Gin Rummy

Draw and discard to form sets and runs. Then knock.

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How to play — Gin Rummy

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  1. In short

    Gin rummy is a card game for two players. You each get ten cards and you arrange them into sets and runs, and the cards that fit no meld should have the smallest possible total. When that total is at most 10, you can end the deal by knocking.

  2. Melds and cards

    Two players get ten cards each. Form sets of three or four cards of the same value, or runs of at least three consecutive cards of one suit. The ace is low: A–2–3 is a run, Q–K–A is not. Cards outside melds are deadwood, and their total should be as small as possible.

    A set: three cards of the same value.
    A run: three consecutive cards of one suit.
    The ace is low: A–2–3 is a run, but Q–K–A is not.

  3. Drawing and discarding

    On each turn draw one card from the face-down stock or the top of the discard pile, then discard one card. Melds stay in your hand. The game itself finds the split that gives the lowest total of deadwood, so you do not have to lay sets on the table.

  4. Deadwood values

    An ace counts 1 point, jack, queen and king 10 each, and the other cards their value. A card can belong to only one meld. For example, a set 7–7–7 and a run 5–6–7 cannot use the same seven at once.

  5. Knocking and gin

    When discarding, you can end the deal by knocking if at most 10 points of deadwood remain. Zero means gin. After an ordinary knock the opponent may reduce their score by laying off matching cards onto your melds, and the game calculates this automatically. After gin, laying off is not allowed. The “full” option lets you finish only with gin and sets the match target to 150 points.

  6. Scoring and the end

    For gin you get a 25-point bonus and the total of your opponent's deadwood. After a knock you get the difference if your opponent is left with more points. If your opponent has the same or fewer, they get 25 points and the difference in their favour. When after an ordinary discard at most two cards remain in the stock, the deal ends with no points. Further deals continue to the chosen target, usually 100 points.

  7. When someone leaves

    There is no resigning. Leaving a game in progress, or running out of time, is a forfeit by that player and ends the game, and the opponent wins.