How to play Gin Rummy

Objective

Form melds and end a hand with less unmatched card value than the opponent.

Setup

1. 1

   Deal ten cards to each player.

2. 2

   Turn one card up beside the stock to begin the discard pile.

How play works

1. 1

   Draw the stock top or discard top, then discard one card.

2. 2

   Knock when deadwood is 10 or less, or declare gin with none.

3. 3

   After a knock, the opponent may lay off unmatched cards on the knocker's melds unless the knocker has gin.

Scoring and winning

1. 1

   The knocker scores the deadwood difference; gin adds the agreed bonus.

2. 2

   If the opponent ties or has less deadwood, the opponent undercuts and receives a bonus.

Rules to settle before play

1. 1

   Aces are low and cannot follow kings.

2. 2

   A common match target is 100.