Rummy Terms Glossary: Joker, Drop, Declare, Pure Sequence & More

Common words you’ll see at rummy tables and in apps.

Closed deck: The face-down pile you draw unknown cards from.
Open deck: The face-up discard pile.
Wild joker: A randomly chosen rank that acts as a joker for that game.
Printed joker: The joker cards that come with the deck.
Pure sequence: Consecutive same-suit cards with no joker. See sequence rules.
Impure sequence: A sequence completed with a joker.
Set: Same-rank cards of different suits.
Drop: Quitting a round, with a points penalty.
Declare: Showing your arranged hand to finish the round.
Deadwood: Cards not part of any valid group; these are counted as points.
Pool: A format where players are eliminated at 101 or 201 points.

More rummy guides

Real-money rummy involves financial risk. Play only with money you can afford to lose. 18+ only; check whether real-money play is legal in your state.

Frequently asked questions

What is a wild joker in rummy?

A card rank chosen at random at the start of the game; every card of that rank acts as a joker.

What is deadwood in rummy?

Cards that are not part of any valid sequence or set. They are counted against you as points.

What does drop mean in rummy?

Leaving a round early. It carries a points penalty that is lower if you drop before your first move.

What is the difference between open and closed deck?

The closed deck is face down; the open deck is the face-up discard pile.