About Gin Rummy: Play Gin Rummy Online Free vs the Computer
On any turn, including your first, once your deadwood is 10 points or less after you discard. In this game the Knock button lights up only when the card you picked to discard leaves 10 or less.
By the ToolFluency team · Updated October 2026
Gin Rummy is the classic two-player rummy game, and here you play it one on one against the computer. Each of you holds 10 cards and tries to build them into melds: sets of 3 or 4 cards of the same rank and runs of 3 or more in one suit. Cards outside melds are deadwood. Draw from the stock or take the top discard, throw one card away, and knock as soon as your deadwood is 10 or less, or hold out for gin with none. Your hand sorts itself into its best melds and the deadwood count updates as you play. The first player to 100 points wins. The full printable Gin Rummy rules are here too.
How to play Gin Rummy
- Pick the computer level (Easy or Normal) and press New game. You and the computer get 10 cards each and one card is turned up to start the discard pile.
- The player who did not deal may take that first upcard; if they pass, the dealer may. Press Take it or Pass. If both pass, the non-dealer draws from the stock.
- On each turn, tap the stock to draw a face-down card or tap the discard pile to take the top card.
- Tap a card in your hand to pick it, then tap it again (or press Discard) to throw it away. You cannot throw back a card you just took from the discard pile.
- Your hand sorts itself into its best melds with deadwood on the right, and a bar marks every meld. Switch to sorting by suit or rank, or drag cards into your own order.
- When the card you picked leaves 10 or less deadwood, press Knock. It goes face down and both hands are spread; the computer lays off what it can on your melds. With 0 deadwood the button says Gin.
- The knocker scores the difference in deadwood. Gin scores 25 plus the other hand. An undercut (the other hand equal or lower) scores 25 plus the difference for the defender. If the stock gets down to 2 cards without a knock, the hand is a draw.
- First to 100 wins, plus a 100-point game bonus (200 for a shutout) and 25 for every hand each player won. The score pad keeps every hand.
Examples
Strategy tips
- Throw high unmatched cards early. A stray King or Queen costs 10 points if the computer knocks first.
- Knock early when you can. Waiting for gin gives the other player time to lower their deadwood and undercut you.
- Watch what the computer takes from the discard pile. If it takes a 7 of hearts, do not throw other 7s or hearts next to it.
- Keep cards that work two ways, like a 6 of spades that could join a run of spades or a set of 6s.
- A card the computer passed on is usually safe to throw.
- Before you knock, think about layoffs: a long run gives the other hand more places to lay off.
Example: three ways a hand can end
You knock with 6 deadwood and the computer has 18 after laying off: you score 18 - 6 = 12. You knock with 8 but the computer lays off down to 5: that is an undercut, and it scores 25 + 3 = 28. You go gin and the computer holds 14 deadwood: you score 25 + 14 = 39.
Frequently asked questions
When can I knock in Gin Rummy?
On any turn, including your first, once your deadwood is 10 points or less after you discard. In this game the Knock button lights up only when the card you picked to discard leaves 10 or less.
What is gin and what does it score?
Gin means all 10 cards are in melds after your discard, so you have 0 deadwood. You score 25 plus all of the computer deadwood, and it cannot lay off cards on your melds.
What is an undercut?
If you knock and the other hand, after laying off cards on your melds, has the same or less deadwood than yours, you have been undercut. The other player scores the difference plus 25.
Is the Ace high or low?
Always low. A-2-3 of one suit is a run, but Q-K-A is not. An Ace counts 1 point as deadwood.
Does the computer cheat?
No. It only knows its own cards, the discard pile and what you did in the open: cards you took from the discard pile, cards you threw and upcards you passed. It never sees the stock or your hand.
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