What is Oklahoma Gin?
Oklahoma Gin is a popular variant of Gin Rummy that adds strategic variety by letting the first upcard determine the knock threshold for that round. This means each hand plays differently!
The Upcard Rule
Whatever card is first turned face-up in the discard pile sets the maximum deadwood for knocking:
| Upcard | Knock Threshold |
|---|---|
| Face cards (J, Q, K) | 10 (standard rules) |
| Number cards (2-10) | That card's value |
| Ace | 0 (must Gin!) |
For example, if the first upcard is a 7♥, you can only knock if your deadwood is 7 or less.
The Spade Bonus
Oklahoma Gin has a second special rule: If the upcard is a spade (♠), all points scored that round are doubled!
- Spade face card: Knock ≤10, scores doubled
- Spade number: Lower threshold + doubled
- Ace of Spades (A♠): Must Gin, scores doubled - high risk, high reward!
Strategy Tips for Oklahoma Gin
- Low upcard rounds: Play more like Straight Gin - focus on complete melds
- Spade rounds: Play aggressively - doubled scores are huge
- Ace upcard: It's essentially Straight Gin for that hand
- Watch the discard: The upcard tells you the opponent's threshold too