What is a meld in Rummy?

Meld is the single most important word in Rummy. Everything you do - drawing, discarding, planning - is aimed at turning your loose cards into these valid combinations.

Quick answer: A meld is any valid group of cards in Rummy. There are two kinds: a set (also called a group or book), which is three or four cards of the same rank, and a run (also called a sequence), which is three or more consecutive cards of the same suit. Turning your cards into melds is the entire object of every Rummy game.

The two kinds of meld

Every meld is one of two shapes. A set is three or four cards sharing a rank, such as three Queens or four Sevens, each from a different suit. A run is three or more cards in unbroken rank order within a single suit, such as the 5-6-7 of hearts. Knowing the difference between the two is the basis of the whole game.

Why melds matter

Cards inside a meld are safe: they score nothing against you and count toward going out. Cards that are not in a meld are deadwood and count as penalty points. So the whole game is a race to pack as many of your cards into melds as possible before your opponent does.

Melds across the family

Different games treat melds a little differently. In Gin Rummy you hold your melds hidden until you knock. In basic Rummy and Rummy 500 you lay melds face up on the table and can build on them. Some games, like Indian Rummy, even require a pure sequence among your melds.

Practice melds in Gin Rummy

Related questions

What is a set in Rummy?

A set is three or four cards of the same rank, each from a different suit - for example, the 8 of hearts, 8 of spades and 8 of clubs. Sometimes called a group or a book, it is one of the two ways to build a meld, alongside the run. You can never have more than four cards in a set because there are only four suits.

What is a run in Rummy?

A run, also called a sequence, is three or more cards in consecutive rank order that all share the same suit - for example, the 4, 5 and 6 of clubs. It is one of the two kinds of meld, alongside the set. In most Rummy games Aces are low, so A-2-3 is valid but Q-K-A is not, and runs do not wrap around.

What is the difference between a set and a run?

A set is three or four cards of the same rank in different suits, like three Kings. A run is three or more consecutive cards all of the same suit, like the 5-6-7 of hearts. A set matches on rank and ignores suit; a run matches on suit and needs consecutive ranks. Both are valid melds that clear cards from your deadwood.