Sequences and Sets in Rummy
Every rummy hand is built from two kinds of groups: sequences and sets. Knowing exactly what counts – and what doesn’t – is the difference between a winning show and an 80-point penalty.
On this page 6 sections
In all examples on this page, the wild joker rank is 7. So every seven is a wild joker, shown with a gold ring: 7♠7♥7♦7♣. The ★JKR is a printed joker.
Pure sequence
A pure sequence is three or more cards of the same suit in unbroken order, with no joker used as a substitute. It is the most important group in the game, because you can’t declare without one.
2♦3♦4♦ 9♣10♣J♣Q♣ 4♠5♠6♠7♠8♠
The last example is still pure. The 7♠ is a wild joker, but here it sits in its natural place between the six and the eight of spades. It isn’t pretending to be any other card, so the sequence stays pure.
A sequence can be as long as you like – three, four, five cards or more – as long as it stays in one suit and in order.
Ace in a sequence
The Ace can sit at either end:
A♥2♥3♥ valid (Ace low) Q♥K♥A♥ valid (Ace high)
But it can’t link the King to the Two:
K♥A♥2♥ invalid – sequences don’t wrap around.
Impure sequence
An impure sequence is three or more cards of the same suit in order, where one or more jokers fill gaps. The joker can be a printed joker or a wild joker.
9♦★JKRJ♦ – printed joker replaces 10♦
2♠3♠7♣ – wild joker replaces 4♠
J♥Q♥K♥7♦ – wild joker replaces A♥
3♣★JKR7♥6♣ – two jokers replace 4♣5♣
An impure sequence can serve as your second sequence, but never as the required pure one.
If you add a joker to a natural run, that whole group becomes impure. 4♦5♦6♦★JKR is impure. If 4♦5♦6♦ is your only pure sequence, keep the joker in a different group.
Sets
A set is three or four cards of the same rank, each from a different suit.
Q♠Q♥Q♦ 5♠5♥5♦5♣
Jokers can replace a missing card in a set:
Q♠Q♥★JKR 10♠10♦7♣ 3♠3♥3♣★JKR
The two-deck trap
Because the game uses two decks, you can hold two identical cards. They can’t go in the same set:
8♥8♥8♠ invalid – two hearts
8♥8♠8♦8♣8♥ invalid – five cards, and two hearts
A set has a maximum of four cards, one per suit. A spare duplicate has to go into a sequence or stay as a loose card.
Groups that are not valid
| Cards | Why it fails |
|---|---|
| 4♥5♠6♥ | Mixed suits in a sequence |
| 4♥6♥8♥ | Gaps with no joker to fill them |
| K♦A♦2♦ | Ace can’t wrap from King to Two |
| J♣Q♣ | Only two cards – every group needs at least three |
| 9♠9♠9♦ | Two cards of the same suit in a set |
| 6♣6♦6♥6♠7♥ | A set can’t have more than four cards |
The declaration rule
To declare (show) your hand, all 13 cards must be in valid groups, and you need:
- at least two sequences, and
- at least one pure sequence among them.
Everything else can be any mix of sequences and sets. Here are some hands to test yourself on.
Valid declarations
Two pure sequences and two sets
2♣3♣4♣ 8♥9♥10♥J♥ K♠K♦K♣ 5♠5♥5♦
One pure, one impure, two sets
Q♦K♦A♦ 4♠5♠★JKR7♠ 9♥9♣9♦ J♣J♠7♥
(In the impure sequence the printed joker stands for the six; the 7♠ is natural, but the group already has a joker in it, so it counts as impure.)
Three sequences and one set
6♦7♦8♦ 10♠J♠Q♠K♠ 2♥3♥★JKR A♥A♣A♠
Four sequences, no set
3♥4♥5♥ 9♣10♣J♣ 5♦6♦7♣ J♠Q♠K♠A♠
Invalid declarations
No pure sequence
3♥4♥★JKR 9♣7♦J♣ K♠K♦K♣ 5♠5♥5♦5♣
Both sequences need a joker. Invalid.
Only one sequence
3♥4♥5♥ K♠K♦K♣ 9♠9♥9♦ 2♠2♥2♦2♣
One pure sequence, three sets. You need a second sequence. Invalid.
A bad group hidden inside
3♥4♥5♥ 9♣10♣J♣ Q♠Q♠Q♦ 6♣6♦6♥6♠
The queens have two spades. Invalid.
A loose card left over
3♥4♥5♥ 9♣10♣J♣Q♣ K♠K♦K♣ 2♠2♥ A♦
The last three cards don’t form a group. Invalid.
Unsure about a hand from your own game? Enter it in the hand checker and it will tell you whether it can be declared.
FAQ
What is the difference between a pure and an impure sequence?
A pure sequence uses only natural cards in their real places. An impure sequence uses at least one joker to stand in for a missing card. You need at least one pure sequence to declare.
Can I make a pure sequence with a printed joker?
No. A printed joker always stands in for some other card, so any sequence that contains one is impure.
Can a set have two cards of the same suit?
No. Even though two decks are used, each card in a set must be from a different suit. That also means a set can have at most four cards.
Do I need any sets to declare?
No. Sets are optional. A hand of four sequences is perfectly valid, as long as one of them is pure.
Can a sequence have more than one joker?
Yes. A sequence can contain several jokers, as long as there are enough natural cards for it to be clear which run it is. It will always count as impure.