Sets in an Indian Rummy Game

Rummy Sets

The Indian version of rummy has been popular with card game lovers in India for centuries. It is a skill game that involves sorting and arranging cards in sequences, or sequences and sets. When the game begins, each player works on arranging their own cards and making a valid declaration before anyone else at the table.

For making a valid declaration, players have to follow some simple rules. While sequences play a crucial role in the game, you can also make rummy sets. Read on to learn about melding a set.

How to Create a Rummy Sets

• A set is a group of three or more cards of the same rank but different suits. Both printed jokers as well as wild jokers can be used in a set. Unlike sequences, which are pure and impure, there are no such particular sets in rummy -- a set is just a set whether it includes a joker or not. And creating sets in the game is optional, not mandatory.

Example of Sets:

How to Make a Rummy Card Set with Jokers

• Sets can contain jokers, both printed jokers and wild jokers. Here are some examples of sets including both types of jokers:

Set with a printed joker:

Suppose you have two cards of the same rank, say 5♦ and 5♣, and you pick a printed joker (PJ) on your next turn. You can combine these cards to form a set: 5♦-5♣-PJ.

Here the printed joker acts as a replacement for 5 ♥ or 5♠.

Set with a wild joker:

Suppose you have two cards of the same rank, say 2♠ and 2♥, and you pick a wild joker on your next turn. These cards can be grouped to form a set: 2 ♠-2♥-4♦ (WJ).

Here the wild card has been used as a replacement for 2 ♦ or 2♣.

Rummy Set Rules

• A valid declaration can include a maximum of 2 sets. If a declaration has more than two sets, it is an invalid declaration and the player gets a penalty of 80 points in points rummy.
• Both printed jokers and wild jokers can be used to create a set.
• A set cannot have more than 4 cards without including jokers. The minimum number of cards that a set can include is 3. However, if jokers are included, sets can have more than 4 cards.
• Creating sets in a rummy game is not mandatory but optional.

Making Multiple Sets in Rummy

• You can make one or two sets in a 13 card rummy. A valid declaration cannot include more than two sets. Including more than two sets will result in an invalid declaration and a penalty of 80 points in a points rummy game.

Example of a valid declaration with two sets

Here 3♥-4♥-5♥ is a pure sequence, while Q♣-K♣-PJ is an impure sequence. A♥-A♠-A♣-A♦ form set 1 and set 2 consists of 8 ♦-8♠-3♣ (WJ).

Example of a valid declaration with only one set

Here 7♠-8♠-9♠ and A♦-2♦-3♦ are pure sequences, whereas J♣-Q♣-PJ is an impure sequence. 4♥-4♠-4 ♦-4♣ is a set consisting of 4 cards.

Rummy sets and sequences in a valid declaration

Here is an example of a valid declaration with valid sequences and sets:

Suppose the following cards are dealt to you:

In this hand, there are two pre-made sequences: J♦-Q♦-K♦ (pure sequence) and 9♣-10 ♣-PJ (impure sequence). Now you have to work on the remaining cards and create a pure sequence, an impure sequence or sets.

Turn 1:

• Suppose you pick 7♦ from the closed deck. This card can be grouped with 7♥ and 7♠ to form a set: 7 ♥-7♠-7♦. Now the ideal card to discard in this case would be 10♥ as there are no connecting cards for it, which makes it harder to create a sequence or a set with this card.

After discarding 10♥, your hand will look like this:

Turn 2:

• Suppose you pick 3♣ on your second turn. You can now choose to keep the card as there is a good chance of 3♣ forming a set with 3 ♠ and another card of the same value or a joker. You can discard 8♣ as there are very few chances of creating a sequence with 8 ♣ because you have already used 9♣ and 10♣ in another sequence.

Once you discard 8♣, your hand will look like this:

Turn 3:

• Suppose you pick a printed joker on your third turn. The printed joker can be used to form a set with 3♠ and 3♣. So you can discard 4 ♠.

Once you discard 4♠, your hand will look like this:

Turn 4:

• Suppose you pick a wild joker, say 6♣, on your fourth turn and group it with your pre-made set: 7♥-7♠-7 ♦-6♣ (WJ). The cards are now arranged in proper sequences and sets. Now you can discard 5♣ to the “Finish” slot and declare your cards. Your declaration will look like this:

The above declaration is valid and you win the game, provided you were the first player to make a valid declaration.

The possible combinations in a valid declaration including rummy sets are as follows:

• 1 pure sequence + 1 impure sequence + 2 sets
• 2 pure sequences + 2 sets
• 2 pure sequences + 1 set
• 2 pure sequences + 1 impure sequence + 1 set
• 1 pure sequence + 2 impure sequences + 1 set
• 3 pure sequences + 1 set

Invalid Declaration due to Invalid Sets

When a player declares his/her hand without complying with the standard rummy rules, the declaration becomes invalid. It is important to have at least two sequences, including at least one pure sequence, to make a valid declaration. At the most, two sets can be included in a valid declaration. However, it is important to remember that making sets is optional in rummy, not mandatory.

Some examples of an invalid declaration because of invalid sets are as follows:

The above declaration is invalid as 4♥-4♦-4♦ does not make a set. If there was 4♠ or 4♣ in place of 4♦, it would have been a valid set, and your declaration would have been valid as there are three pre-made sequences: 5 ♠-6♠-7♠ (pure sequence), Q♥-K♥-PJ (impure sequence) and 9♣-10♣-PJ-Q♣ (impure sequence).

In the above declaration, there are only three valid combinations: J♣-Q♣-K♣ (pure sequence). 6♠-7 ♠-PJ-9♠ (impure sequence) and 8♥-8♣-4♣ (WJ), which is a set. The combination 5♦-5♦-5♥-5♠ is an invalid set as it has two 5 ♦s. So the declaration is invalid.

In the above declaration, there is one pure sequence (2♣-3♣-4♣) and three sets (7♥-7 ♠-7♦, K♣-K♥-PJ and 5♦-5♣-6 ♥ (WJ)). As at least two sequences are required in a valid declaration, this is an invalid declaration.

Value of Valid Sets in Rummy

In rummy, points are negative and undesirable. The player who scores zero points (by making a valid declaration first) wins the game. To make a valid declaration, a player must have at least two sequences including at least one pure sequence and all the remaining cards must be arranged in sets and sequences, or sequences. However, at the most, two sets can be included in a valid declaration.

The value of a valid set is zero points and so is the value of a valid sequence, provided all other rules of the game are followed. The penalty that a losing player attracts depends on the cards in the losing player’s hand when the winner makes a declaration.

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