Gin Rummy Online

Gin Rummy is the classic rummy game for two players. Each player gets ten cards and draws one card a turn, either from the face-down stock or from the top of the discard pile, then discards one. The aim is to arrange your hand into melds: sets of three or four cards of the same rank, and runs of three or more cards in sequence in the same suit. Cards that fit into no meld are your deadwood. Once your deadwood is worth 10 points or less you may knock and end the hand; with no deadwood at all you go gin. Gin Rummy Online by DonkeyCat lets you play it for free on your phone or tablet: online against real players in public rooms, in a private game with a friend, or in training against the computer.

Also known as: Gin Rummy, Gin, Gin Rommé

Features

• Free to play — free to download and play, with optional in-app purchases.
• Online multiplayer — public rooms match you with real players, one against one.
• Private games — set up a game for you and a friend.
• Training — play against the computer at your own pace, also without an internet connection.
• Classic rules — knock with 10 deadwood points or less, gin and undercut bonuses, lay-offs on the knocker's melds.
• Automatic scoring — melds, deadwood and lay-offs are counted for you at the end of every hand.
• Three tables and four card decks — green felt, marble or wood; classic or modern card faces.
• Sort your hand by suit or by value.
• Friends, leaderboards and daily challenges.

How to play

1. The deal. Gin Rummy is played by two players with a standard 52-card deck. Each player receives ten cards; the next card is turned face up to start the discard pile and the rest form the stock.
2. Your turn. Draw one card, either the top card of the stock or the top card of the discard pile, then discard one card face up.
3. Melds. Build sets (three or four cards of the same rank, e.g. three sevens) and runs (three or more cards in sequence in the same suit, e.g. 10-J-Q-K of hearts). The ace is low: A-2-3 is a run, Q-K-A is not.
4. Deadwood. Cards that are not part of a meld are deadwood. Aces count 1, number cards their face value, and jacks, queens and kings 10 each.
5. Knocking. When your deadwood totals 10 points or less you may knock: discard your last card and lay down your hand. Your opponent then lays out their melds and may lay off deadwood cards on your melds.
6. Gin. If all ten cards in your hand are melded, you go gin. Your opponent may not lay off cards, and you score a 20-point gin bonus on top of the difference in deadwood.
7. Scoring. After a knock the knocker scores the difference between the two deadwood totals. If the opponent has the same or less deadwood, that is an undercut: the opponent scores the difference plus a 10-point bonus.
8. End of the game. If only two cards are left in the stock and nobody has knocked, the hand is a draw. Hands are played until one player reaches the target score shown at the table.

Frequently asked questions