Common Online Rummy Terms With Their Meanings

All indoor games and outdoor games have their own specific terminology. Complete knowledge of the terms used in online rummy can improve your understanding of this game. If you want to learn how to play Rummy or are new to the game, it is a good idea to go through the terms that are used frequently. All formats of rummy on most online Rummy portals (Pool, Point, Deal, and Rummy tournaments) use the terms listed below.

Draw – Either you pick a card or you discard a card. Every time you pick a card at the time of your move it is termed as a draw. In every game there is one picking slot and one discarding slot.

Discard – When you place the card in the discarding pile, you discard it because it is of no use to you. In simple words, to discard is to get rid of a card.

Joker – The printed joker of the deck is used in the game. It has no points. To make the game interesting, one wild card is picked at the beginning of the game and it is treated as a joker. The three other cards of this particular number are treated as jokers and they do have points. All Joker cards can be used to form impure sets and sequences.

Declare – If the player wishes to end the game, when they have met the purpose of the game that means they have formed all the sequences and sets, they declare the game. Surprisingly, this can happen even on the very first move as the cards may already be in proper order.

Round – While playing online rummy all players make their moves turn by turn. When all the players finish making their first move it is termed as the first round. Each rummy game can last for as long as 13 rounds as there are 13 cards in each players hand or the game may end within 3 to 4 rounds as well.

Drop – Players can stop playing the game any time they want. This is usually because they have too many unformed sets and sequences of cards in their hand. They may have very high and bad cards or they do not possess the skill to meld them before their opponents. Players get pre-decided points in case of a drop. A player will collect minimum points if they choose to drop before or at the time of their first turn.

Meld – When cards are formed into sets and sequences then it is termed as a meld.

Show – There can be valid as well as an invalid show. Valid show means all the cards are melded into proper sequences and sets. Invalid show means that few of the cards are not properly melded and the player has made a show.

Deck of cards – It is the number of cards used in a particular game. In one deck there are 52 cards and one printed joker. In two decks there are 104 along with two printed jokers. In three decks there are 156 cards along with three printed jokers.

First life – When the player drops the game at the very first move it is termed as first life as he or she gets 20 points and he or she is capable of playing in the second deal.

Second life – The player has the option to drop the game whenever he wishes. If he or she drops after the first move then he or she gets 40 points and it is termed as second life or middle drop.

Practice Game – When the players are allowed to play all the versions of the game, Points, Pool and Deals rummy, without paying any match fee than it is termed as a practice game. Free rummy games are played with practice chips which do not cost you anything. Some practice chips are allotted to you when you register at a rummy site for the first time. If you run out, you can request for some more to be credited to your account. The practice chips cannot be redeemed for cash at any time.