Know All About Rummy Sequence

Rummy is one of the most popular card games in India. The participants are supposed to involve strategy and skills to arrange cards according to the required combinations. Challenger purveys a valid declaration, and this brain-churning game involves rules to avoid penalties and faults. Forming rummy sequences is an essential part of the game and revolves around specific rules. Your ability to create these sequences determines your triumph in the game.

While playing rummy games, creating a perfect sequence of cards is an important aspect. If you fail to produce a pure rummy sequence or make an invalid declaration, you lose the game and get a penalty of 80 points. To make a valid declaration, you must have at least two sequences, one being a pure sequence.

You can continue reading to get all the information about the rummy sequence.

Understanding Rummy Card Sequence

Rummy sequence refers to a group of three or more consecutive cards that belong to the same suit. However, these sequences are of two types, pure sequence and impure sequence.

Forming A Pure Rummy Sequence

When a sequence (group of two or more consecutive cards) is without a printed joker or wild card joker, it is known as a pure sequence. While playing rummy cards, it is always mandatory to form a combination that is categorised to be a pure sequence.

Here, an important thing to understand is that you need a pure sequence to make a valid declaration in the rummy game. Combinations without a pure sequence are called invalid declarations and result in a penalty of 80 points.

The following are examples of a pure rummy sequence:

• 6♦7♦8♦ (A pure sequence of diamonds with 3 cards)
• 3♠4♠5♠6♠ (A pure sequence of spades with 4 cards)

Kindly note that a wild joker can be used in a pure sequence only if it is depicting its original value and not acting as a substitute to fill in a missing card.

Forming An Impure Rummy Sequence

When you form a group of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit with the help of one or more joker cards. Here, you can use the printed joker and wild joker cards.

The following are examples of an impure rummy sequence:

• 6♣7♣Q♦9♣ (An impure sequence, where Q♦ is a wild joker used instead of 8♣)
• 2♠3♠K♦5♠PJ (In this impure sequence, K♦ is a wild joker used instead of 4♠, and PJ has replaced 6♠)

Rummy Card Sequence Rules

The following are the rummy sequence rules that must be kept in mind while playing the game:

• It is mandatory to form at least two sequences for a valid declaration. Out of which, at least one combination must be a pure sequence.
• To form a sequence, you need at least three cards.
• Declaring rummy without a pure sequence costs a penalty of 80 points. Its always advised to recheck before the declaration.
• Unlike sequences, it is not mandatory to form sets.

Forming More Than One Pure Sequence

As per the rummy rules, you must create at least one pure sequence to make a valid declaration. However, you can also choose to make multiple pure sequences, if you have a choice of doing it. In this game, you can even opt to arrange all the cards in pure sequences, provided you have such a possibility.

Here, the noticeable point is that the valid declarations can be made with all pure sequences too!
All sequences declaration without Joker: 3♠4♠5♠, J♥Q♥K♥, A♦2♦3♦, 6♥7♥8♥9♥ 
All sequences declaration with a Printed Joker: 2♦3♦4♦, J♥Q♥K♥, A♣2♣3♣, 5♠6♠7♠PJ (PJ is used to replace the missing 8♠)

Creating Valid Declaration

Let's take an example to understand creating valid declarations with rummy sequences. Suppose you get cards and you sort it out in the following manner - 6♣7♣9♣, 3♦3♥PJ, 5♠6♠10♠J♠, J♥Q♥K♥. Here, PJ stands for a printed joker.

As you proceed further with the game after sorting your cards, you will notice that you already have a pure sequence in the form of J♥Q♥K♥ and a set of 3♦3♥PJ in your hand. Now, you need to either arrange clubs or spades in a manner to form pure or impure sequences.

Turn 1: Suppose you pick 8♣ during your turn and you can combine it with the first group and form another pure sequence, 6♣7♣8♣9♣. During this chance, you can discard J♠ from the third group.

Now, your cards will be featuring the following combinations - 6♣7♣8♣9♣, 3♦3♥PJ, 5♠6♠10♠, J♥Q♥K♥. You have successfully arranged 10 cards out of 13, and in the next chance, you need to work on the third group, that is, 5♠6♠10♠.

Turn 2: Suppose you picked a wild joker card (Q♦) in the second chance. You can use it to replace either 4♠ or 7♠ to form an impure sequence. During this chance, you can discard 10♠ from the third group.

Now, your cards will be featuring the following combinations - 6♣7♣8♣9♣, 3♦3♥PJ, 5♠6♠Q♦, J♥Q♥K♥. Here, you have 2 pure sequences, 1 impure sequence, and 1 impure set. Now, if you declare this valid declaration before your opponent, you can be the winner of the game.

Possibilities In Rummy With Examples

While forming the rummy sets and sequences, there are the following possibilities:

• One pure sequence + one impure sequence + two sets (6♣7♣8♣9♣, 5♠6♠Q♦, 3♦3♥3♣, J♣J♥PJ - Here, Q♦ and PJ are used as a wild joker and printed joker respectively)
• One pure sequence + two impure sequences + one set (6♣7♣8♣9♣, 5♠6♠Q♦, A♥2♥PJ, 4♦4♥4♣)
• One pure sequence + three impure sequences (6♣7♣8♣9♣, 5♠6♠Q♦, A♥2♥PJ, J♠Q♥K♥ - Here, Q♦, and J♠, are used as wild jokers and PJ as a printed joker respectively)
• Two pure sequences + two sets (6♣7♣8♣9♣, J♥Q♥K♥, 3♦3♥3♣, A♠A♦A♣)
• Two pure sequences + two impure sequences (6♣7♣8♣9♣, J♥Q♥K♥, 5♠6♠Q♦, A♥2♥PJ - Here, Q♦ and PJ are used as a wild joker and printed joker respectively)
• Three pure sequences + one set (6♣7♣8♣9♣, J♥Q♥K♥, 5♠6♠7♠, 3♦3♥3♣)
• Three pure sequences + one impure sequence (6♣7♣8♣9♣, J♥Q♥K♥, 5♠6♠7♠, A♥2♥PJ - Here, PJ is a printed joker)
• Two pure sequences (3♣4♣5♣6♣7♣8♣9♣, 8♥9♥10♥J♥Q♥K♥)
• Three pure sequences (5♣6♣7♣8♣9♣, 10♥J♥Q♥K♥, 5♠6♠7♠8♠)
• Four pure sequences (6♣7♣8♣9♣, J♥Q♥K♥, 5♠6♠7♠, A♦2♦3♦)

In case, if a player fails to create at least two sequences, including a pure sequence then it will be an invalid declaration.

Valuation Of Rummy Sequences

While playing the rummy game, your score will be zero whenever you create a valid declaration. However, you get negative points if you fail to form a valid declaration comprising at least one pure sequence. Always remember to form at least two sequences, having one mandatory pure sequence. Apart from these, you can create pure or impure sequences or sets.

The rummy sequence is one of the essential parts of the gameplay and determines the win or loss of a player. Understanding pure and impure sequences, enable a player to have a better hold in the game. If you wish to play online rummy games and win real cash rewards, download the Rummy Bo to indulge in enthralling gaming experiences.