The game of Rummy might seem complicated to those who have not played it all. It is because there are several terms related to the game, which might confuse those who are not familiar with the concept of the game. Therefore, before thinking of diving into the depths of the game, one should get familiar with the basic terminologies associated with the game.
Ace
A deck of cards consists of a total of 52 cards. Out of the total 52 cards, there are a total of 4 cards, which are known as aces. Each ace can be used in two ways – Either as a card of a higher value or as the one with a lower value. Different sequences can be made to play in different situations.
Dealer
Every player has to pick one card at the beginning of a game. The player who picks the card, which holds the lowest value, usually acts as the dealer. It is up to the players to choose the dealers from amongst themselves. Different rules are set by the players, which lead to the decision of which player becomes the dealer. One famous rule is that the player who lost in the last match will become the dealer in the next game.
Discard / Lay-Off
If the type is a 13 Cards Rummy Game, a player is supposed to pick the 14th card after he has been dealt with the customary 13 cards. The card can be picked from the pile of cards. The discarded may be the same as one from among the cards the user already has. Thus, the discard pile consists of cards that have been discarded by the players.
Discard and Draw Pile
The player picks the 14th card from a certain pile. That specific pile consists of all the cards which have been discarded earlier by the other players. That pile is known as a Discard Pile. On the other hand, the cards which have not been distributed or kept aside are kept in the form of a pile as well. That pile is known as a Draw Pile. Players can pick the card from the draw pile if they do not have a suitable card to play.
Total Cards
As mentioned earlier, a pack of cards consists of 52 cards. If four players are playing the game, each player gets 13 cards. The cards are not distributed in any specific manner, i.e., the card gets distributed arbitrarily. Different cards have different points assigned to them. These categories of cards – Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10, all have 10 points assigned to them.
Set
As the name itself explain, a set means a group. A group consisting of cards of the same type. For example – Four 8s from any group can form a set. One thing to remember while playing Rummy is that no two cards from the same suit can form a set together, i.e., meaning that a set cannot be made with one 8 of clubs and one eight from the group of hearts.
Winner
The winner of a game of Rummy is the one who is the first to declare ‘Rummy’ by organizing his or her cards in a specific manner. There are specific instructions regarding how every set should be formed. The one who manages the cards, keeping the instructions in mind, is the one who emerges out as victorious. The rules of the game are fairly simple, and to win, one must form a tactic or strategy per the format so that he or she avoids losing the game.