive free chips to sharpen and practice their rummy skills and strategies.

Melding is the process of arranging cards into valid sequences and sets.

Deadwood refers to unmatched cards not part of any set or sequence.
In other words, deadwood are cards a losing player still needs to arrange into sets or sequences.

A rummy set consists of three or four cards of the same rank but different suits.

A rummy sequence is a group of consecutive cards of the same suit, either pure or impure.

A pure sequence is a group of consecutive cards of the same suit without a wild or printed Joker.

An impure sequence is a group of consecutive cards of the same suit, including a wild or printed Joker.

In online rummy, players can click the "Drop" button to end the game or stop it altogether.

Full Count is the maximum points a player can score in a round, regardless of their cards' total value.

Rummy Tournaments are competitive events that can last up to 5 rounds. Players advance based on their chip count, and winners take home real money prizes. Tournaments can be free or cash-based.

13-Card Rummy requires players to arrange their 13 cards into sequences (with at least one pure sequence) or sequences and sets. It's a classic variant loved by many rummy players.

In Pool Rummy, players compete for a larger prize pool. The game continues until players reach specific points (e.g., 101 or 201) and get eliminated. The last player remaining wins.

In 101 Pool Rummy, the aim is to avoid elimination by keeping your score below 101 points. Players are eliminated when they reach 101 points, and the last remaining player wins. The losing players accumulate points based on the value of their unmatched cards at the end of each deal.

In 201 Pool Rummy, players are eliminated upon reaching 201 points. The last player standing without 201 points is the winner.

In Deals Rummy, players get a set number of chips for a fixed number of deals. After each deal, the winner collects chips from the losers. The player with the most chips at the end wins.

In this Deals Rummy variant, players compete in three rounds. The player with the most chips at the end of the rounds is declared the winner.

Points Rummy, also known as Strikes Rummy, is a fast-paced variant. Up to 6 players compete to meld their cards quickly. Each point has a rupee value, and losing players' points are based on unmatched cards.

Points Value is a pre-set value in rummy that helps determine winnings using the formula: Winnings = Sum of opponents' points x Value of each point in rupees – Platform Fee
We hope this rummy glossary/wiki helps you understand all the rummy terms. Try Rummy.com if you are looking to play online rummy. We offer a variety of rummy games and a safe gaming environment. Download the Rummy.com app on your device and enjoy unlimited fun and entertainment!