Gin Rummy

Starting the Game

Each player has the option of taking the card that's face up and adding it to his or her hand. If either player takes it, that player then discards a card face up to take its place, and the turn passes to the other player. If neither player wants to take the initial face up card, the non-dealer takes the next turn.

From then on, each player in turn takes either the top card from the stock or the top card from the pile of face up cards and adds it to his or her hand. The player then discards any card (it may be the one just drawn) face up onto the face up pile.

Melds

The object is to group the cards in one's hand into "melds." A meld is a set of three or more cards forming either a set or a sequence. A set is three or four cards of the same rank, such as 444 or JJJJ. A sequence is three or more cards of sequential rank, all in the same suit, such as the 3-4-5-6 of clubs. For sequence purposes, aces are only low.

Knocking

Players continue to draw and discard until one player "knocks" or "goes gin." A player may, but is not required to, knock when the total of the unmelded cards in his or her hand--known as "deadwood"--is less than or equal to 10 points. In determining this total, aces count 1 each, 2s count 2, 3s count 3, and so on, with face cards counting 10 points each.

Upon knocking, a player turns his or her hand face up with melds grouped. The opponent now reveals his or her hand and counts up the number of points in its unmelded cards. Before counting, though, the opponent has an opportunity to lay off cards on the knocker's melds. For example, if the knocker's hand includes melds of 333 and A-2-3-4 of hearts, the opponent could reduce his or her deadwood by playing a 3 on the 3s and the 5 of hearts on the sequence.

Going Gin

If a player knocks with no extra cards--that is, with everything melded--it's called "going gin." When a player goes gin, the opponent may not lay off any cards.