Rummy glossary lexicon for rummy games

These are common terms that have evolved in the rummy arena over the years.

• Advertising:
  It is bait given to the opponent in the form of a card discard in order to extract a card discard from him.
• Angling:
  It is also known as side baiting where in you discard a card in order to induce your opponent to discard a card a rank away.
• Aces-high:
  This is case where in aces are calculated with higher point value .In these games Q-K-A is accepted but not Q-2-3.
• Aces-low:
  This is case where in aces are calculated with lower point value of 1.In these games Q-2-3 is accepted but not Q-K-A.
• Add-on :
  A card which is knowingly discarded to an opponent who needs thus to meld it.
• Base :
  Three or four cards of same rank not of same suit.
• Base-count: The sum total of a player’s bonus score as differentiated from the point values of cards melded.
• Blind-discard:
  A discard made without giving forethought about the opponent’s movement.
• Block:
  Perpetually hold back a card which would let the opponent complete the meld.
• Borrowing:
  Use cards from other player’s melds to form new melds.
• Box :
  Each entry on the score sheet.
• Box-score:
  Also called line-score, it the score for winning a deal.
• Calling :
  Requirement of a card to fill in the combination.
• Canasta:
  A meld of seven cards of same rank.
• Captain:
  One player against two or two players against three or three against four.
• Combination:
  The set of two cards that will be matched set after a suitable third card.
• Contract :
  The predefined number and type of sets that a person should meld on the first occasion in a specific deal.
• Count :
  The point value left after omitting the value of total melded cards.
• Crack :
  To unload a card for the opponent’s meld when it is advantageous to hold back.
• Cut:
  After the shuffle, the cards are divided into two portions and order is changed by putting the second lot over first lot.
• Dead Card:
  The card that is no more available. It is either melded or discarded.
• Deadwood:
  The unmatched cards which can be of no use now.
• Deal:
  The process of distribution of cards in each new hand.
• Dealer:
  The person who doles out the cards.
• Deck :
  The pack of 52 cards without jokers.
• Deuce:
  Any two cards of same suit.
• Discard :
  A card which is released by a player at the end of each turn.
• Discard Pile :
  The lot of discarded lot.
• Draw :
  Taking a card out from the stockpile or discarded pile.
• Exposed Card:
  In case of partnership game, illegally showing the face of a card to the respective partner.
• Fill:
  Draw a card that converts a combination into a matched pair.
• Floating:
  A situation when player need not discard Or if last card can be melded ,player cannot discard it and he becomes a floater until he finds an unplayable card to discard.
• Foot:
  The second halve of stock which is divided for smooth handling.
• Forcing:
  Discarding a card such that the next player is forced to take it up.
• Foreign Card:
  Using a card of some other deck.
• Go Down:
  End the play by keeping all cards possessed face up.
• Go-Gin:
  Lay down a gin hand and go rummy.
• Go-Out:
  Get rid of last card in hand.
• Group:
  A set consisting of three or more cards of same rank.
• Hand:
  The entire rummy deal.
• Head:
  The first portion of stockpile which is divided into two parts.
• House-Rules:
  The rules which are different from those official rules.
• Initial Meld:
  The first meld done by a player or a team.
• Kibitz:
  To observe a game without participating in it.
• Knave:
  Any jack card.
• Knock:
  End the play by placing the remainder cards possessed face up.
• Knocking Count:
  The maximum dead score count with which a player knocks.
• Lay Down:
  Meld
• Lay Off:
  In Lay Off you can add and extend somebody else’s booked meld on meld on the table. For instance in a sequential meld of cards like five, six, seven of hearts you can always add a four heart or eight heart in order to lay off. On the other hand you can also add to a lot of same ranked cards for example you can layoff a heart nine to a lot of spade, diamond, club nines booked on table.
• Matched card:
  Card that is a part of matched set.
• Matched Set:
  Three or more cards which is melded pair.
• Meld:
  A meld is a set of cards generally totaling three or four where in you have cards in sequential order of same suit, for example a two, three, four, five of clubs or it can be a set of cards of the same value or rank ,for example a set sevens of all suits .
• Natural Card:
  The card that is not wild.
• Off Card:
  One card that is not matched and not part of combination as well.
• Pack:
  The discard pile.
• Player:
  A card which is retained or taken up and could be laid off.
• Pluck:
  To take up the topmost card off the deck.
• Prize Pile:
  A discard pile that is frozen.
• Rank:
  A card’s (ten, king, queen ,ace and jack) value and hierarchy.
• Rope:
  A sequential arrangement.
• Rummy:
  A hand with unmatched card.
• Run:
  A sequential arrangement.
• Safe Discard:
  The discard that surely cannot be used.
• Schneider:
  Win a game in which opponent has not scored a single point.
• Sequence:
  A matched set of cards comprising three or more cards of the consecutive rank or three or more cards of same suit .
• Set :

Three or more cards of same rank

• Shut Out:
  Win such a game in which opponent has not scored a single point.
• Skunk:
  A shutout defeat.
• Stock:
  The set of cards usually placed hands down.
• Score:
  The points awarded to each player.
• Target Score:
  The winner has to achieve this score to win.
• Trey:
  A triplet of any suit.
• Trade:
  Take the joker away from ones meld to hand, thus replacing the value card which value joker depicted.
• Unload:
  Discarding up of high cards or melds to reduce potential loss if another player wins.
• Wild Card:
  Card whose suit and rank is designated by owner.