Play Gin Rummy for free
Gin Rummy is a classic card game for two players. You collect sets and runs, and knock when your hand is nearly done. Here on Kitchen Table Cards you can play it free in your browser against Walter, a friendly computer player. The cards are big, your hand is sorted into melds for you, and every hand is counted at the end.
How to play · Knocking and Gin · Scoring · Tips · Questions
How to play Gin Rummy
Each player gets ten cards. The rest go face down as the stock, and one card is turned up to start the discard pile. The aim is to put your cards into melds:
- Sets: three or four cards of the same rank, such as three Sevens.
- Runs: three or more cards in a row in the same suit, such as the 5, 6 and 7 of Hearts. The Ace is low: A-2-3 is a run, Q-K-A is not.
Cards that are not in a meld are your deadwood. They count against you: picture cards 10, Aces 1, and the other cards their number. A card can only be in one meld at a time.
On each turn you draw one card, either the top card of the stock or the top card of the discard pile, and then throw one card away on the discard pile. You may not throw back the card you have just taken from the discard pile.
On the very first turn, the player who didn't deal may take the up card or pass. If they pass, the dealer may take it or pass. If both pass, the first player draws from the stock and play goes on as usual.
How to play on this site
| Drawing a card | Click the stock or the discard pile. Or drag the top card into your hand. |
|---|---|
| Throwing a card away | Click the card in your hand, then click the discard pile. Or drag the card onto the pile. |
| Knocking | When you can knock, a Knock space appears beside the discard pile ("Gin!" when you have Gin). Click the card to put face down, then click Knock, or drag the card there. |
| Your hand | Your melds are grouped together, with the cards not in a meld on the right. Your deadwood count is shown above your hand. |
| Hint | Tells you which card to draw or throw away, and when you can knock. |
Knocking and going Gin
When your deadwood adds up to 10 points or less, you may knock instead of simply throwing a card away: you put your last card face down and lay out your hand. The other player then lays out their hand too, and may lay off cards on your melds: the fourth card of your set, or cards that extend your runs. That lowers their deadwood.
If all ten of your cards are in melds, you have Gin. The other player can't lay off any cards on a Gin hand.
If neither player knocks before only two cards are left in the stock, the hand is called off. Nobody scores, and the same dealer deals again.
Scoring
| How the hand ends | Points |
|---|---|
| You knock and have less deadwood | The difference between the two deadwood counts |
| You go Gin | 25 plus the other player's deadwood |
| Undercut: you knock, but the other player has the same deadwood or less | They score the difference plus 25 |
The first player to reach 100 points wins the game. At the end, each player gets 25 points for every hand they won, and the winner gets 100 points for the game. If the loser didn't win a single hand, that is a shutout and the winner's total is doubled.
Tips for winning at Gin Rummy
- Throw away high cards early. A King or Queen that isn't in a meld costs 10 points if the other player knocks.
- Keep cards that can grow. A pair, or two cards next to each other in a suit, can become a meld with one more card.
- Watch the discard pile. If Walter picks up a Seven, think twice before throwing him another Seven or the cards next to it.
- Knock early. The sooner you knock, the less time the other player has to lower their deadwood.
- Hold on to low cards late in the hand. Aces and Twos are cheap deadwood and help you knock or avoid a big loss.
Gin Rummy questions and answers
Is this Gin Rummy game free?
Yes. Gin Rummy on Kitchen Table Cards is completely free to play in your browser. There is no download, no sign-up and nothing to buy.
Who am I playing against?
You play two-player Gin Rummy against Walter, a friendly computer player. He keeps an eye on the cards you pick up from the discard pile, and knocks as soon as he can.
What is the difference between knocking and going Gin?
You may knock when the cards that are not in a meld (your deadwood) add up to 10 points or less. Going Gin means every card is in a meld, with no deadwood at all. Gin scores a 25 point bonus, and the other player may not lay off any cards on your melds.
What is an undercut?
If you knock and the other player ends up with the same deadwood as you or less (after laying off cards on your melds), they have undercut you. They score the difference plus a 25 point bonus.
Do I have to sort my cards into melds?
No. Your hand is sorted for you: each meld is grouped together and the cards that are not in a meld go on the right, with your deadwood count shown above them. When a hand ends, both hands are laid out and counted for you.
Can an Ace be high in Gin Rummy?
No. In Gin Rummy the Ace is always low: Ace, Two, Three is a run, but Queen, King, Ace is not. An Ace counts 1 point as deadwood.
Can I play a shorter game?
Yes. Under Settings you can choose a game to 50 points instead of 100.
Does the game save my progress?
Yes. Your current game is saved automatically on your device. If you close the page and come back later, you can carry on where you left off.
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