Gin Rummy Game Rules

Gin Rummy is a variation of the popular Rummy game for two people. It is played with a deck of 52 cards. Every player receives ten cards at the beginning. The remaining cards are laid in the middle of the play table and the first one of the rest cards is uncovered with the value upwards.

The player who has not given the cards begins the play. Now he has the possibility to take the card in the middle. If he renounces this right, the player has the chance to take up the middle card.
Afterwards the moves occur alternately. A move always exists of taking and throwing away any card. Either the last dropped card or a card from the middle can be taken by the players.

Objective of Gin Rummy

The objective with Gin Rummy is to form combinations of cards to lay out, finally, so that no more own cards are held. A combination exists of three or more cards. Besides, it can be laid out either groups or straights.
A group exists of at least three cards with the same value, i.e. three 7's, three kings or three aces.
A straight are at least three successive cards of the same colour, e.g.: hearts ten, hearts jack, hearts lady. Besides, is to be noted that a card can be laid out always only in a straight or a group, but not both at the same time.

After one has taken a card and before one puts aside a card again, one has the right on laying out ("knock"). One can lay out if on throwing away a card the value of own unused cards amounts is ten or smaller. After the first player has laid out (the "doorknocker"), the other player must also lay out afterwards his cards. Moreover, the second player has the right to put on his unused cards with the combinations of the first player (provided that these suit). If for example, the first player has laid out three 7's and in the unused cards of the second player there is the fourth 7, this can be put on.

If the knocking player has no rest cards, one speaks of a so-called Gin. The player gets for it a bonus and, moreover, the other player may not put on his cards any more.

The game is over, as soon as a player has reached the point number agreed at the beginning of the match.

Gin Rummy Point Evaluation

The order of the cards is an ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, lady, king. The ace counts a point and jack, lady and king in each case 10. The other cards count in each case so many points how on them is given.

With a Gin (the knocking player has no rest cards) the player gets 25 point bonuses.

Try now!

Now that you've understood what Gin Rummy is all about, we recommend to try out our browser-based online Gin Rummy tutorial - Because it's Fun!