About Gin Rummy Rules for 2 Players
10 cards to each player. The next card is turned face up to start the discard pile, and the remaining 31 cards form the stock.
By the ToolFluency team · Updated October 2026
Gin Rummy is a two-player rummy game played with one standard 52-card deck and no jokers. Each player builds a 10-card hand into runs and sets, then ends the hand by knocking with 10 or fewer points of unmatched cards or by going gin with none, and the first player to 100 points wins. A hand takes about 10 to 15 minutes and a full game several hands. The full printable rules sheet, with meld diagrams, a sample knock hand and worked scoring examples, is on this page. Print it or save it as a PDF.
How to play Gin Rummy
- Deal 10 cards to each player. Turn the next card face-up to start the discard pile (the upcard) and place the remaining 31 cards face-down as the stock.
- The non-dealer may take the upcard first; if they refuse, the dealer may take it. If both refuse, the non-dealer draws from the stock and normal play begins.
- On each turn, draw one card from the stock or the top of the discard pile, then discard one card face-up. You may not discard the card you just took from the discard pile.
- Arrange your cards into melds: sets of 3 or 4 cards of the same rank and runs of 3 or more consecutive cards in one suit. The Ace is always low, so A-2-3 works but Q-K-A does not. Each card can be in only one meld.
- Cards not in a meld are deadwood: Aces count 1, number cards their face value, and J, Q, K count 10. If your deadwood is 10 or less after discarding, you may knock. With 0 deadwood you have gin.
- After a knock, both players spread their hands. The opponent may lay off unmatched cards onto the knocker's melds, but not against gin.
- Score the hand (see the table). If the stock gets down to 2 cards without a knock, the hand is a draw and the same dealer deals again.
- The first player to 100 points wins. Add the game bonus and 25 points for every hand each player won, and the difference between the totals is the winning margin.
Gin Rummy scoring
| Result | Points |
|---|
| Knock, knocker has less deadwood | Difference in deadwood |
|---|
| Undercut (opponent equal or lower after layoffs) | Opponent scores 25 + difference |
|---|
| Gin (0 deadwood) | 25 + opponent's deadwood |
|---|
| Big Gin (all 11 cards melded, variant) | 31 + opponent's deadwood |
|---|
| Line or box bonus | 25 per hand won |
|---|
| Game bonus (first to 100) | 100 |
|---|
| Shutout (opponent scored 0) | 200 instead of 100 |
|---|
Examples
Strategy tips
- Get rid of high unmatched cards early. A stray King or Queen costs 10 points if your opponent knocks.
- Knock early when you can, especially in the first few turns. Waiting for gin gives your opponent time to reduce their deadwood and undercut you.
- Watch what your opponent picks up from the discard pile. If they take a 7 of hearts, avoid discarding other 7s or nearby hearts.
- Keep cards that work two ways, such as a 6 of spades that fits both a run of spades and a set of 6s.
- Discards that your opponent passed over earlier are usually safe to throw.
- Before you knock, check which of your opponent's cards could lay off on your melds. A long run invites layoffs.
Example: three ways a hand can end
You knock with 6 deadwood and your opponent has 18 after laying off: you score 18 - 6 = 12. You knock with 8 deadwood but your opponent lays off down to 5: that is an undercut, and they score 25 + 3 = 28. You go gin and your opponent holds 14 deadwood with no layoffs allowed: you score 25 + 14 = 39.
Frequently asked questions
How many cards do you deal in Gin Rummy?
10 cards to each player. The next card is turned face up to start the discard pile, and the remaining 31 cards form the stock.
What is the difference between knocking and going gin?
Knocking ends the hand when your deadwood is 10 points or less, and you score the difference between your deadwood and your opponent's after layoffs. Going gin means every card is in a meld, so you score a 25-point bonus plus your opponent's full deadwood, and they cannot lay off.
Is the Ace high or low in Gin Rummy?
Always low. A-2-3 of one suit is a valid run, but Q-K-A and K-A-2 are not. As deadwood an Ace is worth just 1 point.
What is an undercut?
If, after laying off, the opponent's deadwood is equal to or lower than the knocker's, the knocker has been undercut. The opponent scores the difference plus a 25-point bonus, so a tie also goes to the opponent.
Can you knock on your first turn?
Yes. On any turn, including your very first, you may knock if your deadwood is 10 or less after discarding. Knocking is always optional.
What happens when the stock runs out?
When only 2 cards are left in the stock and the player whose turn it is does not knock, the hand is a draw. Nobody scores and the same dealer deals again.
How is Gin Rummy different from basic Rummy and Rummy 500?
In Gin Rummy, 2 players keep their melds hidden in hand and end the hand by knocking or going gin, playing to 100. In basic Rummy, players lay melds on the table during play and try to be first to go out. Rummy 500 also lays melds on the table, but you score the cards you meld, may take cards from deep in the discard pile, and play to 500. See
Rummy 500 rules.
What are Oklahoma and Hollywood Gin?
In Oklahoma Gin the first upcard's value sets the most deadwood you can knock with that hand, a spade upcard doubles the hand's score, and the game usually goes to 150. Hollywood Gin scores three games at once in three columns, so a player can come back in later columns.
Can I get these Gin Rummy rules as a PDF?
Yes. Press Print Rules and choose Save as PDF as the printer in your browser's print window. Pick full color for a table reference, or ink-saver black and white for a cheaper handout.
Part of ToolFluency’s library of free online tools for Printables. No account needed, no data leaves your device.