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Gin rummy is a card game meant for two players, but can also be played by three or four players. The card game requires a standard 52-card deck, a score sheet (any piece of paper will do) and a pencil. The game play follows the ordinary rules of Rummy, the only difference is that at Gin Rummy, you have more than one way to go out (by “knock, knock” or “going gin”). You can agree to play for any number points in advance, (it all depends on how long you want to play).

When one player reaches the predetermined number of points, the card game concludes and the score is tallied. The card game can also conclude if the stock pile gets down to 2 cards, in which case no score is tallied, both players toss in the cards, reshuffle and start over.

The difference between traditional Rummy rules and Gin Rummy rules isn’t all that big. I personally find Gin Rummy to be more interesting and a lot more challenging than regular Rummy.

What you need to get a Gin Rummy game rolling:

+ A single deck of 52 cards
+ Two players (no less, no more)
+ A score sheet (any piece of paper will do)
+ A pencil

Frequently used rummy terms you should learn before continuing:

Melds: Groups of three cards or more of the same rank or sequences of three or more cards of the same suit. Melds are sometimes also referred to as ‘combinations’.

Deadwood: Unmatched cards or cards that are loose and don’t form part of a meld.

Layoff: When a player gets rid of unmatched (deadwood) cards by using them to extend an opponent's melds so that they are not counted during the point tally.

The first few steps:

There are usually two players in Gin Rummy: the dealer and the non-dealer. Both gin players get 10 cards. All other cards are stacked up into a stock pile and placed in the center of the table.

The dealer flips over the top card from the stock pile and creates a discard pile. All cards in this discard pile are always facing up and all the cards in the stock pile are always facing down. The non-dealers always gets first dibs on the face-up card in the discard pile, but if he/she decides not to take the upcard, the dealer can take it.

Rummy Tip: I recommend you take the first upcard regardless of whether or not you need it because psychologically, it’s a good way to throw your opponent off track.

The different ways to go out

Go Gin

Going Gin is the hardest way to go out. Going Gin means you have to put all your cards into melds (sets or sequences). By Going Gin, you automatically score 25 points, plus the total sum from the deadwood of the loser’s hand.

Note: You have to keep taking cards from the stock pile or the discard pile even if you're planning on Going Gin.

Knock, knock

Let’s say you have less than 10 points in deadwood cards and some melds in your hand. After completing your draw, you discard one card faced down on the stock pile and then reveal your hand arranged into melds and deadwood. The moment the knocker reveals the cards, the game concludes. If the player knocks with no deadwood, it called ‘Going Gin’. Going Gin this way usually earns the winner extra bonus points.

You can knock at any point during a Gin, but there is no obligation to knock should have a total deadwood point count of ten or less. Knocking is optional, according to a player's personal choice.

How to tally up scores in Gin

Scoring when going out by Knock, Knock

Each player adds up the total points of unmatched cards. If the knocker's point count is less than the opponents, the knocker adds the difference of the opponents deadwood to his/her point tally. If the opponent's deadwood count is the same or less than the knockers, the opponent adds the difference to his/her tally.

IF the knocker does not Go Gin, the opponent can lay off any of the knockers deadwood cards and use them to extend melds laid down by the knocker and thus reduce his/her own deadwood point count.

In other words: Put down your melds, (which don’t count towards the score), match up your deadwood with your opponents deadwood to create melds, then tally up the score only for the remaining unmatched cards in your hand.

Note: The knocker is never permitted to lay off cards on the opponents melds.

Scoring when Going Gin

The winner that Goes Gin automatically receives 25 points then adds the total points of the loser’s deadwood.

Example: the loser has two 2s and two 7s left over, giving a total of 18 points. Add those points to the 25 points you earned for Going Gin and you have a total score.