Gambling terms, explained straight

Card Games

Gin rummy rules (UK)

Gin rummy rules UK refers to the standard two-player card game using a 52-card deck, where players form melds and minimise deadwood, with a knock limit of 10 points.

Players
2
Deck
52 cards, no jokers
Deal
10 cards each
Knock limit
10 points or fewer deadwood
Gin bonus
20 points plus opponent's deadwood
Undercut bonus
10 points plus the difference
Game target
100 points or more

Key points

  • Card values: Aces count as 1, number cards at face value, and Jacks, Queens and Kings count as 10 each. 1
  • A player who knocks with 10 or fewer deadwood points scores the difference; going gin (zero deadwood) earns a 20-point bonus plus the opponent's deadwood. 2
  • The first player to reach 100 points wins the game, with a 100-point bonus (or 200 if the loser scored nothing). 2

Where this term is used

Card games Rummy rules UK Covers the basic rules of rummy as played in the UK. Card games Gin rummy Explains the general card game of gin rummy. Card games Rummy rules Describes the standard rules for rummy card games. Card games 500 rummy rules Details the rules for the 500 rummy variant. Card games Gin vs gin rummy Compares the card games gin and gin rummy. Card games Gin rules Explains the rules for the card game gin.

Sources

  1. Gin Rummy bicyclecards.com Provides standard gin rummy rules, card values, and scoring.
  2. Gin Rummy - Card Game Rules pagat.com Details knock limit, gin and undercut bonuses, and game target.

Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.

Written and maintained by Ellis Warrender, writer and maintainer.

Last updated 28 July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell me and it gets fixed and logged on the corrections page.