How to Play Gin Rummy

Gin rummy is one of the most popular forms from the Rummy family played between two players. It topped the popularity charts in 1930s when Hollywood stars embraced the game and the masses followed the suit. Today, online gin rummy is one of the most popular online games in the cyber world.

Number of players for Gin Rummy: Two

Objective to play Gin Rummy: To meld the cards quickly with least or zero score.

Cards: Standard 52 card deck with Aces scoring the lowest. Face cards have 10 points and all other cards have points equal to their face value.

How to Play Gin Rummy: Both players draw a card from the deck, whoever draws the highest card deals the game. The game begins by dealing ten cards to each player and the last card from the pile is placed face up as the discard. The rest of the cards are placed face down in the pile.

The next player chooses to pick from the card from the pile or the discards. You cannot throw the same card which you have picked from the discards. If you pick from the pile, pick it up without showing to other player and arrange the same into your melds.

A meld is arrangement of cards in sets or sequence. A set is three or four cards of same value from different suits like four aces, three sevens, etc. Similarly, a sequence is a three or more sequential cards from the suit for example three, four, five of clubs or king, queen, jack of hearts, etc.

If you take a card from the pile or the discards and are able to arrange all the cards in melds with one card mismatched, you call the "Gin". The final discard is thrown with facedown to end the game or knocking the table. After you call the Gin place your hand face up to show the same to opponent.

If the gin is reached, laying off is not allowed. However, if there are more than one mismatched cards, then the opponent can lay off his as many cards as possible into the your melds. For example, if there is meld of 3-4-5 of diamonds, he can lay off his 5 of diamonds into your meld to lower his score.

The mismatched cards are known as the deadwood. Your number of mismatched cards is your deadwood and it should be below 10. If you called the gin then, your score is the total of your opponent's deadwood plus 25 bonus points. If your deadwood is higher than your opponent's deadwood, then the opponent scores bonus 20 points. The loser deals the next game and whoever scores 100 points first, wins Gin rummy.

Tips and Tricks: Gin rummy is a game of memory. If you can remember which cards have been played, you can not only arrange your melds accordingly but also plan a great Gin rummy strategy. Remember, your opponent would also be remembering the cards played plus he would also be remembering the discards you have picked up. He would also be able to plan a Gin rummy strategy to block your melds and does not discard the card that you need. Your opponent would also be watching what cards you are throwing so would also be able to judge your sets and sequences.

When you are playing online Gin rummy, your opponent may be computer and would be more apt at remembering your discards and your pick ups.

Don't pick up discards unless they actually fit into your meld or you have an extremely poor hand. If you can knock at Gin rummy early, don't play for the Gin. Moreover, don't hold higher value cards for a meld, if you can opt for lower cards and discard high value cards. Try to get the lowest deadwood to score high.