How to Play Gin Rummy

If you're interested in a fast-paced two-person card game, learn how to play gin rummy. Gin, developed by Elwood Baker and his son Graham in 1909, is played with a standard 52-card deck of playing cards. If you've never played, follow these rules.

Strategy
The primary goal of Gin Rummy is to outscore your opponent. Players build melds and discard the deadwood. A meld consists of a set of three or four cards of the same rank, like the 2 of hearts, clubs, spades, and diamonds. Another type of meld is a run, three or more cards in sequence from the same suit. Deadwood is any card that doesn't fit into a meld. Aces are low; kings are high.

The Game
Players take turns dealing the deck. The dealer deals ten cards to both players. The next card is placed face-up next to the remainder of the deck. This establishes the discard and stock pile. For each turn, a player must select the top card from either the discard or stock pile. Then, the player has to ditch a card from her hand to the top of the discard pile.

During the opening play, the non-dealing player may select the up card, but if she does not want the card, the dealer may choose to use it. If both players pass, the non-dealing player takes the top card from the stock pile. Alternate turns until one player knocks or only two cards are left in the stock pile.

Knocking
A player knocks only if he has ten or fewer points of deadwood. If a player has no deadwood, she must knock. The player who knocks discards, places her discard face down, and lays out her hand. Melds are shown and any deadwood is separate. Now, the other player may lay off any deadwood that fit with the melds of the knocking player.

Knocking without any deadwood is called -going Gin'. If a player knocks with deadwood, the term -going down' is used.

The Point System
It's time to count points. Aces are worth one point. Face cards are worth ten points each. Cards two through nine are worth the numerical value.

Players earn points in different ways:

• Big Gin. The 11 cards in one player's hand form a legal gin. The player keeps the extra card and earns six points known as the Big Gin bonus.
• Game Bonus. When a player reaches 100 points, the match ends and the player receives 100 game bonus points.
• Gin Bonus. A 25-point bonus plus the opponent's deadwood count are added to the player who goes gin. Layoffs are not allowed when a player goes gin.
• Knock Point. The player who knocks receives points equal to the difference between two hands after layoffs are played.
• Line Bonus. At the end of the match, players receive 25 points for each hand won during the match.
• Shutout Bonus. If one player wins every hand in a match, the line bonus points are doubled.
• Underknocking. If the defending player has a lower or equal point value of the player who knocks, the defender earns a 25-point bonus. The defending player also receives points for the difference between the two hands.

Gin Rummy remains a popular two-person matching card game that provides hours of fun for those who play.