What is Gin Rummy?

Gin Rummy is one of the most popular two-player card games in the world. Invented in the early 1900s, it combines elements of skill, strategy, and a touch of luck. The game uses a standard 52-card deck and is played over multiple rounds until one player reaches 100 points.

How to Play

Each player is dealt 10 cards. The remaining cards form a draw pile, and one card is turned face up to start the discard pile. On your turn, you must:

1. Draw — Take the top card from either the stock pile or the discard pile
2. Discard — Place one card from your hand onto the discard pile

Your goal is to form your hand into melds (sets of 3-4 cards of the same rank, or runs of 3+ consecutive cards in the same suit) while minimizing your deadwood (unmatched cards).

Knocking & Gin

When your deadwood value is 10 or less, you may knock to end the round. If your deadwood is 0, that's called Gin — worth a 25-point bonus plus your opponent's deadwood!

Be careful though — if your opponent's deadwood is equal to or less than yours when you knock, they score an undercut bonus of 25 points plus the difference.

Scoring

The first player to reach 100 points across rounds wins the match!

Strategy Tips

• Watch what your opponent picks from the discard pile — it reveals what melds they're building
• Avoid discarding cards that might help your opponent complete runs or sets
• Hold middle cards (5-8) early — they form more potential runs than edge cards
• Don't be afraid to knock with moderate deadwood — waiting for gin can backfire
• Track which cards have been played to calculate your odds of drawing useful cards

Card Values

Face cards (K, Q, J) = 10 points. Numbered cards = face value. Aces = 1 point. Deadwood is the sum of unmatched card values.

Play on Rare Pike

Jump into a quick match against another player or a bot, or create a private room to play with a friend. Earn points, climb the leaderboard, and show off your gin rummy skills!

Frequently Asked Questions