Use this short glossary while reading a rulebook. The definitions describe common card-game language; an individual variant can add its own conditions.
EDITORIAL REVIEW · 17 September 2026
Cards and the deck
Rank
The identity of a card such as four, ten, jack, queen, king or ace. Rank is separate from suit.
Suit
One of the four card families: hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades.
Hand
The cards held by a player. Hand size varies by game.
Deck
A pack of playing cards. A standard deck has 52 cards before any jokers are added.
Groups and patterns
Meld
An accepted combination of cards, typically a set or a sequence. When it can be placed on the table depends on the rules.
Sequence / run
Consecutive ranks in the same suit, commonly with at least three cards.
Set / group
Cards of the same rank, commonly in different suits.
Pure sequence
In variants that use this distinction, a sequence without a joker acting as a substitute.
Joker / wild card
A card allowed to represent another card under the selected rules. A printed joker and a designated wild rank are not always treated identically.
Piles and actions
Stock
The face-down pile from which players draw cards.
Discard pile
The face-up pile of cards discarded during play.
Draw
Take a card from an allowed source at the relevant point in a turn.
Discard
Place a card on the discard pile.
Lay off
In some variants, add a suitable card to an existing meld on the table.
Declaration
In formats that use it, a claim that a hand meets the completion requirements. A declaration still needs to satisfy the selected rules.
