How to Knock and when to knock on Gin rummy

In the game of Gin Rummy, a player can terminate if, after taking a card, you can form enough of your cards into valid combinations: sets and runs. This is done by flipping your discard face down, then revealing your hand, having sorted what you can into sets (matches) and runs (sequences). If there are any leftover cards in your hand that are not part of a bona fide combination, they are considered unmatched or "deadwood". The total amount of your deadwood must be 10 or less points. When the play is discontinued in this way it is called knocking; most likely that is because it used to be indicated by the player knocking on the table, though today one usually just discards. Knocking with no unmatched cards is a gin, and you will receive bonus points for having gin.

Any player meeting the requirement of not more than 10 deadwood is permitted to knock on any turn, even the first. A player doesn't have to knock even if he or she can; they can instead opt to continue playing in order to try improving their score.

The opposing player playing the player who knocked must spread out their cards face-up, and arrange them into sets and runs, if possible. If the knocker did not go gin, the opponent is allowed to use any unmatched cards to extend the sets and runs laid down by the knocker. The opponent may add a fourth card of the same rank to a group of three, or add consecutive cards of the same suit to either end of a sequence.

Back to Gin Rummy