How do you play Gin Rummy?

Each player gets ten cards. On your turn draw one card, from the stock or the top of the discard pile, then discard one. Arrange your cards into melds: runs of three or more in a suit, or sets of three or four of a rank. When the unmelded cards (deadwood) total 10 or less you may knock; with no deadwood at all you go gin.

What is an undercut in Gin Rummy?

When a player knocks, the other player lays off cards on the knocker's melds. If the defender's deadwood is then equal to or lower than the knocker's, it is an undercut: the defender scores the difference plus a 25-point bonus.

How many points do you get for gin?

Going gin scores the opponent's deadwood plus 25, and the opponent may not lay off. Big gin, all eleven cards melded after drawing, scores the deadwood plus 31.

Is this Gin Rummy free?

Yes. No signup, no downloads, no installs. Play against the computer right in your browser.

← Misc

Card game · vs Computer

Gin Rummy

Meld it, knock it, or hold out for gin.

Limestone / The Card Room

How to play Gin Rummy

Gin Rummy is the classic two-player rummy game: build your ten cards into melds faster than your opponent, then knock before they do. This free version deals you in against a computer opponent and keeps score to 100 with every traditional bonus. No downloads, no signup.

Gin Rummy rules

The deal. Each player gets ten cards and the next card is turned up to start the discard pile. The deal alternates between hands.
The upcard. The player who didn't deal may take the upcard. If they pass, the dealer may take it. If both pass, the non-dealer draws from the stock and play begins.
Your turn. Draw one card, from the face-down stock or the top of the discard pile, then discard one card. You can't throw back the card you just picked up from the discard pile.
Melds. A run is three or more cards in sequence in one suit (A-2-3 counts, Q-K-A does not). A set is three or four cards of the same rank. Each card can belong to one meld only.
Deadwood. Cards in no meld. Aces count 1, number cards their value, and J, Q, K count 10. The game arranges your melds for the lowest deadwood and shows the total under your hand.
Knocking. When your deadwood after discarding is 10 or less, you may knock to end the hand. Your opponent then lays off any cards that extend your melds, and you both count deadwood.
Running out of stock. If only two cards are left in the stock and nobody has knocked, the hand is a draw and nobody scores.

Scoring

Knock: the knocker scores the difference between the two deadwood counts.
Undercut: if the defender's deadwood ties or beats the knocker's, the defender scores the difference +25.
Gin: no deadwood at all. Score the opponent's deadwood +25, and they can't lay off. Big gin, all eleven cards melded after drawing, scores +31.
Game: the first player to 100 wins and adds a 100 game bonus plus 25 for every hand won. If the loser never won a hand, the winner's total is doubled.

Gin Rummy strategy

Shed high deadwood early. Kings and queens that aren't in melds cost 10 each if your opponent knocks.
Watch the discard pile. Every card your opponent picks up tells you what they're building. Don't feed it.
Knock early, not late. Knocking on 6 or 7 in the first few turns usually wins; waiting for gin gives the other player time to catch up.
Beware the undercut. Late in a hand your opponent's deadwood is low too. Knocking on 10 then is a gamble.
Keep flexible cards. A 7♥ next to 6♥ and 7♣ can finish either a run or a set.

Frequently asked

What is an undercut? When the defender's deadwood, after laying off, is equal to or lower than the knocker's. The defender scores the difference plus 25.

Can I lay off on gin? No. Layoffs are only allowed against a knock.

Is Gin Rummy free? Yes. No signup, no downloads, no installs.