Basic Rules of the Game
Gin rummy is a two-player card game using a standard 52-card deck. The rules are easy to learn. Players draw and discard, until one player “knocks” or “goes gin.”
When one player reaches the one hundred (100) points, the game ends. Points are made by arranging as many as possible of the ten cards in a hand into melds before your opponent can do the same. (3, 3, 4 of a kind) Consecutive cards in the same suit can also count as 3 or 4 of a kind.
Each player is dealt ten cards alternately. The remainder of the deck is placed face down in the center of the table. The top card is turned face up and creates the discard pile. This card is called the knock card because it establishes the knock limit (more later). A player at random is given the opportunity to select this card or pass it. If the card isn’t chosen it is offered to the other player to take or pass. If that player passes the next player must draw a card fro the deck (the discard pile card is no longer available). Players draw one card when it’s their turn from either the deck or the discard pile to create melds, followed by the discard of one card. Play continues until someone is able to knock or has gin.
A player may knock, after having drawn a card, when the total point value of cards not incorporated into melds (i.e. the unmatched cards) is no more than the value of the knock card. The intended discard is not counted. The knocking player arranges his cards in intended meld order and unmatched cards (also know as deadwood). The opponent also places his cards in meld order and tries to layoff all the unmatched cards against the knocker’s melds.
When you are knocked on, you have one last chance to “layoff” or move deadwood from your hand to your opponents hand. Simply drag your deadwood to any matching run or set of your opponents hand. For example if one of the deadwoods in your hand is a king and your opponent melds three kings, you can drag your king to his three and it wont count against you.
Once you have finished laying off or the time allotted to do so ends, the hand is now over and counting begins.
A player who is able to knock does not have to knock. He may instead choose to continue playing and try for gin or a lower total point count.
After knocking, each player counts the total point value of his or her unmatched cards. If the knocker’s count is lower, the knocker earns the difference between the counts. If the opponent’s count is the same or lower, the knocker is undercut, and the opponent earns the difference between the counts. Knocking with no unmatched cards is called gin (and earns a bonus.)
The game ends as a player reaches 100 or more points.