Gin Rummy Card Game Instructions

An Ace can be high or low in Gin Rummy.

People ages seven and older can try their hand at the popular card game Gin Rummy. In the game, players must create three or more sets of cards that match or are in numerical order. According to pagat.com (see reference 1), rules for the game tend vary by region so setting house rules are appropriate. Review the rules, grab an opponent and a standard deck of playing cards and prepare for an evening of fun card playing.

Things You'll Need

• Standard 52 card deck of playing cards
• Pen/Pencil
• Writing pad

Instructions

1. Shuffle the deck of playing cards and deal ten cards to each player. Place the remaining cards face down in the center of the table. This is the draw pile.

2. Turn the top card over and place it next to the draw pile to form the discard pile.

3. Try to form sets of cards, which consist of 3 of a kind, 4 of a kind or "runs" of three or more. To make a run, combine three or more cards of the same suit (clubs, spades, hearts or diamonds) in numerical order. For example: 2, 3, 4 of hearts is a run. Ace is either high or low but not both. A run may be queen, king, ace of the same suit or ace, 2, 3 of the same suit, but they cannot be king, ace, two of a suit.

4. Play starts to the left of the dealer. When it is your turn, pick up the top card from either the discard pile or the top card from the draw pile.

5. If another player has already laid down a set, you can play on his set for your turn. If not, form your own set and place it on the table.

6. Finish your turn by discarding one card.

7. Win the game by being the first to empty your hand. The winner collects the point value of the opponent's remaining cards. Numerical cards are worth their number; jack, queen and king are each worth 10 and aces are worth 1. The first player to get 100 points wins the game.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep pairs dealt to you to find an easy match.

• When saving cards for a run, use two sequential cards; this gives two options for a run. Example: If dealt 5 and 6 of clubs, look for a 4 or a 7 to complete the run. Keeping a 4 and a 6 only gives the player one card to complete the run.

• Watch what the opponent plays so you can have a simple play on their cards.

References

• Pagat: Gin Rummy

Resources

• Rummy Talk: About Gin Rummy