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Three cards of the same suit in a sequence? It’s Melding!

Rummy is one of the most loved card games in India. As a widely favoured game, there are certain terms that we know but are not very sure of where and how it is used. Let’s take a look at the Rummy term – Melding!

It is melding when a player has three cards of the same suit in a sequence which is known as a sequence or a run, they may meld by laying their cards, face up, in front of them. If they have at least three cards of the same value, they may meld a group. Aces can be played as high or low or both, for example Q♠ K♠ A♠, A♠ 2♠ 3♠ and K♠ A♠ 2♠ are legal.

Melding is optional. A player may choose, for reasons of strategy, not to meld on a particular turn. The most important reason is to be able to declare “rummy” later in the game. If a run lies in the discard pile, such as 2-3-4, you cannot call rummy without taking all cards below the top card of said run. The objective in Rummy is to dispose off all the cards in your hand. There are two kinds of combination which can be melded: sequences and groups :

• A sequence or run consists of three or more cards of the same suit in consecutive order, such as 4, 5, 6 or 8, 9, 10, J.
• A group, set or book is three or four cards of the same rank, such as 7, 7, 7.

 Melding is optional and it is not compulsory to meld. A player wins their hand by either melding, laying off, or discarding their cards. As soon as someone goes out, i.e. gets rid of their last card, the play ceases. There can be no further melding, even if the other players have valid combinations in their hands.

Multiple Melds

• According to some games, players can lay down as many melds as you desire in each turn.
• Most people allow a player who has not previously melded or laid off any cards to earn a special bonus if they can go out in a single turn by melding or laying off their entire hand. This is called going rummy, and the score for the hand is doubled, or in some versions the winner gets a bonus. The aim is either to be the first out of cards by melding them all in valid combinations or to make and score as many melds as possible before going out. 

To learn more such Rummy terms and variations, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com

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