Introduction
Gin Rummy is a classic two-player card game that’s all about forming sets and runs with your cards and outsmarting your opponent. It’s a variation of the Rummy family, popularized in the early 20th century, and is known for its blend of strategy and luck. The goal? Be the first to “go gin” by melding all your cards into valid combinations—or at least have fewer points in unmatched cards than your opponent when the round ends. It’s fast-paced, easy to learn, and perfect for a quick mental showdown.
The game uses a standard 52-card deck (no jokers), and each card has a point value: face cards (K, Q, J) are worth 10, aces are 1, and numbered cards (2-10) are worth their face value. You’ll typically play multiple rounds, aiming to reach a set score—often 100 points—to win the whole game.
How to play
Objective
- Form your 10 cards into melds:
- Sets: 3 or 4 cards of the same rank (e.g., 7♠ 7♥ 7♣).
- Runs: 3 or more consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 4♦ 5♦ 6♦).
- End the round by either “going gin” (all 10 cards in melds, no leftovers) or “knocking” (minimal unmatched cards) to score points based on your opponent’s unmatched cards.
Gameplay (Turn-by-Turn)
- Draw: On your turn, take one card—either the top card from the stock (face down) or the top card from the discard pile (face up).
- Discard: End your turn by discarding one card from your hand onto the discard pile. You’ll always have 10 cards after your turn.
- Turns alternate until someone ends the round.
Ending a Round
- A round ends in one of two ways:
- Going Gin: You meld all 10 cards into valid sets/runs, discard your last card, and declare “Gin.” Your opponent can’t lay off cards (see below), and you score a 25-point bonus plus their unmatched card points.
- Knocking: If your unmatched cards (called “deadwood”) total 10 points or less, you can “knock.” Place your discard face down, show your melds, and let your opponent lay off any cards that fit your melds.Scoring follows (see below).
- The non-knocking player always gets a chance to lay off unmatched cards onto the knocker’s melds to reduce their deadwood (e.g., if you have a 7♠ 7♥ 7♣ set, they could add 7♦).
Scoring
- Gin: You get 25 bonus points + the total value of your opponent’s deadwood.
- Knock:
- If your deadwood is lower than your opponent’s, you score the difference between their deadwood and yours.
- If their deadwood is equal or lower (an “undercut”), they score a 25-point bonus + the difference.
- Deadwood: Unmatched cards’ point values (e.g., K = 10, 5 = 5, A = 1).
Winning the game
- Play multiple rounds, adding scores each time. First to 100 points (or an agreed total) wins.
