The Pack Gin Rummy is played with a 52 card deck, the wild cards (jokers) are not used. It is best to use two decks, so that while one player deals the cards, the opponent can shuffle the other deck. Rank of Cards The order of the cards, from highest to lowest, is: king (K), queen (Q), jack (J).

• Michigan Rummy Rules Card Game
• Types Of Rummy Games

Both players get ten cards. The dealer turns the rest of the cards into the stock by placing them in the center of the table and turning over the first card. The upcard is offered to the nondealer first. If he doesn’t want the upcard, the dealer may take it, and then play continues. To win at rummy card game, the players have to group cards in valid sequences and sets. In rummy, the cards in each suit rank low to high starting with Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen and King. Ace, Jack, Queen and King each has 10 points. The remaining cards have value equal to their face value.

What is Gin Rummy?

Gin Rummy, sometimes simply called “Gin”, is one of the most popular card games in the world. The rules of the Gin Rummy card game are part of its appeal, seemingly complex but easy to understand. As with other Rummy games, Gin Rummy is a game about building a winning hand by managing discards. The following guide covers this in further detail.

How to Play Gin Rummy?

Gin Rummy is a game for 2 players, and can be played using the standard Anglo-American 52-card Poker deck. The game is one of the most popular variants of Rummy, and follows similar rules but with streamlining for a more fast paced game. Gin Rummy is less a game about chance, and more about making informed decisions.

Dealing

The dealer is determined by splitting cards, and the player getting a higher card becomes the dealer. Each player is then dealt 10 cards each. The remaining cards are placed aside to form the draw pile. The discard pile is then created by revealing the top of the draw pile.

Winning

The goal of the Gin Rummy card game is to form sets and sequences in your hand. Sets are cards of the same rank, but from a different suit. Sequences are consecutive cards from the same suit. Examples of sets and sequences are shown below.

A straight of 5 cards:
7♠ 8♠ 9♠ 10♠ J♠

A set of 4 cards:
2♠ 2♦ 2♣ 2♥

Unlike more traditional Rummy games, Gin Rummy can be prematurely ended by calling Knock or Gin. These will be discussed in their respective sections. The game ends once a player reaches 100 points.

Turns

Each turn, a player will draw 1 card. They can choose to draw from either the top of the draw pile or the discard pile. To end a turn, a player will discard 1 card of their choosing from their hand. Essentially, a player will always have 10 cards outside of their turns.

The non-dealer goes first, but the first revealed card can be claimed by either player to start their turn. If the non-dealer passes, the dealer gets the opportunity to claim that card.

When a player is satisfied with their hand, they can choose to end the round by either knocking or calling gin. This is indicated by discarding a card face-down at the end of a turn. The instructions for each are shown below.

Knocking

Knocking can only be done when the total value of unmatched cards in hand is lower than 10. The card values are shown in the Scoring section of the guide.

The player who knocks will reveal his hand with the melded combinations set aside. The other player then shows their hand, and gets a chance to lay off.

Laying Off

Laying off can be done in response to a player knocking. The knocking player cannot lay off. The player responding to the knock can play their unmatched cards into the melds of the knocking player. An example of a lay off is shown in the Hands section of the guide.

Since knocking off triggers the point calculation of the round, laying off allows a player to lower the amount of points granted to the knocking player. Points are awarded based on the difference between the value of unmatched cards, also known as the deadwood in hand.

Undercut

The undercut occurs when a player responding to a knock has less value in their deadwood cards after laying off than the knocking player. An example is shown below.

If an undercut occurs, the responding player gets awarded 10 points, as well as the point difference.

Gin

Calling gin is only allowed when there are no deadwood cards in hand. In other words, a player that calls Gin only has sets and sequences in hand. When gin is called, there is no lay off phase, and the player that calls gin gets a bonus of 30 points.

Big Gin

Knocking and calling gin occurs at the end of a turn. If a player has gin in hand, but chooses to risk a draw, they can call Big Gin. This is when the drawn card fits into the melds in hand, leaving no deadwood. This awards 50 points instead.

Gin Rules

Gin Rummy has specific rules that apply to specific situations, ensuring smooth gameplay.

Knock rules

Knocks can only be called if the total value of deadwood cards are less than 10. A player does not need to knock when their deadwood value is less than 10, they can choose to continue drawing to improve their hand further. The player who knocked cannot lay off cards to their opponent.

Gin/Big Gin rules

Gins can only be called when the value of deadwood is 0. When a player calls gin, the lay off phase is skipped. Due to the nature of the game, undercut is impossible, since there is no value lower than 0.

Undercut rules

Undercuts occur when the opposing player has a lower deadwood value than the knocking player. If both players have the same deadwood value, it is considered an undercut, and the undercut bonus goes to the responding player.

Melding rules

Melds have to consist of 3 cards or more. Depending on the variation of Gin Rummy being played, melds of 6 or more cards are not allowed.

Summary

In summary, the Gin Rummy rules are:

• Dealer is determined via deck splitting.
• Each player is dealt 10 cards each, 1 card at a time.
• The next card in the deck is placed face-up, forming the discard pile.
• The non-dealer goes first, and draws 1 either from the top of the draw or discard pile.
• When a player is satisfied with their hand, they can call for a knock or gin.
• A player can only call for a knock when their deadwood card value is less than 10.
• A player can respond to a knock by laying off cards into the melds of another player.
• A player cannot respond to gins.

Scoring & Deadwood

Gin Rummy scoring is based on the difference in deadwood value, as well as bonuses awarded from the undercut, gin and big gin. The typical scores for each are shown below:

• Undercut: 10 points
• Gin: 30 points
• Big Gin: 50 points

Apart from the bonuses, deadwood value is considered. These will fall below 10 points, since knocks can only be called with a deadwood value below 10. The calculation of deadwood value is shown below:

• 2 – 10: Face Value
• 10 – K: 10 points
• Ace: 1 point
• Joker: 20 points (when included)

Note that when a tie of deadwood score happens on a knock, the undercut is still awarded to the responding player.

The game ends with the first player reaching 100 points being granted the win.

Hands

Gin Rummy hands are all about building a winning hand, minimizing deadwood value by discarding unmatched cards each turn. Once a satisfactory hand is built, a player can knock, or in rare cases, call gin with a hand of only melds.

Michigan Rummy Rules Card Game

Melds have to include 3-5 cards, and examples are shown below:

A straight of 5 cards:
7♠ 8♠ 9♠ 10♠ J♠

A set of 4 cards:
8♠ 8♦ 8♣ 8♥

Illegal set of 2 cards:
7♦ 7♣

An example hand and the layoff phase is shown below. In this case, Player 1 calls for a knock.

Before the lay off phase, Player 1 clearly wins via score, but player 2 can lay off their J♥ and 7♥ to the first meld in Player 1’s hand. The updated scores are:

It can be observed that Player 2 now has less deadwood than Player 1. Hence, Player 2 has successfully undercut Player 1. Thus, Player 2 is awarded the difference of 4 points, along with the bonus of 10 points, getting a sum of 14 points this round.

Strategy & Tips

• The basis of Gin Rummy strategy is knowing when to knock. Ideally, a low Deadwood value is a good indicator that it is time to knock.
• Carefully consider discards. Sequences are easier to complete than sets, so do not hesitate to break sets during discards.
• Each card can only be used for 1 meld.
• Consider drawing from the discard pile. With the discard pile, you know for certain the card you will get, as opposed to the unknown draw pile.
• Count cards, since the standard deck does not have duplicates, you can make more informed decisions.
• Be careful when knocking. If your hand has simple sets to extend, the opposing player can lay off their cards.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cards are dealt in Gin Rummy?

Each player receives 10 cards at the start of each round.

Rummy vs Gin Rummy; what is the difference?

Rummy can be played by 2-6 players, whereas Gin Rummy is suitable for 2-4 players. Rummy also has more specific conditions for winning.

Can Gin Rummy be played with 3 players?

Yes. Gin Rummy can be adapted to 2-4 players by changing the starting deal amount.

How to win at Gin Rummy every time?

Counting cards, much like in other card games, can help you win more.

What is deadwood in Gin Rummy?

Deadwood refers to the unmatched cards in hand, and are used for point calculation.

What are Aces worth in Gin Rummy

Aces are worth 1 point in Gin Rummy.

What is the significance of the name and how did it become famous?

Some versions of the history of the game claim its origin to be in the 20^th century. It is believed the game’s name came from its inventor’s fondness of the alcoholic drink of Gin. The game became popular when it was adopted by Hollywood’s elite and famous movie stars back in the 1930’s. They liked playing this thrilling and fast game on the set during takes.

Another reason for the Rummy games’ popularity is believed to be from the great depression period, when people did not have many financial resources to engage in outdoor entertainment activities, and turned to different ways to spend quality time with family and friends indoors.

Also see:

Continental Rummy (also called Continental, May I?, and Double-deck rummy) is a progressive partnership Rummycard game related to Rumino. It is considered the forerunner of the whole family of rummy games using two packs of cards as one. Its name derives from the fact that it is played throughout the continental Europe (especially in the Czech republic and Slovakia where it is known as Žolíky), the United States, Mexico, Canada, and also in South America.^[1] According to Albert Morehead, it was 'at one time the most popular form of Rummy in women's afternoon games, until in 1950 it lost out to Canasta.'

Object[edit]

The object of Continental Rummy is to be the player with the fewest penalty points after playing all seven hands. Everyone draws one card, the high card deals, and the subsequent deals are passed to the left.

Two 52-card decks are used plus two Jokers per deck. The number of decks used additional to the base of two is determined by dividing the number of players by two and rounding up, if needed. For example:

• 4 players use 2 decks
• 5 players use 3 decks
• 6 players use 3 decks
• 7 players use 4 decks
• 8 players use 4 decks

Each player is dealt 12 cards, the remaining stock pile is set on the table. Jokers and red Aces are wild. After a card is drawn, one must be discarded, and the next player to the left has the option of drawing either the top discard or top stock card then he must discard.

A set consists of three or more cards of the same face value, e.g., three queens, or three aces, or three sevens. A run consists of four or more cards of the same suit, in sequence. If there is an ace in the run, it can serve as either high card or low card, but not both in the same run. No run may contain more than 13 cards.

Gameplay[edit]

Hands[edit]

Seven different deals, or hands, make up one game. Each hand consists of a combination of sets and runs, and there is a different opening requirement for each of the seven hands. The first hand requires a player to open, or 'go down,' with two sets. A minimum of six cards makes up the first hand's opening requirements, seven cards for the second hand, etc. Each successive hand needs one more card for the opening requirements, until the seventh hand, which requires twelve cards to open. Everyone moves on to the next hand together, regardless of whether they were able to go down during the previous hand.

Once a player has gone down by satisfying the requirements for that particular hand, he may not create any new sets or runs. While playing the first hand of two sets, no player may play three sets. Cards that remain in a player's hand may only be played onto the sets and runs already established on the table.

The sequence of seven hands is as follows:

For those hands that require multiple runs, if a player goes down using the same suit for more than one straight, the straights can be played with contiguous card values. However, the player must separate these cards into two runs of four (or more) and can be played on separately, i.e. Player 1 goes down with 5–8 and 9-Q of spades, Player 2 (who is down) can play a 9 of spades on the first straight and an 8 on the second and so on. Multiple trios of the same value (number or face) can be played in this manner as well.

The deal[edit]

All players pick a card at random and return it to the deck, high card dealing first. Each hand starts a new deal, with the turn to deal passing from player to player, to the left. Cards are dealt one at a time, face down beginning at the dealer's left. The dealer deals 12 cards face down to each player, places the remainder of the pack face down in the middle, and places the top card from the stock pile face up next to it. Play starts with the player to the dealer's left and proceeds clockwise. If the first face-up card is a joker, it is played as any other card would be, i.e., the player to the dealer's left would have first choice to pick it up in turn.

The play[edit]

Beginning with the player to the left of the dealer, a person's turn begins by selecting either the top card from the stock pile, or the top card from the discard pile. If the player does not wish to select from the discard pile, any player in order of rotation to the left of the player may claim that card, but must also draw the top card from the stock pile as a penalty for picking out of turn, without discarding. Conventionally this desire is announced by saying 'may I?', thus the alternative name of this game. If several players wish the top card, the priority goes to the desiring player closest in rotation to the current player. In such a case:

• The order of play is not changed,
• The player picking out of turn may not play any cards on the table until his or her next regular turn,
• Any remaining cards in the discard pile are ineligible for selection (dead), and
• The player whose turn was interrupted resumes play by selecting the top card from the stock pile.

As a point of strategy, it is occasionally advantageous to 'may I' for a card not directly useful, in the hopes the penalty card will be useful.

If the player has not yet opened, and has the necessary cards to meet the opening requirements for that hand, he may then lay down the sets and runs appropriate for that hand. Having opened, the player is then free to play (in that same turn and in subsequent turns) additional cards onto existing sets or runs that have already been played on the table. A player may not put any cards into play until he has opened ('gone down').

Wild cards may be used to fill in missing cards in a set or a run, but the wilds can never outnumber the standard cards. Trios of wild cards can be played, however, and only wild cards can be played onto these trios. If a player doesn't verbally declare the value of a joker being played as part of a run, its value is implied by the position in which it is originally placed. If the player changes his mind as to which cards to play where, only the cards played in the current turn may be picked up for re-use. Wild cards cannot be rearranged on a straight to play another card, i.e. Player 1 has a straight of 4–8 of hearts, with a wild standing in for the 5. Player 2 (who is down) cannot play his 5 of hearts and move the wild card somewhere else in the straight.

During a player's regular turn, and only if they have already opened, a wild card already laid on the table as part of any run may be replaced by the card which it represents, taken from the player's hand. The wild card must then be played on the table to represent any card in any set or run. Wild cards that are part of a set may not be replaced.

The end of a turn occurs when a player discards one card onto the discard pile. Play then continues with the next player to the left.

Scoring[edit]

Types Of Rummy Games

Since Continental Rummy is a game winnable based on the fewest points, you get 5 points for cards from 2–9. 10 and face cards count as 10 points. Aces are 20 points and Jokers are 50.

Rule Variations[edit]

It is common for regional or house rules to develop. Examples include that 'may I?'s are not allowed in the last three rounds, or using 2's as additional wild cards.

Rules of play[edit]

Stock pile depletion[edit]

It is possible when many cards have been taken out of turn in a hand, resulting in many penalty cards, that the stock pile may dwindle down to nothing before any player has gone out. Should this happen, the stock pile is turned over once, without shuffling, and play continues in order. If the remaining cards in the stock pile are depleted a second time without any player going out, the hand ends and all points remaining in all players' hands are tallied as they would be had someone gone out.

Incomplete hands and games[edit]

If all players agree, a game may be suspended between hands and later resumed, but only if all players are available when play resumes, and only if the game resumes in the same calendar year as it started. Players must be seated in the same relative positions to each other when the game resumes.

Any player not finishing a full game (one or more hands not played to completion) will post a game total equal to the sum of the two highest complete game totals posted by other players in that game. If two other complete game totals are not available in that game, all statistics for that game are discarded. Similarly, any player not providing a score for a particular hand that he or she played will post a score equal to the sum of the two highest scores posted by other players for that hand. If two other scores are not available in that hand, the hand is re-played.

Play out of turn[edit]

If a player going out of turn is not stopped before discarding, it stands as a play in turn and intervening players lose their turns. If the player out of turn has chosen to take the top card of the stock pile, it is too late for rectification after the player has added that card to his or her hand.

If it is not too late, as defined, to correct the error, the offender restores the card drawn, takes back any cards that he or she may have played, and play then reverts to the correct person, the rule Illegal Draw may apply.

Illegal Draw[edit]

If, by playing out of turn or by drawing more than one card from the top of the stock pile, a player sees a card to which he is not entitled, that card is placed face up on top of the stock pile. The next player in turn may either take the card or may have it placed face down in the center of the stock pile, and proceed to play as if no irregularity had occurred. If more than one card is so exposed at the top of the stock pile, the option of each player in turn is only to take the top such card remaining there, or the top face-down card of the stock pile, or the previous player's discard. That is, players have three options to draw from instead of the normal two, as long as exposed cards remain at the top of the stock pile.

A player's illegal draw may not be corrected after discarding, but the section on Incorrect Hand may apply.

Premature discard[edit]

Any player who discards without drawing may then draw from the stock pile to restore their hand to the proper number of cards, but may not lay down any cards after discarding. If the next player in turn has already drawn, the section on Incorrect Hand applies. A player who discards more than one card may retract either one, unless the next player has drawn it or unless the next player has already ended their turn.

Incorrect hand[edit]

• A player with too many cards discards without drawing.
• A player with too few cards draws without discarding; one card in each turn until the player's hand is restored to the correct number. This also applies to a player who draws too many cards and adds them to his hand before correction is required.
• A player may not lay down any cards in a turn when the hand is still incorrect.
• If, after a player goes out, another player has too many cards, he simply counts the value of all cards in the hand.
• If a player has too few cards, he is charged 10 points for each missing card.
• If any player goes out and is found to have too few cards, they take back all cards that were laid down in that turn, and play continues.

Re-deal[edit]

There must be a re-deal, by the same dealer, if more than one card is exposed in dealing or if more than one card is found face up in the pack. A player who is dealt an incorrect number of cards may demand a re-deal before drawing in their first turn, but not after that. There must be a re-deal at any time it is discovered that the pack is incorrect, but the results of previous deals are not affected.

Cards laid down illegally[edit]

Any cards which are superfluous in an otherwise correct set or run must be returned to the original player's hand as soon as they are discovered. Any cards that may have been added to the incorrect set or run remain on the table. Play then proceeds as if no irregularity had occurred.

Scoring errors[edit]

An error in counting a hand may not be corrected after that hand has been mixed with other cards. However, if an error in scoring is discovered when there had previously been no dispute, an agreed upon correction may be made at any time.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^Scarne, John Scarne on Card Games: How to Play and Win at Poker, Pinochle, Blackjack, Gin and Other Popular Card Games pg. 99 Dover Publications (2004) ISBN0-486-43603-9

External links[edit]

• Rules of Card Games – May I? at Pagat.com