Gin Rummy
Rules

Quick answer

How to play

1. On a turn, draw one card from the stock or discard pile.
2. Arrange cards into runs (same suit, consecutive ranks) and sets (same rank).
3. Discard one card to finish the turn. Cards outside melds are deadwood.

Gin Rummy melds and ending a hand

Each player receives ten cards. On every turn, take one card from the stock or discard pile, arrange the hand, then discard one card. The discard pile should remain visible so both players can follow the sequence.

Making melds

A run is three or more consecutive cards of one suit. A set is three or four cards with the same rank in different suits. A card can belong to only one meld.

Deadwood and closing

Cards outside melds are deadwood. Their point value is typically Ace = 1, number cards = face value and face cards = 10. Agree whether the group uses knocking, gin and undercut rules before the hand begins.

Rules and scoring

Aces count as 1; number cards count at face value; face cards count as 10. The exact closing and scoring rules can differ by table, so agree them before playing.

Meld sorter

Related guide

For a broader family of draw-and-discard games, see Rummy rules. Look up meld, run, set and deadwood in the glossary.