They vary between different versions, but this is how it's done on this site: You may only knock if you end up with 10 or fewer points of deadwood (human cards count as 10, aces as 1 and other cards their numeric values). There are some rules for when you can knock. Additionally, if the knocker has Gin or Big Gin (no deadwood) then the opponent is not allowed to lay off any cards. The knocker cannot do the same, he can never lay off his deadwood. For example if the knocker had a meld, ♥A♥2♥3 and the opponent has a ♥4 as part of his deadwood he can add it to the knocker's meld, and then it won't count as deadwood anymore. The opponent is allowed to lay off any of his deadwood cards onto the knocker's melds if he can. The opponent then shows his melds and deadwood. The player that knocked (the knocker) then shows his melds and his deadwood by putting it face up on the table. The round ends when one player knocks, by discarding a card and putting it face down on the discard pile. The game continues like this, with players drawing and discard cards, while they try to build sets and runs in their hand. He may however discard a card he has just drawn from the deck, or any other card he has in his hand. If the player has drawn the top card from the discard pile at the start of the turn he may not discard that card until his next turn (also, that wouldn't make any sense at all). Generally you only draw the top card from the discard pile if you know that the card will help you create a meld with some of the other cards in your hand.Īfter the player has drawn a card he must discard one card by putting it face up on top of the discard pile. He can either draw the top card from the deck or the top card from the discard pile. In each turn a player must start by drawing one card. The remaining deck is put on the table between the players face down, and one card is put face up besides the deck to start the discard pile. A game can span several rounds, you've won the whole game if you are the first person to reach a 100 points.Įach player gets 10 cards. The game is scored based on how much deadwood you have at the end of each game. The objective of Gin Rummy is to collect cards into melds and have as little deadwood as possible at the end of a game. LAY OFF: Adding your deadwood cards to an opponents melds. GIN: When all 10 cards in your hand are parts of melds and you have no deadwood.īIG GIN: When all 10 cards in your hand and the card you just drew are parts of melds, so you have 11 cards, all in melds. KNOCKING: Ending the round by putting a card face down on the discard pile. Players discard one card onto the pile in every round.ĭEADWOOD: Any cards in your hand that are not part of a meld. Players draw one card from the stock in every round.ĭISCARD PILE: A pile of faceup cards, placed next to the stock. STOCK: A deck of facedown cards, in the middle of the table. Each card can only be part of one set or run, for example if you have an 8 you cannot count it both as part of 8,8,8 and 7,8,9. You might for example have three melds, where two af them are sets and one is a run. Aces are always low, never high, and runs can't wrap around, so Q,K,A,2 would not be a legal run.

RUN: Three or more cards in sequence in the same suit, for example ♥A♥2♥3 or ♣6♣7♣8♣9♣10. SET: Three or four cards of the same rank, for example ♥8♠8♦8 or ♥Q♠Q♦Q♣Q. I'll start by explaining a few basic concepts, and then go over the gameplay and scoring of the game. Below I'll explain the rules we use on this site. As with most games there are plenty of variations out there, so the game might not be exactly like you play it or have different points for some things. Organize cards into melds, minimize your deadwood and knock before the opponent does! Gin Rummy is a member of the Rummy family of games.

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