Gin Rummy rules
Gin Rummy rules for two players: 10-card deal, melds and deadwood, knocking at 10 or less, gin and undercut bonuses, and scoring to 100.
Updated 2026-10-17 · By the App All Rummy editorial team
Gin Rummy is a fast two-player rummy game. You build melds, keep your leftover ‘deadwood’ low, and end the hand by knocking.
Setup
- Standard 52-card deck, no jokers.
- Each player is dealt 10 cards.
- The next card starts the discard pile; the rest form the stock.
Card values
Aces count 1, number cards face value, and Jack, Queen and King count 10 each.
Melds
- Run: three or more consecutive cards of one suit. Aces are low only.
- Set: three or four cards of the same rank.
A turn
- Draw from the stock or take the top discard.
- Discard one card.
- If your deadwood (unmatched cards) is 10 points or less, you may knock.
Knocking, gin and undercut
- Knock: end the hand with 10 or less deadwood. The opponent lays off cards onto your melds where possible, then both count deadwood.
- Gin: all 10 cards are melded with zero deadwood. You earn the opponent’s deadwood plus a 25-point bonus, and they cannot lay off.
- Undercut: if the opponent’s deadwood is equal or lower than the knocker’s, they score the difference plus a 25-point bonus.
Scoring the game
A game is usually played to 100 points. The winner also collects a game bonus (commonly 100) and a box bonus (25 per hand won), though apps differ in the details.
Frequently asked questions
How many cards in Gin Rummy?
10 cards each in the standard two-player game.
When can you knock?
When your unmatched cards total 10 points or fewer.
Want to practise? See our free-to-play rummy apps, checked against Google Play.