In one version of Gin Rummy, the card flipped face-up to start the round sets the deadhead point-limit for knocking. Mix it upĬome up with family rules of your own. Players agree beforehand on a winning amount of points, typically 100. This makes for a higher deadwood point count - and significant incentive to hold out and try to Gin. When a player ends a round by going Gin, the same rules apply, except the opponent cannot lay off his cards on the player’s melds. Opponents may also lay off their other cards on the player’s melds if the addition makes a valid meld. When a player ends a round by knocking, his opponents lay down all their valid runs and sets. If a player can complete his hand without any deadwood, he discards his last card face-down and declares “Gin” and earns a 25-point bonus, in addition to his opponent’s deadwood points.

Points are determined by the face value of each card held, with Aces worth 1 and face cards worth 10 each.

ObjectiveĪ player can end the round, or “knock,” by placing his discard face-down when he has completed enough melds that his “deadwood” (the cards in his hand, not counting melds) totals fewer than 10 points. A set is a group of at least 3 cards of the same number (5♥, 5♣, 5♠). A run is a sequence of at least 3 consecutive cards in the same suit (10♣, J♣, Q♣, K♣). He may not discard the one he has drawn until the next hand.Įach player is trying to meld runs and sets in his hand. The player adds this card to his hand and discards another.

Each player takes a turn, either taking a face-up card from the discard pile or a facedown card from the stockpile. The dealer then places the remaining cards facedown, creating the stockpile, and turns the top card face up next to it, creating the discard pile.

How to play gin rummy card game