Gin Rummy: The Ultimate Strategy Guide (16 Pro Tips)

Gin Rummy is one of the most popular 2-player card games in the world because of its entertaining mix of skill and luck. This is one of the go-to card games my wife and I play when we’re traveling and things usually get pretty competitive, so I’ve gradually picked up every strategy I can find to win. These Gin Rummy strategies are sure to help you to win more often.

In general, the best Gin Rummy strategies are to discard high-value cards, knock as quickly as possible, and draw from the stock unless the upcard completes a meld. Additional strategies include avoiding weak knocks late in a hand and paying attention to the cards your opponent draws and discards.

Every hand of Gin Rummy plays out differently, so you’ll have to stay adaptable and work with the cards you’re dealt. However, knowing how and why to apply each of the strategy tips below will have you playing Gin Rummy like a pro in no time.

Draw from the stock instead of the discard pile

The 9 of Spades is tempting but would rely on an inside straight draw. Draw from the stock instead.

When drawing a card at the beginning of your turn, you should usually draw from the face-down stock unless the upcard in the discard pile will immediately complete a meld. If you know that the upcard won’t complete a meld, you are much better off drawing from the stock with a chance to get a beneficial card.

By drawing a face-down card you are also keeping your opponent in the dark. You won’t be showing what cards you’re looking for, so they will be more likely to discard something helpful to you from their hand. Remember that if you draw the upcard your opponent will know for certain one of the cards in your hand, giving them an informational advantage.

If the upcard will complete a meld for you, then you should take it. The immediate goal when drawing a card is to complete a meld, so accomplishing that goal is always worth the tradeoff of your opponent seeing which card you drew.

Hold pairs of high cards early in the game

Keep the pair of Kings for a few hands to try to complete the meld.

Many players who are new to Gin Rummy will instinctively discard their high-value cards in their first few turns, regardless of other considerations. If you are dealt pairs of high-value cards (10 through King) then it’s often wise to hold on to that pair for at least a few turns in hopes that you’ll be able to draw a third and complete the meld.

Since other players tend to discard high cards early on, you are much more likely to be able to draw that third card from the discard pile. And even if you can’t, there is always a chance that you’ll draw it from the stock.

You don’t want to push this strategy too far, however. Once you’re past about 3 rounds, if you haven’t been able to complete the meld it’s usually best to cut your losses and start discarding your high-value cards. It’s simply not worth the risk anymore since your opponent will be getting closer and closer to knocking.

If you’re playing against an opponent who you notice also uses this strategy, try holding your single high cards for a little longer than usual. Wait until they start discarding high-value cards and then follow suit.

Prioritize discarding high-value cards

This is the most obvious (and the most powerful) strategy in Gin Rummy. All else being equal, you should prioritize discarding cards that are worth more points. We just talked about the exception, when you have a pair of high cards early in the game. But in almost all other instances, you should be looking to swap out those high cards for lower ones.

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It can be tempting to continue to hold out hope of completing melds involving high-value cards, but in the long run, it’s just not worth it. You might succeed in some instances, but if and when you fail you’ll pay a heavy price when your opponent knocks before you do.

Keep middle cards for better straight chances

If you have to decide between two single cards to keep in your hand, you should usually go with a card that is closer to the middle of the number spectrum. This opens up more possibilities to make a straight with that card since there are numbers on either side of it.

For example, if choosing to keep either a lone 2 or a lone 5, it might be best to keep the 5 (depending on what cards have been played already). The 2 only has two possible three-card straights (A-2-3 and 2-3-4) while the 5 has three possibilities (3-4-5, 4-5-6, and 5-6-7). The 5 also gives more opportunities to build on those straights in the future.

Knock as soon as possible (usually)

Almost every single hand of Gin Rummy ends with one player Knocking. Going Gin is a pretty rare occurrence, so you shouldn’t set out with that as your goal on most hands. In almost all cases, you should try to Knock as soon as you are able because it is likely that you’ll end up with less Deadwood than your opponent.

Some players try to wait until they have greatly reduced their Deadwood to avoid being undercut, but this usually just ends up giving their opponent more time to improve their hand and Knock themselves. Of course, sometimes you’ll end up being undercut but in the long run, you’ll come out ahead by Knocking as soon as possible.

Undercut opponents if you have little Deadwood

Discarding an Ace would leave me with only 1 point of Deadwood.

Sometimes during a hand of Gin Rummy, you end up making melds that leave you with very little Deadwood (1 to 3 points). In these cases, you should consider not Knocking immediately, especially if you think your opponent is close to Knocking themselves.

If your opponent reliably Knocks as soon as they are able, they’ll likely Knock with 7 to 10 points worth of Deadwood. By allowing them to Knock, you’ll undercut them and score bonus points in the process. This strategy is a bit risky because you could be allowing your opponent to drastically improve their hand, but it’s a good changeup so that your opponent doesn’t think you’ll always Knock as soon as possible.

Avoid weak knocks late in a hand

Once the deck is down to about half of its original size your strategy should start to change. It’s very likely that your opponent could Knock at any time, and they might be trying to improve their hand to undercut you when you Knock.

If the hand has gone on this long, try to reduce your Deadwood for a few hands before Knocking. The hand has likely become a battle of who can undercut who, so don’t be the one to risk it by Knocking.

Create middle straights over three-of-a-kind

Sometimes you might draw a card that gives you the option of creating either a middle straight or a three-of-a-kind meld. In these cases, you should usually prioritize keeping the middle straight together because the odds of expanding upon it are higher.

A three-of-a-kind meld has only one card in the deck that can be added to it (the fourth card of that number). However, a middle straight has two cards that can extend it – the matching suited number on either end of the straight. Plus, you can potentially keep adding to the straight to make it 5 or 6 cards long.

Bait opponents into discarding a card you need

One of the trickier strategies that I’ve employed in Gin Rummy is baiting my opponent into playing a card that I need to complete a meld. I accomplish this by discarding a card that makes my opponent think I don’t need that number, when in reality it’s precisely what I’m looking for.

For example, if I need the 6 of Diamonds to complete a run and I have the 6 of Clubs in my hand, I will discard the 6 of Clubs. My opponent therefore assumes that I don’t need 6’s, and is more likely to discard the 6 of Diamonds if they have it in their hand. Then, on my next turn, I can pluck it from the discard pile and complete my meld.

Remember that face cards are all the same value

The rules of Gin Rummy state that 10’s and all face cards are worth 10 points apiece. However, players have a natural tendency to see Kings being worth the most, then Queen’s and Jacks. Therefore, it’s more likely that players will prioritize discarding Kings before Queens and so on.

Knowing this, you should lean toward keeping a pair of Kings over keeping, say, a pair of Jacks. It’s more likely that your opponent will choose to discard a King from their hand before a Jack, even though their point values are equal.

Don’t hope to draw an inside straight

We’ve all been there, hoping to draw that one card that would complete a straight of three or more cards. However, if given the choice, you should try to avoid hoping to draw that one specific card. For instance, don’t hold out for the 7 of Hearts just because you have the 6 and 8 of Hearts. Hoping for one specific card is often a losing proposition.

You’re usually better off trying to create and build off of sets of two or runs of two. This way, you have two possible cards that can complete your meld instead of just one.

Keep cards that can add to an opponent’s melds

If you feel confident about what cards your opponent is creating their melds with, try to prioritize keeping cards that can join with those cards in your Deadwood. This is a good way to end up undercutting your opponent even if you don’t have the greatest hand.

For example, if you see that your opponent has picked up two 9’s from the discard pile, you can assume that he or she is likely holding a set of three 9’s. If you have the fourth 9 in your hand, keep it as Deadwood. Then, when your opponent Knocks you’ll be able to play your 9 on theirs to reduce the number of points you have.

Hold cards with more potential melds

Gin Rummy is all about playing the odds and maximizing the number of ways you can win. To that end, you should keep cards that give you multiple possible ways of creating melds.

In the example hand above, the 7 of Diamonds would be able to complete one of two melds. It could play a ‘flex’ role, allowing me to add one more card to either of those melds so that both a complete. This interchangeability is invaluable and you should work to create it whenever possible.

Watch what your opponent draws from the discards

Remember that you’re not playing in a vacuum – there is an opponent sitting across from you who is trying just as hard as you are to win! You should be trying to learn as much about your opponent’s hand as possible, and that means paying attention to what they draw from the discard pile.

If you see your opponent draw a card from the discard pile, you should try to avoid discarding another card of that number or one close to it in that suit. They are undoubtedly trying to build a meld with that number or with a run of numbers close to it and you don’t want to help them along.

Take note of the cards your opponent discards

In a similar vein, the cards that your opponent discards can tell you quite a bit about their strategy and the state of their hand. Pay attention to big changes in the types of cards that they’re discarding which could indicate that they are about to Knock.

For example, if your opponent discards a Queen and a Jack in consecutive turns and then discards a 7, they are likely out of high cards to discard and are looking to create one last meld before Knocking. Adjust your play accordingly!

Keep a consistent pace of play

Good Gin Rummy players can always smell blood in the water. They don’t just play the cards, they play their opponents. Always try to keep a cool demeanor and don’t show anything on your face for them to read.

One of the easiest ways to read a player is the pace of their play. How quickly or slowly they make a move can say a lot about their confidence and the current state of their hand. Try to regulate how quickly you play so that your opponents can’t use this to their advantage. Slow down a bit even when your move is obvious, and don’t deliberate too long if you’re feeling unsure.

Thanks for reading! If I missed something or you have your own opinions, please drop a comment below.