Rummy Sequence List: All 12 Valid Runs

Rummy, 13 card rummy and Indian rummy are the same game, and the runs never change between apps. Below is the complete list of sequences, the points each card is worth, and the rule that actually decides whether your declaration is legal.

There are twelve runs in a suit, and only one of them is the top run. A 2 3 is the lowest, and Q K A is the highest.

These are the only twelve runs in rummy. Any three consecutive cards of the same suit make one, as long as the order is not broken and the ace is not bent round the corner.

A table is fine, but the run sticks faster when you can see the cards. Every rummy sequence, lowest at the top.

Each run, what it actually means, and how it is scored when it does not make it into a meld.

A valid sequence in rummy is three or more consecutive cards of the same suit, in order, with no gaps.

• Three cards is enough. A, 2, 3 counts. So do 9, 10 and a jack.
• All the cards must be the same suit. Mixing suits turns a run into nothing.
• The order has to be unbroken. 8, 9 and 11 is not a sequence, however close it looks.
• The ace can sit at either end. A 2 3 is a run, and Q K A is a run.
• A run that uses a joker is an impure sequence. You need at least one pure sequence to declare.

A sequence is the first half of rummy. The second half is a set: three or four cards of the same rank in different suits, such as three sevens.

A pure sequence is made only of real cards in one suit. An impure sequence uses a joker to complete the run.

• Pure sequence: 7 8 9 of hearts, no joker anywhere. This is the one you must have.
• Impure sequence: 7 8 and a joker standing in for the nine of hearts.
• You need at least two sequences to declare, and one of them has to be pure.
• A set can also use a joker. Three sevens plus a joker for the fourth seven is legal.

This is the rule that trips up most new players. Two impure sequences will get your declaration rejected, no matter how good the rest of the hand looks.

The highest sequence in rummy is Q K A. It is the top of the twelve runs.

• Q K A is the strongest run, because the ace counts high at the top of the deck.
• J Q K is the second strongest.
• 10 J Q and 9 10 J sit just below that.
• A 2 3 is the lowest run in the game.

The ace is the only card that can appear at both ends of the ladder. That is why A 2 3 and Q K A both work, while K A 2 does not.

You need at least two sequences to declare in 13-card rummy, and one of them must be pure.

• Two sequences, one pure. That is the minimum for a legal declaration.
• The rest of your 13 cards must all sit in valid sequences or valid sets.
• Jokers count towards the meld they complete, but never towards the pure one.

A wrong declaration costs 80 points, so the safe habit is to check every card against the list above before you hit the button.

An ace is worth 10 points if it is left out of a valid meld, the same as every face card.

• Ace: 10 points.
• King, queen and jack: 10 points each.
• Two to ten: their face value.
• Joker: 0 points. It only helps you finish a meld.

You only pay for the cards that did not make it into a sequence or a set. A clean hand costs nothing.

No. K A 2 is not a valid sequence in rummy. The ace cannot be bent round the corner.

• A 2 3 is valid. The ace goes low.
• Q K A is valid. The ace goes high.
• K A 2 is not valid. The deck does not wrap around.

If you have K A 2 in your hand, treat it as three loose cards and try to build around them instead.

The maximum is 80 points, and no player can lose more than 80 in a single game.

• First drop, declaring before you draw: 20 points.
• Middle drop, after you have drawn: 40 points.
• Wrong declaration: 80 points.
• Total points on the table are capped, so the real score never runs away from you.

That cap is the reason rummy is a much softer game than it looks. The worst case is known before you start.

Is Q K A a valid sequence in rummy?

Yes. Q K A is the highest valid sequence in rummy, because the ace counts high at the top of the deck. A 2 3 is also valid, with the ace counting low. K A 2 is not valid, since the deck does not wrap around the corner.

How many jokers are there in rummy?

A standard 13-card rummy deck has two jokers: one printed joker card and one wild joker that copies any card you want. Both are worth 0 points, because they only help you finish a meld.

What is the difference between a first drop and a middle drop in rummy?

A first drop is declaring on your very first turn without taking a card from the open or closed pile, and it costs 20 points. A middle drop is declaring later in the hand, after you have drawn at least once, and it costs 40 points. A wrong declaration costs 80 points.

What happens if I declare without a valid sequence?

Your declaration is rejected and you are charged 80 points, which is the maximum a player can lose in one game. That is why you need two sequences, one of them pure, before you press the button.

How many points is a face card worth in rummy?

A jack, queen, king and ace are each worth 10 points. Number cards from two to ten are worth their face value, and a joker is worth 0 points.

Is rummy the same as gin rummy?

No. Rummy and gin rummy both use sequences and sets, but rummy uses 13 cards, allows longer runs, has a joker and an 80-point cap, while gin rummy uses 10 cards, no joker and a lower score. The ranking above is for 13-card rummy, the version played on Junglee Rummy and most Indian rummy apps.