Three things to recognise
Look for consecutive ranks, a single suit and no substitute for a missing card. A run can contain more than three cards, provided it remains consecutive and follows the table’s ace rules.
Every card in this four-card run is a heart, and the ranks follow one another without a gap.
Three combinations that need another look
| Combination | Why it is not a natural sequence |
|---|---|
| 4♥ · 5♠ · 6♥ | The five is a different suit. |
| 4♥ · 6♥ · 7♥ | The run has a gap where the five would be. |
| 4♥ · Joker · 6♥ | A joker is substituting for the missing five, so the sequence is not pure. |
Where does the ace fit?
Many 13-card formats allow an ace at the low end in A–2–3 or the high end in Q–K–A of one suit. Do not assume that K–A–2 wraps around into a valid run. Check the rules of the particular table.
Similarly, if a selected wild-joker rank appears naturally in a sequence, how it is classified depends on the stated joker rules.
A sequence is only part of a hand
A pure sequence is a starting point. A declaration still has to account for the remaining cards and meet the minimum sequence requirements. An ungrouped card can invalidate an otherwise promising hand.
Practise by dealing 13 ordinary playing cards and identifying which combinations are already complete, which need one card and which are unconnected. There is no guaranteed winning draw.