Is Ace 1 or 10 in Gin Rummy?
Short Answer
In Gin Rummy, Aces are always worth 1 point. They are the lowest value card, making them desirable as deadwood since they contribute minimally to your deadwood count.
Complete Card Values
| Card | Point Value |
|---|---|
| Ace (A) | 1 point |
| 2 through 9 | Face value (2-9 points) |
| 10 | 10 points |
| Jack (J) | 10 points |
| Queen (Q) | 10 points |
| King (K) | 10 points |
Why Low Aces Matter
Since Aces are only 1 point, they're valuable as deadwood:
- Safe deadwood: An unmelded Ace costs only 1 point
- Knock flexibility: You can knock with 10 deadwood points, so holding Aces gives more room
- Undercut protection: Low deadwood reduces undercut risk
Example
Good deadwood: A♠, 2♦, 3♣ = 6 points total. You can knock!
Bad deadwood: K♥, Q♠, J♦ = 30 points total. Cannot knock yet.
Aces in Runs
In Gin Rummy, Aces are low only. They can form runs like A-2-3 but cannot wrap around (Q-K-A is not valid, and K-A-2 is not valid).
- ✓ Valid: A-2-3♥
- ✓ Valid: A-2-3-4♠
- ✗ Invalid: Q-K-A♦
- ✗ Invalid: K-A-2♣
Aces in Sets
Three or four Aces of different suits form a valid set (meld):
- ✓ Valid: A♠-A♥-A♦
- ✓ Valid: A♠-A♥-A♦-A♣
Ace Values in Other Rummy Games
Be aware that Ace values differ across Rummy variants:
| Game | Ace Value |
|---|---|
| Gin Rummy | 1 point |
| Rummy 500 | 1 or 15 points (context-dependent) |
| Canasta | 20 points |
| Indian Rummy | 10 points (high or low) |