Learn Gin Score

Gin Rummy is a two-player card game played with a standard 52-card deck. The goal is to form your hand into melds (sets and runs) and to be the first to reach the target score — usually 100 points.

Score points by forming melds and catching your opponent with unmelded cards (called deadwood). First player to the target score wins the match.

Each player is dealt 10 cards. The next card is turned face up to start the discard pile, and the remaining cards form the stock pile.

On your turn, draw one card — either the top of the stock or the top of the discard — then discard one card from your hand. Your hand always has 10 cards at the end of your turn.

When your deadwood totals 10 or fewer, you may knock to end the round. Lay down your melds and your deadwood. You score the difference between your opponent's deadwood and yours.

If you meld all 10 cards with zero deadwood, you've gone gin! You earn your opponent's full deadwood plus a 25-point gin bonus.

If you knock but your opponent's deadwood is equal or lower than yours, they undercut you. They get the difference plus a 25-point undercut bonus.

• You knock with 4 deadwood, opponent has 18 → you score 14.
• You go gin, opponent has 12 deadwood → you score 12 + 25 = 37.
• You knock with 8, opponent has 6 → undercut! Opponent scores 2 + 25 = 27.