StarGames

How to play

Before the game begins the player must choose between the variants Oklahoma-Gin and Gin. It must also be decided how many points are to be played to – 50, 100 or 200 points.

At the beginning of the game the card shown first can be declined by clicking the “Pass” button.

The player’s own cards are laid out on the table. The nickname and points are shown below. In the middle of the table are the deck and the discard pile. Each player can choose to take a card from one of these piles. This can be done by simply clicking on the card at the top of the desired pile - the card will be added to the player’s hand. To discard a card, the player may either click on the unwanted card or drag and drop in onto the discard pile.

Each player has the opportunity to move the cards around in his/her hand. This is possible while the other players are taking their turns and can be done by simply dragging and dropping the cards into the desired position.

The button “Knock” is shown to each player, albeit it faded out. As soon as a player’s cards reach a value of exactly 10 or less, this button becomes active. Should the cards form a group or a run, a blue line will appear stretching across the corresponding cards.

Cards laid by a player are displayed in the middle of the table. If one player has laid his/her cards and an opponent also has the opportunity to lay, this opponent is shown the button “Lay Cards”. However, if the opponent does not have any groups or runs, the button “Next” is shown instead.

Rules

Gin Rummy is a game for two people. It is played with a 52 card deck.

Each player receives 10 cards. The rest of the cards are put into the middle and the first card is turned face-up. The player who did not deal begins the game. He/she has the option of taking the card in the middle. If he/she decides not to, then the other player may take the card. After this the players take turns. A turn consists of taking and discarding a card. This can be either a card from the pile or the card last discarded.

The object of the game is to collect and lay down combinations of cards. A combination consists of at least three cards, either a group or a straight. A group consists of at least three of a kind e.g. three Kings. A Straight is at least three consecutive cards of the same suit, e.g: Ten of Hearts, Jack of Hearts, Queen of Hearts. Note that each card can only be used for a Straight or a Group, but not both simultaneously.

After a player takes a card and before he/she discards one, he/she has the right to lay down the cards ("knock"). Laying down is possible when, after a card is discarded, the value of the unused cards is equal to or less than ten. After the first player (the "knocker") has put down his/her cards, the other player must do the same. The second player also has the option of adding his/her unused cards to the first player’s combinations (as long as they match). If e.g. the first player puts down three sevens and the second player has the fourth seven among his/her cards, this can be added.

If the player who knocks has no unused cards left, this is called Gin. The player gets bonus points for this and the second player cannot add any of his/her cards to those of the first.

The game is over as soon as one of the players wins the specified number of points (50, 100 or 200 points).

Oklahoma-Gin is a popular variant of Gin Rummy, which can be selected if players want some variety. In Oklahoma-Gin the first card which is turned up determines the number of points from which it is possible to knock. If the first card is an Ace, it is only possible to knock if you have a Gin. Moreover, the remaining points are doubled if the first card was a Spade.

Points

The sequence of cards is as follows Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King. The Ace is worth one point and the Jack, Queen and King are each worth 10. The other cards are worth their face value.

The values of the cards remaining after the players lay down their cards are called the remaining points. If the player who knocked has fewer remaining points, he/she also receives the difference between the remaining points of the two players. If the other player has fewer remaining points, he/she gets the difference plus an extra 20-point bonus. This is called "under-cutting".

In case of a Gin (the player who knocks has no cards left over), the player receives a 25-point bonus. In Oklahoma Gin the remaining points are doubled if the first card was a Spade.