What is a pure sequence in Rummy?
In games that use wild cards, the pure sequence is the one meld you have to build honestly, with no shortcuts - which is exactly why so many variants make it mandatory.
Pure vs. impure
A pure sequence, such as the 4-5-6 of hearts, is a run made entirely of natural cards. An impure sequence uses a joker or wild card to replace a missing card, for example 4-joker-6 of hearts. Both are valid runs, but only the first is pure.
Why it is required
In Indian Rummy, you cannot make a winning declaration without at least one pure sequence, and usually a second sequence too. This rule stops players from leaning entirely on wild cards and keeps real skill in the game. Kalooki and other joker games have similar sequence requirements.
Building one first
Because it is mandatory in so many variants, experienced players prioritise a pure sequence before anything else, holding back their jokers for the trickier melds. Games without wilds, like Gin Rummy, have no pure-versus-impure distinction because every run is pure by definition.
Related questions
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.
How do jokers and wild cards work in Rummy?
In the Rummy variants that use them, a joker or wild card can stand in for any card you need to complete a meld. Indian Rummy uses printed jokers plus a randomly chosen wild-card rank; Canasta and Dummy Rummy make the twos and jokers wild. Classic Gin Rummy uses no jokers at all, so every card is natural.
What is Indian Rummy?
Indian Rummy is a hugely popular 13-card variant played with two decks and jokers, usually by 2 to 6 players. To win you must arrange all 13 cards into valid melds that include at least two sequences, and at least one of those must be a pure sequence formed without any joker. It is a staple across the Indian subcontinent.