Gin Rummy — free online Card game
The classic two-player rummy: build sets and runs, knock with 10 or less, go gin — and watch out for the undercut.
Gin Rummy is free to play in your browser against the computer: the two-player card game that took over American living rooms and card tables. Each player gets ten cards. On your turn you take the top discard or draw from the stock, then throw one card away, building sets of three or four of a kind and runs of three or more in one suit (ace low). Cards that fit in no meld are deadwood, counted at face value with court cards worth 10. Once your deadwood is 10 or less you may knock: your opponent lays off what they can on your melds, and the player with less deadwood scores the difference. Knock with no deadwood at all and it's gin, worth a 25-point bonus — but if your opponent ends with as little deadwood as you, it's an undercut and they collect the bonus. The game arranges your hand into melds and shows your deadwood, and the first player to 100 points wins. Three computer levels. No download, no sign-up.
Quick start
- Press Start. Tap the stock to draw, or the face-up discard to take it.
- Tap a card to select it, tap it again (or press DISCARD) to throw it away.
- When the panel says you can knock, select your discard and press KNOCK.
- First to 100 points wins.
How to play Gin Rummy
- Each player gets ten cards; the next card starts the discard pile.
- On your turn take the top discard or the top of the stock, then discard one card. You can't throw back the card you just picked up from the discard pile.
- Melds are sets of three or four of a rank and runs of three or more in one suit. Aces are low (A-2-3, never Q-K-A).
- Unmatched cards are deadwood: aces 1, number cards their value, court cards 10.
- With 10 or less deadwood after your discard you may knock. Your opponent then lays off loose cards on your melds.
- The knocker scores the difference in deadwood. Knocking with zero deadwood is gin: the difference plus 25, and no lay-offs. If the opponent's deadwood is equal or lower, it's an undercut: they score the difference plus 25.
- If the stock runs down to two cards with no knock, the hand is a draw.
Terms
- Deadwood
- Cards that are not part of a meld.
- Knock≤ 10
- End the hand with 10 or less deadwood.
- Gin+25
- Knock with no deadwood at all.
- Undercut+25
- The defender has as little deadwood as the knocker, or less.
- Lay off
- Add your loose cards to the knocker's melds.
Controls
- Tap the stock or the discard pile to draw
- Tap a card to select it; tap again or DISCARD to throw it
- KNOCK (or GIN) ends the hand with the selected card as your discard
- Melds in your hand are underlined in green; your newest card is outlined in blue
- Enter or Space lets the computer play the current step for you
Tips
- Get rid of high deadwood (kings and queens) early.
- Watch what your opponent picks up from the discard pile and don't feed them.
- Knock early when you can — waiting for gin risks an undercut late in the hand.
- Middle cards (5–9) fit into more runs than aces and kings.
Frequently asked questions
Is the ace high or low?
Low only: A-2-3 is a run, Q-K-A is not.
Why can't I take back the card I just picked up?
That is the standard rule: a card taken from the discard pile can't be discarded on the same turn.
Are there box or game bonuses?
This version keeps it simple: hand points only, first to 100 wins.
Is it free?
Yes, completely free in your browser, with no download and no account.