Gin Rummy is one of the most popular versions of Rummy that is generally played by two players. Here's how to play this card game:
Number of players: Two
Melds: Melds consist of groups of three or more cards of the same rank or sequences of three or more cards in one suit.
Object: To meld your cards as quickly as possible.
The cards: Standard 52-card deck. Aces are always low.
Playing: Draw high card to choose dealer. Ten cards are dealt to each player. The dealer starts the discard pile by turning one card faceup. This is the first upcard. The rest of the cards are placed facedown to serve as the stock.
The opponent of the dealer has first refusal of the first upcard. If taken, the player then makes a discard. If refused, the dealer has the opportunity to take it. If neither wants this card, the opponent draws the top card from the stock and discards.
Turns alternate. You may either take the top discard or the top card from stock. Sort your cards into melds if you are able and then discard. If it is your turn, and you have taken a card, and all your cards except one card can be arranged into melds, say, "Gin."
Make your final discard facedown with that mismatched card and put your hand faceup on the table. Laying off is not allowed after gin is reached (see "Laying off").
 ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. A gin hand is usually composed of three melds like this one in which three cards match in two melds and four cards match in one meld. |
Knocking: You can also end play before your opponent reaches gin by "knocking." After picking up a card during your turn, discard a card facedown and rap on the table or say, "Knock." You must place your melds faceup on the table, and put your unmatched cards into a separate pile beside them. The unmatched cards are called "deadwood." Total deadwood points can't be greater than 10 points (see "Scoring").
It is a good idea to plan a knock as early in the game as you can before your opponent has exchanged many cards from his or her hand. With a hand of 
10-9-8-7-6-
K-
K-
K-6-3, your deadwood adds up to 9 points -- a score that your opponent might possibly beat late in the game. Thus, knocking isn't advisable in that situation.
Laying off: If you knock, your opponent may lay off as many cards as possible onto the melds you've tabled. For example, laying off a 5 to a 8-7-6 run or a K to K-K-K set. This reduces your opponent's count of deadwood (see "Scoring").
Scoring: When tallying deadwood, aces count one point, picture cards count 10 points, and all other cards are scored at face value. If you gin, your score is the total of your opponent's deadwood points and a 25-point bonus. If you knock and your deadwood is less than your opponent's deadwood score, you receive the difference between the two deadwood scores.
If you knock and your opponent's deadwood count is equal to or lower than your deadwood count, your opponent receives a 20-point bonus for the "undercut," plus the difference in the deadwood scores. If your opponent manages to lay off all unmelded cards, that player receives a 25-point bonus for "ginning off" and the difference in the deadwood scores.
The loser of the game deals the next hand. In a game in which two cards are remaining in the stock and no player knocks or can make gin, the hands are thrown in and no points are scored. The dealer then redeals. A typical score for reaching gin is 100 points.
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