Quickstart Guide: Gin Rummy

1. Start with 10 Cards in your Hand

You and your opponent take turns discarding and picking-up to create "Sets" of three or more cards within your 10-card hand.

2. How To Make A Set of Cards

As a bare minimum, a single set of cards must be three of a kind (Example: Ace of Spades, Ace of Hearts, Ace of Diamonds) or three cards of the same suit in a run (Example: Ace of Spades, two of spades, three of spades).

3. When Does The Hand End?

Create the sets as quickly as possible to "Knock" before your opponent does. 'Knocking' is done on your turn by picking up a card as usual, but then discarding to the knock pile, instead of the open pile. Each card has a point-value (Aces are 1 point, Kings are 10 points). Before the game lets you knock, all the cards left in your hand which are NOT in sets (called "Deadwood" cards) need to add-up to 10 points or less. Once someone has knocked, both players show their hand face-up and the game adds up the points from your Deadwood cards.

4. How To Win the Game

Each room in the multiplayer lobby has a target score required to win the game. At the end of each hand, the winner's points are added to their total score. If they have reached the target score for the room then they win the game. Otherwise the next hand will start immediately.

Hints on How to Play

Speed is important, create the sets of cards as quickly as possible to beat your opponent to the knock. Judgment is also important, should you knock with your Deadwood cards or try to get rid of even more? To knock or not to knock? That is the question!