This page is based on a contribution from Magnus, with additional material from John McLeod.

Remove the jokers and shuffle the deck. Each player draws a card, and then shuffles it back into the deck. Whoever draws the highest card deals the first hand. Deal 10 cards each, alternating between players.

Introduction

1. Remember, most people play with house rules which award 25 bonus points for making a gin, but only 10 or 20 bonus points for an undercut. In the long run, you can often outscore your opponent by knocking early and often, even if you get caught out from time to time. Keep an Eye on the Discard Pile.
2. Gin Rummy is very similar to regular Rummy, but Gin has some additional wrinkles that make it a more interesting and challenging game. To play Gin Rummy, you need the following: Two players: If more than two people want to play, you may want to send the extras out for ice cream or a walk.

Gin Rummy is one of the most popular forms of rummy. The game is generally played by two players, each receiving ten cards. Here is an article by David Parlett on the History of Gin Rummy, which was originally published on the Game Account site.

Note: I have been told that among some players the name Gin Rummy in fact refers to not to the game described below, but to the game which is called 500 Rum on this web site.

We would like to thank the following partner sites for their support:

The affiliate company Raketech was founded in 2010 by professional poker players Erik Skarp and Johan Svensson. They acquired Casinofeber.se in 2018 which is a leading casino comparison portal in Sweden. It is now edited by Daniel Stenlök in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The CasinoHEX Network was founded in 2016 to provide honest casino reviews and guides for punters from all around the world. Its members include:

• The Australian online casino guide AussieCasinoHEX.com edited by Gilmar Langelaan
• The Austrian online casino guide CasinoHEX.at edited by Alexander Loew
• The Swiss online casino guide SwissCasinoHEX.com edited by Monika Gehts

The Deck

One standard deck of 52 cards is used. Cards in each suit rank, from low to high:

Ace 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Jack Queen King.

The cards have values as follows:

The Deal

The first dealer is chosen randomly by drawing cards from the shuffled pack - the player who draws the lower card deals. Subsequently, the dealer is the loser of the previous hand (but see variations). In a serious game, both players should shuffle, the non-dealer shuffling last, and the non-dealer must then cut.

Each player is dealt ten cards, one at a time. The twenty-first card is turned face up to start the discard pile and the remainder of the deck is placed face down beside it to form the stock. The players look at and sort their cards.

Object of the Game

The object of the game is to collect a hand where most or all of the cards can be combined into sets and runs and the point value of the remaining unmatched cards is low.

• a run or sequence consists of three or more cards of the same suit in consecutive order, such as 4, 5, 6 or 7, 8, 9, 10, J.
• a set or group is three or four cards of the same rank, such as 7, 7, 7.

A card can belong to only one combination at a time - you cannot use the same card as part of both a set of equal cards and a sequence of consecutive cards at the same time. For example if you have 7, 7,7, 8, 9 you can use the 7either to make a set of three sevens or a heart sequence, but not both at once. To form a set and a sequence you would need a sixth card - either a 7 or a 10.

Note that in Gin Rummy the Ace is always low. A-2-3 is a valid sequence but A-K-Q is not.

Play

A normal turn consists of two parts:

1. The Draw. You must begin by taking one card from either the top of the stock pile or the top card on the discard pile, and adding it to your hand. The discard pile is face up, so you can see in advance what you are getting. The stock is face down, so if you choose to draw from the stock you do not see the card until after you have committed yourself to take it. If you draw from the stock, you add the card to your hand without showing it to the other players.
2. The Discard To complete your turn, one card must be discarded from your hand and placed on top of the discard pile face up. If you took the top card from the discard pile, you must discard a different card - taking the top discard and putting the same card back in the same turn is not permitted. It is however legal to discard a card that you took from the discard pile in an earlier turn.

For the first turn of the hand, the draw is done in a special way. First, the person who did not deal chooses whether to take the turned up-card. If the non-dealer declines it, the dealer may take the card. If both players refuse the turned-up card, the non-dealer draws the top card from the stock pile. Whichever player took a card completes their turn by discarding and then it is the other player's turn to play.

Knocking

You can end the play at your turn if, after drawing a card, you can form sufficient of your cards into valid combinations: sets and runs. This is done by discarding one card face down on the discard pile and exposing your whole hand, arranging it as far as possible into sets (groups of equal cards) and runs (sequences). Any remaining cards from your hand which are not part of a valid combination are called unmatched cards or deadwood. and the total value of your deadwood must be 10 points or less. Ending the play in this way is known as knocking, presumably because it used to be signalled by the player knocking on the table, though nowadays it is usual just to discard face down. Knocking with no unmatched cards at all is called going gin, and earns a special bonus. (Note. Although most hands that go gin have three combinations of 4, 3 and 3 cards, it is possible and perfectly legal to go gin with two 5-card sequences.)

A player who can meet the requirement of not more than 10 deadwood can knock on any turn, including the first. A player is never forced to knock if able to, but may choose instead to carry on playing, to try to get a better score.

The opponent of the player who knocked must spread their cards face-up, arranging them into sets and runs where possible. Provided that the knocker did not go gin, the opponent is also allowed to lay off any unmatched cards by using them to extend the sets and runs laid down by the knocker - by adding a fourth card of the same rank to a group of three, or further consecutive cards of the same suit to either end of a sequence. (Note. Cards cannot be laid off on deadwood. For example if the knocker has a pair of twos as deadwood and the opponent has a third two, this cannot be laid off on the twos to make a set.)

If a player goes gin, the opponent is not allowed to lay off any cards.

Note that the knocker is never allowed to lay off cards on the opponent's sets or runs.

The play also ends if the stock pile is reduced to two cards, and the player who took the third last card discards without knocking. In this case the hand is cancelled, there is no score, and the same dealer deals again. Some play that after the player who took the third last stock card discards, the other player can take this discard for the purpose of going gin or knocking after discarding a different card, but if the other player does neither of these the hand is cancelled.

Scoring

Each player counts the total value of their unmatched cards. If the knocker's count is lower, the knocker scores the difference between the two counts.

If the knocker did not go gin, and the counts are equal, or the knocker's count is greater than that of the opponent, the knocker has been undercut. In this case the knocker's opponent scores the difference between the counts plus a 10 point bonus.

A player who goes gin scores a bonus 20 points, plus the opponent's count in unmatched cards, if any. A player who goes gin can never be undercut. Even if the other player has no unmatched cards at all, the person going gingets the 20 point bonus the other player scores nothing.

The game continues with further deals until one player's cumulative score reaches100 points or more. This player then receives an additional bonus of 100 points.If the loser failed to score anything at all during the game, then the winner's bonus is 200 points rather than 100.

In addition, each player adds a further 20 points for each hand they won. This is called the line bonus or box bonus. These additional points cannot be counted as part of the 100 needed to win the game.

After the bonuses have been added, the player with the lower score pays the player with the higher score an amount proportional to the difference between their scores.

Variations

Many books give the rule that the winner of each hand deals the next. Some play that the turn to deal alternates.

Some players begin the game differently: the non-dealer receives 11 cards and the dealer 10, and no card is turned up. The non-dealer's first turn is simply to discard a card, after which the dealer takes a normal turn, drawing the discard or from the stock, and play alternates as usual.

Although the traditional rules prohibit a player from taking the previous player's discard and discarding the same card, it is hard to think of a situation where it would be advantageous to do this if it were allowed. The Gin Rummy Association Rules do explicitly allow this play, but the player who originally discarded the card is then not allowed to retake it unless knocking on that turn. The Game Colony Rules allow it in one specific situation - 'action on the 50th card'. When a player takes the third last card of the stock and discards without knocking, leaving two cards in the stock, the other player has one final chance to take the discard and knock. In this position, this same card can be discarded - if it does not improve his hand, the player simply turns it over on the pile to knock.

Some people play that the bonus for going gin is 25 (rather than 20) and the bonus for an undercut is 20 (rather than 10). Some play that the bonus for an undercut, the bonus for going gin, and the box bonus for each game won are all 25 points.

Some play that if the loser failed to score during the whole game, the winner's entire score is doubled (rather than just doubling the 100 game bonus to 200).

A collection of variations submitted by readers can be found on the Gin Rummy Variations page.

Oklahoma Gin

In this popular variation the value of the original face up card determines the maximum count of unmatched cards with which it is possible to knock. Pictures denote 10 as usual. So if a seven is turned up, in order to knock you must reduce your count to 7 or fewer.

If the original face up card is a spade, the final score for that deal (including any undercut or gin bonus) is doubled.

The target score for winning Oklahoma Gin is generally set at 150 rather than 100.

How To Play Gin Rummy With Two People

Some play that if an ace is turned up you may only knock if you can go gin.

Some play that a player who undercuts the knocker scores an extra box in addition to the undercut bonus. Also a player who goes gin scores two extra boxes. These extra boxes are recorded on the scorepad; they do not count towards winning the game, but at the end of the game they translate into 20 or 25 points each, along with the normal boxes for hands won. If the up-card was a spade, you get two extra boxes for an undercut and four extra boxes for going gin.

Playing with 3 or 4 Players.

When three people play gin rummy, the dealer deals to the other two players but does not take part in the play. The loser of each hand deals the next, which is therefore played between the winner and the dealer of the previous hand.

Four people can play as two partnerships. In this case, each player in a team plays a separate game with one of the opposing pair. Players alternate opponents, but stay in the same teams. At the end of each hand, if both players on a team won, the team scores the total of their points. If one player from each team won, the team with the higher score scores the difference. The first team whose cumulative score reaches 125 points or more wins.

How To Play Gin Rummy 2 Players

Other Gin Rummy pages

The Gin Rummy Association's Gin Rummy Tournaments page has information about forthcoming Gin Rummy events, including regular live tournaments in Las Vegas, and the site includes a summary of the rules used in these tournaments.

The Gin Rummy pages of Rummy-Games.com give rules for many Gin Rummy variants, plus reviews of Gin Rummy software and online games.

Several variants of Gin Rummy are described on Howard Fosdick's page (archive copy).

Gin Rummy rules are also available on the Card Games Heaven web site.

Jim from Triplesgames has provided a video introduction to Gin Rummy.

A comprehensive set of rules for Gin Rummy in German can be found on Roland Scheicher's Gin Rummy page.

Rummy.ch is a German language site offering rules for Gin Rummy and many other rummy games, plus strategy articles and reviews of online rummy sites and a forum.

Software and Servers

Gin Rummy software:

• With DreamQuest Software's Championship Gin Pro you can play against a computer opponent. Available for Windows, Palm OS and Pocket PC.
• Malcolm Bain's classic Gin Rummy program for Windows is available from Card Games Galore.
• A shareware Gin Rummy program can be downloaded from Meggiesoft Games.
• The collection HOYLE Card Games for Windows or Mac OS X includes a Gin Rummy program, along with many other popular card games.
• The Gin Rummy Pro computer program is available from Recreasoft.
• Special K Software has software to play the game of Gin Rummy. This software is available at www.specialksoftware.com.
• Best Gin Rummy by KuralSoft is a program for iOS with which you can play Gin Rummy against a computer opponent.
• Blyts have published Gin Rummy Free in versions for iOS, Android and web browser.

How To Play Gin Rummy Easy

Servers for playing Gin Rummy on-line:

• Game Colony offers head to head Gin Rummy games and multi-player tournaments, which can be played free or for cash prizes.
• AOL games (formerly games.com / Masque publishing) offers Gin Rummy and Oklahoma Gin
• Ludopoli (Italian language)
• PlayOK Online Games (formerly known as Kurnik)
• Gameslush.com offers an online Gin Rummy game against live opponents or computer players.

How to Play Gin Rummy: Feeling bored on a Sunday evening? Not feeling like going out? You can enjoy a game of Gin rummy with your family member or friends at home only. Get some snacks and music together and start out a fun evening. And if you have any doubts about this game then we will tell you that how to play gin rummy perfectly.

Gin Rummy was originally created as a substitute to the original rummy as it is a faster process. You can see a lot of rules and process similar to the original rummy game. However, you would find the version of gin rummy even more interesting and engaging.

Gin Rummy is generally played by two players but you can get to know about its variations and rules once you know that how to play gin rummy. You can easily change some of the rule through house rules and regulations and it will make the game even more interesting.

Recently I shared How to Play Rummy Card Game – Complete Guide for Beginners.

Here is a complete process and some of the terminologies through which you can understand that how you can end up playing this game perfectly and easily.

Deal

This can be called one of the basic of the game of gin rummy. If you want to know that how to play gin rummy then you must know that how to start this game.

• The dealer is chosen by the common and easy process. Cards are dealt to each player and the one who gets the lowest card gets to deal.
• For the next deal, the loser of the previous hand would be the dealer and the process goes on.
• No matter how many number of players are playing, each player would be dealt 10 cards and that too in a pattern of one at a time.
• Suppose, there are two players then the 21^st card would be kept on the remaining pile by facing up. This card is used as the beginning of the discarded pile.

Object of the Game

You can never learn how to play gin rummy if you do not even know its object. You must have acknowledgement that what you need to do in the game and how can you win it. You can learn this process through these steps-

• You must keep in mind that whatever cards are there in your hand, you must combine them in such a way that it makes sets and runs out of them. The point value of the last card remaining should be as low as possible.
• A run or sequence is termed as the set of three or more than three cards of the same suit which must be arranged in the consecutive order. For example – 4, 5, 6 of spade.
• A set or group is known as three or four cards of the same rank. For example 7 of spade, diamond, hearts.
• You cannot use the same cards for more than one run or set. Only a single sequence or single set can be formed by a single card. For example – if you have 7 of spade, hearts and diamond and 8, 9 of hearts then you can use the 7 of hearts either for 7, 7, 7 or for 7, 8, 9 of hearts.

How to Play Gin Rummy

This is the most important section to learn how to play gin rummy. Here are some steps given through which you can understand that how to play this game.

• There are basically two things that need to be done on a single turn by each player.
• First part is to draw. You must have to begin the game by taking out one card from either the stock pile or the discarded pile. It does sound like the simple rummy but it has some different rules too.
• Second part is to discard. To complete one turn you would have to discard a single card from your hand and place it on the top of the discarded pile. If you took the card from the discarded pile then you cannot discard the same.

Rules

The rules of gin rummy can be understood by some terminologies. These terms are important to understand how to play gin rummy.

How To Play Gin Rummy Video

• Knocking- You can end the game at any point if you think you have made enough sets or sequence from your cards. Make sure that the cards which are not used in making any set, their value must not exceed 10 points. You can end the game by discarding a card on the discarded pile facing down. This is called knocking.
• Gin- After knocking, if you have no unmatched card in your hands other than the set or sequence then this process is called going gin. It earns a special bonus for you.

Scoring

There is a certain way according to which the scoring is done. This is-

• Just like the simple rummy, each player count the value of the unmatched cards. If the value of knocker’s card is lower then, the difference of the value of two players is his score.
• The player who goes gin, earns extra 20 points as bonus.
• If the knocker does not go gin and the counts are equal or knocker’s count is greater then, knocker’s opponent scores the difference between the two counts plus 10 point bonus plus the difference of the counts.
• The game keeps on going until the score reached a target of 100 points or points set by the players.
• After the final scores, whoever lose he gets to pay the winner an amount proportional to the difference between their scores.

Conclusion

I hope this information would prove to be beneficial for you if you want to know that how to play gin rummy. Especially, if you are just a beginner then you can learn the process easily by the step by step tutorials.

There are also some examples mentioned through which you can get to know the process even better. So, gather some of your friends and give it a try to these types of indoor card games. It would surely be a change for you to move over those video games.