In
card game
A card game is any game that uses playing cards as the primary device with which the game is played, whether the cards are of a traditional design or specifically created for the game (proprietary). Countless card games exist, including famil ...
s, a meld is a set of matching cards, typically three or more, that earn a player points and/or allow them to deplete their hand. Melds typically come in sequences of ascending cards belonging to the same suit known as ''
runs'' () or
''sets/groups'' of cards of identical rank (). Other ones may be ''marriage'' (e.g. K and Q) and ''bezique'' (Q and J).
Melding is typical in games of the
rummy family, such as
canasta
Canasta (; Spanish language, Spanish for "basket") is a card game of the rummy family of games believed to be a variant of 500 rum. Although many variations exist for two, three, five or six players, it is most commonly played by four in two par ...
and
gin.
It is also used in other games such as
mahjong. Melds are also made in some trick-taking games, such as
pinochle and
bezique.
[Parlett (2008), pp. 287-291, 295-296.]
See also
*
Run (cards)
*
Set (cards)
References
Bibliography
* Parlett, David. ''The Penguin Book of Card Games''. London: Penguin (2008). .
Card game terminology
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