Quick Rules
Gin rummy is a two-player card game with a standard 52-card deck. You play against the computer, and the first player to reach 100 points wins the game. The idea is simple: turn your ten cards into matching groups, and get the cards that don't match down to as few points as you can.
- The deal. Each player gets ten cards. The next card is turned face up to start the discard pile.
- The first upcard. The non-dealer may take it. If they pass, the dealer may. If both pass, the non-dealer starts by drawing from the stock.
- Your turn. Draw one card, either the top of the face-down stock or the top card of the discard pile. Then discard one card. You can't throw back a card you just took from the pile.
- Melds. A set is three or four cards of the same rank. A run is three or more cards in a row in the same suit. Aces are low only: A-2-3 is a run, Q-K-A is not.
- Deadwood. Cards not in a meld. Face cards count 10, aces 1, everything else its number.
- Knocking. When your deadwood after discarding is 10 or less, you may knock and lay your cards down. Your opponent then lays off any cards that fit your melds.
- Scoring. The knocker scores the difference in deadwood. If the opponent has as little or less, it's an undercut: they score the difference plus 25. Gin (no deadwood at all) scores 25 plus the opponent's deadwood.
- Winning. First to 100. At the end, each hand won is worth 25 more and the winner gets a 100-point game bonus.
Read the full gin rummy rules with worked examples and a scoring table
Your Melds Are Sorted for You
Counting deadwood in your head is the hard part of gin, so this game does it for you. Your hand is always arranged into its best melds, with your deadwood total in big print above the cards. When a card could go in a set or a run, the game picks whichever leaves you less deadwood. Prefer to see your cards in order? Tap the Sort button to switch between melds and rank. The Knock and Gin buttons only appear when you are allowed to use them, and they say exactly which card they discard. At the end of each hand, both hands are laid out with every layoff and the arithmetic written out in plain English.
Tips for Winning
- Throw high cards early. A loose king or queen costs you 10 points if your opponent knocks.
- Knock early when you can. In the first few turns your opponent's deadwood is usually high, so a quick knock often pays.
- Watch what the computer picks up. The game shows the cards it took from the pile. Don't throw cards that fit with them.
- Keep cards that work two ways. A 7♥ next to 7♠ and 8♥ can still become a set or a run.
- Take the upcard only if it helps. Taking from the pile tells your opponent what you're collecting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this gin rummy game free?
Yes. Play as many games as you like for free, with no account, no download and no ads over the game.
Does the computer cheat?
No. The computer never sees your cards or the order of the stock. It decides using only its own hand and what happens face up: the discard pile and the cards you pick up from it. At the end of every hand you see both hands laid out, and every game has a deal number. Replay the same number and you get exactly the same cards, so you can check that the deal is fair. Tap Why? next to any computer move to see the reason for it.
What is deadwood?
Deadwood is every card in your hand that is not part of a set or a run. Face cards count 10, aces count 1 and every other card counts its number. The game sorts your hand into its best melds for you and shows your deadwood total above your cards.
When can I knock?
After you draw, if you can discard one card and leave 10 points of deadwood or less, you may knock. A Knock button appears only when a knock is allowed, and it tells you which card it discards and what your deadwood will be. With no deadwood at all you get a Gin button instead.
What is an undercut?
If you knock and your opponent ends up with the same deadwood as you or less, after laying off cards on your melds, they undercut you. They score the difference plus a 25-point bonus. You cannot be undercut when you go gin.
Can I play Oklahoma gin?
Yes. Open Settings and choose Oklahoma gin under House rules. The first upcard then sets the knock limit for the hand, an ace means gin only, and a spade upcard doubles the score. You can also turn on big gin, play to 150 or 250, and change the undercut bonus.
Does the game save my progress?
Yes. Your game is saved in your browser after every move, so you can close the page and continue later on the same device.
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