Play Gin Rummy Online Free with Friends

How to play Gin Rummy

1. Ten cards each. The next card is turned up beside the stock: the non-dealer may take it or pass; if both pass, the non-dealer draws from the stock and play begins.
2. On your turn, draw one card — the top of the stock, or the top of the discard pile — then discard one. You may not throw back the discard you just took.
3. Collect MELDS: three or four of a rank, or three or more in sequence in one suit (aces low: A-2-3, never K-A-2). Everything else is DEADWOOD — aces count 1, faces 10, the rest their number.
4. When your deadwood is 10 or under after your discard, you may KNOCK. Zero deadwood is GIN.
5. On a knock the other player lays off any deadwood that fits your melds, then the difference in deadwood goes to the knocker. Gin scores 25 plus all of their deadwood, and they may not lay off.
6. If their deadwood is equal to or less than yours, that is an UNDERCUT: they score 25 plus the difference.
7. When only two cards remain in the stock and nobody has knocked, the hand is void and redealt. First to 100 wins.

Gin Rummy FAQ

Can I play gin rummy with a friend?

Yes — make a table, send the link. Or add the house bot for a game right now.

How is the knock scored?

The other player lays off what fits your melds, then you score the difference in deadwood. Gin is 25 plus all their deadwood, with no layoffs. If they end with as little deadwood as you or less, they undercut you for 25 plus the difference.

Do I have to arrange my melds?

No. The table finds the arrangement that leaves you the least deadwood and shows it, so what you see is what a knock would score.

Do I need an account?

No. Type a name and play — no signup, no download, nothing to install. Making an account is optional and only exists to keep your stats, nickname and preferences across devices.

Is it really free?

Yes, all of it. Every game on Board Game Universe is free to play, with no premium tier holding anything back.

Can I play on my phone?

Yes. It runs in a mobile browser on phones and tablets as well as on a desktop — there is no app to download.

How do I play with my friends?

Start a table and send your friends the link. They open it, type a name, and sit down. Moves and table chat happen in real time.

Can I play against the computer?

Yes. Add a bot to any table and it plays a proper game — useful for filling a seat while you wait for a fourth.