What is Deadwood in Gin Rummy?
Deadwood
Cards in your hand that are not part of any meld. Deadwood counts against you when scoring. The goal is to minimize deadwood by forming melds with all your cards.
Deadwood Values
- Face cards (K, Q, J): 10 points each
- Number cards: Face value (7 = 7 points)
- Aces: 1 point
Example Hand
Melds: 8♥ 8♦ 8♣ and 4♠ 5♠ 6♠ 7♠
Deadwood: K♥ 3♦ 2♣ = 10 + 3 + 2 = 15 points
Why Deadwood Matters
Knocking
You can only "knock" (end the round) if your deadwood is 10 points or less. Lower deadwood = safer knock.
Going Gin
If you have zero deadwood (all 10 cards in melds), you've achieved "Gin" - worth bonus points!
Scoring
When someone knocks, the player with lower deadwood wins the difference. Example: You knock with 8 deadwood, opponent has 23 = you win 15 points.
Reducing Deadwood Strategy
- Prioritize low cards: If you can't meld K♥ or 2♥, the 2 costs less as deadwood
- Keep flexible cards: A 7♥ could join 7-7-7 or 6♥-7♥-8♥
- Discard high early: Don't hold face cards hoping for melds
- Watch opponent's picks: Don't keep cards they're collecting
Undercut (Underknock)
If your opponent knocks but you have equal or lower deadwood, you "undercut" them and win bonus points. This is why knocking with high deadwood (8-10) is risky!