Is Gin Rummy 7 or 10 Cards?
Short Answer
Gin Rummy uses 10 cards per player. The 7-card hand is used in standard Rummy when playing with 3-4 players. Gin Rummy is specifically designed as a 2-player game with 10-card hands.
Hand Sizes in Different Rummy Games
| Game | Players | Cards Dealt |
|---|---|---|
| Gin Rummy | 2 | 10 cards each |
| Standard Rummy (2 players) | 2 | 10 cards each |
| Standard Rummy (3-4 players) | 3-4 | 7 cards each |
| Standard Rummy (5+ players) | 5-6 | 6 cards each |
| Oklahoma Gin | 2 | 10 cards each |
Why 10 Cards?
The 10-card hand in Gin Rummy creates the perfect balance:
- Multiple meld combinations: 10 cards can form 2-3 melds plus deadwood
- Strategic depth: More cards mean more decisions about what to keep or discard
- Reasonable game length: Hands typically last 10-15 draws
- Knocking threshold: The 10-point deadwood limit works well with 10-card hands
Typical Winning Hand
10 cards might form: 3-4-5♠ (run) + 9-9-9♦♣♥ (set) + K-K-K-K (set) = 10 cards, 0 deadwood = Gin!
Dealing in Gin Rummy
- Shuffle a standard 52-card deck
- Deal 10 cards to each player, one at a time, alternating
- Place the remaining cards face-down as the stock pile
- Turn over the top card to start the discard pile
- Non-dealer decides whether to take the face-up card or pass
Common Misconception
Players sometimes confuse Gin Rummy with standard Rummy rules. If someone says "deal 7 cards," they're likely thinking of multi-player Rummy, not Gin Rummy. Always clarify which variant you're playing before dealing.