A number of variations in scoring may be encountered. A game can be for 150 or 200 points: the gin and box bonuses can score 20 instead of 25, and the undercut can score 10 instead of 20 – or indeed any combination of these and the point values are given above. OBJECTIVE: The objective in gin rummy is to score points and reach an agreed number of points or more. NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2 players (variations can allow for more players) NUMBER OF CARDS: 52 deck cards RANK OF CARDS: K-Q-J-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-A (ace low).

  1. Rules And Scoring For Gin Rummy
  2. Gin Rummy Rules And Scoring For Two
  3. How To Play Gin Rummy Scoring
  4. Rules And Scoring For Rummy
  5. Gin Rummy Rules And Scoring

The Basics of Gin Rummy

-Number of players: two or more;

-Playing time: 5 minutes (per hand)

-Cards: standard deck with no joker.

-Ranking: King (high) down to Ace (low). Suits are equal. Court cards count 10 each, Aces count 1 and other cards their pip values.

-Deal: highest cut has option on deal. At this stage only, when cards are equal, suits are ranked in the following order: Spades (high), Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs (low). Each player is dealt 10 cards, singly and alternately, and the remainder of the pack is stacked face down to form the stock pile. The top card is turned over adjacent to it to start the discard pile. The dealer alternates.

History

Gin is probably the best of the two-handed Rummy card games. It was popular in America during the early decades of this century. It then suffered a decline, only to come back briefly to enjoy unprecedented publicity during the 1940s after Hollywood stars adopted it as their favorite game for filling in time between takes.;

Object of the Game

To form one’s hand into melds (sets) and reduce the number and value of unmatched cards.

Rummy

How to Play Gin Rummy

Elder may now draw a card and take the face-up card from the deck and replace it with a discard from hand. If Elder does not want it, Younger may pick it up and replace it with a discard from hand. If Younger does not want it, Elder now will draw the top card from the stock pile and replaces it with a card from hand face up to the discard pile (which is kept squared up so that the cards below it are not visible). From here on, a player may take either the face-up card from the discard pile or the top card from the stock pile, in both cases surrendering a card from hand to the discard pile.

There are two kinds of meld: a set of three or four cards of the same rank (for example, Jacks); and a sequence (three or more cards of the same suit in order, for example – 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, all of Diamonds). Notice that A, K, Q of a suit is not a sequence since Ace ranks low.

Either player with unmatched cards (“deadwood”) that total 10 or less may, but is not obliged to, “knock”, thereby ending the hand. Knocking is done physically by rapping the table after drawing a card (but before discarding). The knocker discards and then puts the hand down, face up, divided into melds and deadwood. Provided that the knocker has deadwood the second player may now “lay off” any number of cards from hand to the exposed melds; for example, by adding the fourth Jack to a set of three Jacks. The purpose of laying off is to reduce deadwood which otherwise counts against the player.

Scoring

When the opponent has laid off, both players declare the total value of their unmatched cards (“the count”). If the knocker’s total is zero – in which case the opponent may not lay off – this is gin and scores 25 for the knocker.

If the opponent’s total is higher, the knocker scores the point difference between the two hands (for instance, if the knocker declares four, and the opponent declares 27, the knocker scores 23). If the opponent’s total is equal to or lower than that of the knocker, the opponent scores the difference, if any, plus 25 for “the undercut”.

Dummies

Running totals are kept with a line under each hand won, and the first player to reach 100 wins the game and scores an additional 100 points. Each player then adds 25 points for every hand won. If one player fails to score, the opponent’s score is doubled (“shut out”).

Tips on How to Win Gin Rummy

It is imperative to remember every card in the up pile (recall that is squared up so that only the top card is exposed). This will be invaluable in calculating the odds against getting a card you want: there is no point holding on to two Jacks if the other two have been discarded! It is just as important to watch your opponent’s play carefully: every up card is taken or rejected, and each card discarded, tells you something of the composition of his hand.

It is a good principle to knock as early as possible; but if there is a chance of gin it may be better to hold up, since if your opponent knocks you could well score for the undercut. However, do not hold up for more than a turn or two – a gin is only worth double a knock.

A hand can have several embryo melds. Which to keep and for long is a matter of judgment, but should take into account what lies in the discard pile. If you hold two cards of the same rank the chance of getting a third is about the same as of securing a sequence – provided that the pair of cards you hold are capable of being extended at either end. Don’t for example; hang on to King, Queen or 8, 6. A favorable holding would be 4 of Clubs, 4 of Diamond, 3 of Clubs, when you have the advantage of two chances of a sequence and two for a set of 4s coupled with low penalty points if your opponent knocks.

Hold back any card you think your opponent wants. Apart from the obvious advantage, you may be able to lay it off if you are beaten to the knock. Otherwise, reduce your deadwood at every opportunity – even break up a pair if there is a significant gain. Discard a Queen from a pair, for example, if you pick up a deuce. Finally, if you knock, arrange your hand so as to minimize layoffs.

An Example Hand of Gin Rummy

Elder declines the turn-up. Younger takes it, melds three 7s and discards the 8 of diamonds.

Elder picks up 6 of Clubs and discards it, holding on to the King and Queen for one round. Younger picks up 6 of Diamonds and discards it likewise (it would have been better to have discarded the Queen of Hearts, but Younger is praying for the Jack of Hearts). Elder then picks up 3 of Clubs, making a second meld, and throws out King of Clubs.

Younger picks up 4 of Diamonds and discards Queen of Hearts – it would be dangerous to retain it any longer. Elder picks up 7 of Diamonds and gets rid of the Queen of Clubs; Younger picks up 6 of Hearts and discards the 10 of Hearts in order to reduce deadwood.

Elder picks up Jack of Diamonds and discards it.

Younger joyfully takes it to meld three Jacks and throws away the 9 of Hearts. Elder, joyful in turn, retrieves the 9 of Hearts; melds the 9s; knocks; discards the 7 of Diamonds; and spreads his hand, separating the melds.

Elder

Younger

Elder has a count of one. Younger now spreads his hand and lays off the 6 of Hearts and 2 of Hearts, thereby reducing his deadwood, for a count of nine. Notice that Elder cannot now add the Ace to the heart meld. Elder wins by 8 points and at the end of the game will score a further 25 points for the line.

Variants

Rules And Scoring For Gin Rummy

A number of variations in scoring may be encountered. A game can be for 150 or 200 points: the gin and box bonuses can score 20 instead of 25, and the undercut can score 10 instead of 20 – or indeed any combination of these and the point values are given above.

Rummy

Gin Rummy Rules And Scoring For Two

A common procedure is for the 21st card to be dealt to Elder who then discards to start the up pile.

A variant which has now largely taken over from the parent game, and is recommended is Oklahoma Gin. There is only one rule change: the turn-up determines the maximum number of points a player may have in deadwood in order to knock. If the turn-up is Ace, some players require gin in order to knock. Gamblers are fond of doubling scores for the hand if the turn-up is a Spade.

OBJECTIVE: The objective in gin rummy is to score points and reach an agreed number of points or more.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2 players (variations can allow for more players)

NUMBER OF CARDS: 52 deck cards

RANK OF CARDS: K-Q-J-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-A (ace low)

TYPE OF GAME: Rummy

AUDIENCE: Adults

The Objective:

Players must set the number of points needed to win prior to the start of the game. The goal is to create runs and sets with your cards in order to score the most points and win the game.
Runs – A run is three or more cards in order of the same suit (Ace, two, three, four- of diamonds)
Sets – Three or more of the same ranking cards (8,8,8)

How to deal:

Each player is dealt 10 cards face down. The remaining cards are placed in between the two players and serve as the deck. The top card of the deck should be flipped over to create the discard pile.

How to play:

The non-dealer has the option to start the game by picking up the flipped over card. If that player passes, then the dealer has the option to pick up the face-up card. If the dealer passes, then the non-dealer can begin the game by picking up the first card on the deck.
Once a card is picked up, the player must decided if they want to keep that card and discard another or discard the card that was drawn. Players are required to discard one card at the end of every turn.
Once opening play has been made, players are allowed to draw from the deck or pick up from the discard pile. Remember the goal is to create sets and runs to obtain the most points.

Scoring:

How To Play Gin Rummy Scoring

2 – 10 = Face Value

Going Out

An interesting facet of Gin Rummy is that players have more than one way of going out. Players can either go out via the traditional method known as Gin or by knocking.
Gin – Players must create a meld out of all cards in their hands. A player must pick up a card from the discard or stock pile before going Gin. You automatically receive 25points if you go Gin, plus you receive the total number of points of uncompleted melds from your opponents hand.
For example, if your opponents hand is as such (8,8,8 – 4,4,4 – 5,2,2,ace), then they have 10pts in uncompleted melds (5 +5+2+1 = 10 *ace=1) that you get to add to your score of 25pts, giving you a total of 35pts for winning that hand.

Rules And Scoring For Rummy

Knocking – A player can knock only if the un-meld cards in their hand equal 10 or less points. If a player meets the proper requirements, then they can execute a knock by literally knocking on the table (this is the fun part) then revealing their hand by laying their cards face up on the table.
Once the cards have been placed on the table, the opponent reveals their cards. They have the option of “hitting” your cards with the un-melded cards in their hand. For example if you lay down run of 2,3,4 of diamonds and your opponent has the 5 of diamond they can “ hit” your run and that card no longer counts as part of their un-melded cards.

Gin Rummy Rules And Scoring

Once the “hitting” has taken place it’s time to tally the score. Both players should total the number of un-melded cards in their hands. You must subtract the total of your un-melded cards from the total of your opponents un-melded cards and will be the number of point received from winning the hand! For example, if your un-mleded cards equal 5pts and your opponents un-melded cards equal 30pts, you will receive 25pts for that round.
Coments are closed
Scroll to top