Round 1
You 0
CPU 0
Deadwood —
CPU Opponent
Stock
31 cards
Discard
Starting game…
Your Hand

Your Gin Rummy Statistics

0
Games Played
0
Won
0%
Win Rate
—
Best Score
0
Gins Called
0
Streak

About Gin Rummy

Gin Rummy is one of the most popular two-player card games in the world, invented around 1909 by Elwood T. Baker and his son C. Graham Baker in New York. The name likely comes from the parent game Rummy and the alcoholic drink — both parents' favourites at the time.

Unlike straight Rummy, Gin Rummy is played to 100 points over multiple rounds. The beauty of the game lies in reading your opponent: do you knock early and take a small win, or hold on for a perfect Gin and risk an undercut?

How to Play

  1. Deal: Each player receives 10 cards. The top card of the remaining deck is placed face-up to start the discard pile.
  2. Draw: On your turn, draw the top card from either the stock pile or the discard pile.
  3. Discard: After drawing, discard one card face-up to end your turn.
  4. Melds: Form melds — Sets (3–4 cards of the same rank) or Runs (3+ consecutive cards of the same suit). Unmelded cards are your "deadwood" (penalty points).
  5. Knock: When your deadwood totals 10 points or fewer, you may Knock. Both players reveal their hands; the opponent can lay off their deadwood onto your melds. Lowest deadwood wins the difference.
  6. Gin: If you can meld all 10 cards with zero deadwood, call Gin for a 25-point bonus. The opponent cannot lay off cards.
  7. Undercut: If the opponent's deadwood ≤ yours after a knock, they win the difference plus a 25-point bonus.
  8. Game: First to 100 points wins. Box bonuses (+25 per round won) are added at the end.

Strategy Tips

  • Knock early with low deadwood — a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Don't wait for Gin if 2–3 points is available.
  • Track discards carefully. If you need the 7♥ and it's been discarded, abandon that run quickly.
  • Keep flexible cards: middle ranks (5–8) can form more runs than Aces or Kings.
  • Avoid giving the opponent cards they need — watch what they pick up from the discard pile.