Gin Rummy is a two-player card game where you draw and discard to arrange your 10 cards into sets and runs. Knock when the cards left over total 10 points or less, or go gin with none left. This free version plays against the computer in your browser, to 100 points, with no download and no sign-up.
How a hand goes on this table
Each hand starts with ten cards apiece and one card turned face up beside the stock. The player who did not deal gets first look at that upcard. Take it if it helps, otherwise pass and let the dealer decide. If both of you pass, the non-dealer draws from the stock and play settles into its rhythm.
From then on a turn is two moves. First draw one card, either the unseen top of the stock or the face-up top of the discard pile. Then discard one card. Your goal is to group your hand into sets (three or four cards of one rank) and runs (three or more in sequence, same suit) while the cards that fit nowhere stay as small as possible.
You never have to sort anything yourself. Your hand rearranges itself into the best grouping it can find: melds sit together with a small gap between them, and the leftover cards fade slightly so you can see exactly what is costing you points. Tap Sort to switch to suit order or rank order if you prefer to see the raw cards.
Knocking, going gin and getting undercut
When the leftover cards in your hand add up to 10 or less after you discard, a Knock button appears. Press it and the hand ends: the computer gets to lay its spare cards onto your melds, and the lower deadwood total wins the difference. If every card is in a meld you can press Gin instead, which pays a 25-point bonus and allows no lay-offs.
Knocking carries a risk. If the computer ends with the same deadwood as you or less after laying off, it has undercut you and scores the difference plus 25 for itself. The Hint button is happy to tell you when a knock is safe and when waiting a turn is wiser.
Quick rules reference
| Topic | Rule in this game |
|---|---|
| Players and cards | 2 players, 52-card deck, 10 cards each |
| Melds | Sets of 3–4 of a rank; runs of 3+ in one suit (Ace low only) |
| Card values | Ace 1, number cards face value, J/Q/K 10 |
| Knock | Deadwood of 10 or less after discarding |
| Gin | No deadwood: opponent's deadwood + 25 bonus |
| Undercut | Defender ties or beats the knocker: difference + 25 to the defender |
| Game | First to 100; +100 game bonus and +25 per hand won |
| Drawn hand | Only 2 cards left in the stock: no score |
New to the game? The full gin rummy rules include a worked hand you can step through, and the strategy guide explains when to knock, what to throw away and how to avoid an undercut. If you enjoy matching combinations, you may also like cribbage, which has a similar pace.
Gin Rummy questions
Is this gin rummy game really free?
Yes. There is nothing to download, no account to create and no coins to buy. Open the page, and the first hand is already dealt. Your win record is stored only on your own device.
How many points do I need to win?
The first player to reach 100 points ends the game. The winner then adds a 100-point game bonus plus 25 points for every hand they won, so the final tally is higher than 100.
What does the deadwood number mean?
Deadwood is the total value of cards that are not part of a set or run. Aces count 1, number cards count their face value, and Jacks, Queens and Kings count 10. The table shows your total live as you play, using the best possible grouping of your cards.
Can I take back a move?
Yes. Undo steps back through your draw and discard for as long as the computer has not yet moved. Once the computer plays a card, that turn is locked in. A knock cannot be undone.
Why can't I discard the card I just picked up?
Standard gin rummy forbids it: if you take the top discard, you must keep it for at least that turn, otherwise taking it would be a free pass. The game refuses that discard and tells you why.
How hard is the Hard computer?
Hard keeps track of which cards have been seen, notices what you pick up from the discard pile, and chooses between knocking and playing on for gin. It is a fair opponent for an experienced player but it does not see your hand.