Gin Rummy - Classic Card Game

Gin Rummy is a classic two-player card game combining skill, strategy, and a touch of luck. Created in 1909 by Elwood T. Baker and his son C. Graham Baker in Brooklyn, New York, it quickly became one of the most popular card games worldwide. The game uses a standard 52-card deck and challenges players to form melds while minimizing their deadwood.

Setup

Each player receives 10 cards. The remaining cards form the stock pile, with one card turned face-up to start the discard pile.

Turn Structure

On your turn, you must:

1. Draw: Take the top card from either the stock pile or the discard pile
2. Discard: Place one card face-up on the discard pile

You cannot discard the same card you just drew from the discard pile.

Forming Melds

• Sets: 3-4 cards of the same rank (e.g., 7♥ 7♦ 7♣)
• Runs: 3+ consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 4♠ 5♠ 6♠)

Knocking

When your unmatched cards (deadwood) total 10 points or less, you may knock to end the round. Your opponent then reveals their hand and can lay off cards onto your melds.

Going Gin

If all 10 of your cards form melds with zero deadwood, you achieve Gin. This earns a 25-point bonus and prevents your opponent from laying off cards.

Undercut

If your opponent's deadwood is equal to or less than yours after you knock, they score an undercut bonus of 25 points plus the difference.

Card Point Values

• Face cards (K, Q, J): 10 points each
• Aces: 1 point
• Number cards: Face value (2-10)

Scoring Summary

• Normal knock: Difference in deadwood between players
• Gin bonus: 25 points + opponent's deadwood
• Undercut bonus: 25 points + deadwood difference
• Game bonus: First to 100 points wins, often with a 100-point game bonus

Early Game

• Discard high-value cards (face cards) early if they don't fit your melds
• Keep flexible cards that could work in multiple melds
• Pay attention to what your opponent takes from the discard pile

Mid to Late Game

• Track discarded cards to know what's available
• Consider defensive discards - avoid giving your opponent useful cards
• Knock early if you have low deadwood rather than waiting for Gin

When to Knock vs. Wait for Gin

Generally, knock when your deadwood is 5 or less. Waiting for Gin risks your opponent knocking first or even achieving Gin themselves. The 25-point bonus is tempting, but consistent knockouts often win games.

Gin Rummy evolved from earlier Rummy variants popular in the late 1800s. The Baker family created it as a faster-paced alternative to standard Rummy, naming it after the alcoholic beverage to match the Rum in Rummy. The game gained immense popularity during the 1930s and 1940s, especially in Hollywood and New York social circles.

Today, Gin Rummy remains one of the most widely played two-player card games, enjoyed both casually and in competitive tournaments worldwide.

Unlike solitaire games with fixed solvability rates, Gin Rummy win rates depend heavily on skill differential between players:

• Beginner vs Beginner: ~50% (coin flip)
• Skilled vs Beginner: 60-70% for the skilled player
• Expert vs Expert: 50-55% (small edges compound)

The legendary Stu Ungar was so dominant that casinos banned him from Gin Rummy by age 22. His photographic memory and mathematical genius made him virtually unbeatable, demonstrating that while luck matters in individual hands, skill dominates over sessions.

Gin Rummy belongs to a large family of Rummy games. Here are notable variants:

Gin Rummy Variants

• Oklahoma Gin: The first upcard sets the maximum knock value for that hand
• Hollywood Gin: Three simultaneous games scored on one sheet
• Straight Gin: Must go Gin to end the round (no knocking allowed)
• Tedesco Gin: Uses a three-card initial spread; different knock rules

Related Rummy Games

• Conquian: The ancestor of all Rummy games, from 1850s Mexico. Uses 40 cards.
• Rummy 500: Points scored for melds; Aces can be 1 or 15 points
• Canasta: Partnership Rummy with wild cards and 7-card melds
• Indian Rummy: 13-card variant popular in South Asia with jokers
• Mahjong Rummy: Gin Rummy rules applied to Mahjong tiles

Have questions about Gin Rummy? Check out our detailed FAQ articles:

• What is Gin in Gin Rummy?
• What is Knocking in Gin Rummy?
• What is an Undercut?
• Gin Rummy vs Rummy: What's the Difference?
• Is Gin Rummy the Same as Conquian?
• How Many Cards in Gin Rummy?
• What is the Ace Value in Gin Rummy?
• Are Aces 15 Points in Rummy?
• What is the Best Hand in Gin Rummy?
• How to Win at Gin Rummy
• Basic Rummy Terms Explained
• Who is the Greatest Gin Rummy Player?

Learn the essential terminology used in Gin Rummy:

• Meld – A valid group of cards (set or run)
• Deadwood – Unmatched cards not in melds
• Layoff – Adding cards to opponent's melds after a knock

View Full Glossary →

Any comments, complaints, bug reports, questions, or anything else should be sent to help@onlinecardgames.io. We can't respond to everyone, but we try to respond to as many as we can. If you just have a quick question make sure it isn't covered in our FAQ. You can also often get help from other users on our Reddit community, where many of our users congregate. Pop in and say hello!

You can also find us on any of the following sites:

• r/OnlineCardGamescom