Gin Rummy Scoring Explained
This page explains every way to score in gin rummy, with worked examples.
Deadwood values
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 |
| 2 to 10 | Face value |
| Jack, Queen, King | 10 |
Hand scoring at a glance
| Result | Who scores | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Knock, knocker lower | Knocker | Defender's deadwood − knocker's deadwood |
| Undercut (defender equal or lower) | Defender | Difference + 25 |
| Gin | Knocker | Defender's deadwood + 25 |
| Big gin (optional) | Knocker | Defender's deadwood + 31 |
| Dead hand | Nobody | 0 |
Example 1: a normal knock
Your opponent holds K♥ Q♥ K♣ 2♥ 3♥ 6♣ 7♣ 9♣ 10♦ 4♠. They lay off the 10♦ on your 7-8-9♦ and the 4♠ on your three 4s. Nothing else melds (6-7-9♣ has a gap), so their deadwood is K♥ Q♥ K♣ 2♥ 3♥ 6♣ 7♣ 9♣ = 57.
You score 57 − 5 = 52.
Example 2: undercut
You knock with 9 (a 9♣ left over). Your opponent's best arrangement leaves only A♥ and 2♦: 3.
They score (9 − 3) + 25 = 31. Knocking with high deadwood late in a hand is risky.
Example 3: gin
Your opponent can't lay off, so their deadwood counts in full. With 38 deadwood you score 38 + 25 = 63.
End of the match
The match ends when a player reaches 100. Then:
| Bonus | Points |
|---|---|
| Game bonus (winner) | 100 |
| Shutout (loser won no hands) | Game bonus doubled to 200 |
| Box or line bonus (each player) | 25 per hand won |
Example: you finish with 104 points and 4 hands won; your opponent has 60 points and 3 hands.
- You: 104 + 100 (game) + 4 × 25 = 304
- Opponent: 60 + 3 × 25 = 135
kawu shows this breakdown in the end-of-match dialog.
Frequently asked questions
How much is gin worth?
The opponent's deadwood plus 25 points. They can't lay off cards against gin.
How much is an undercut?
The difference in deadwood plus 25, scored by the defending player.
What are box or line bonuses?
At the end of the match, each player gets 25 points for every hand they won.
Last updated 2026-10-17