Gin Rummy

Gin Rummy is a two-player game with a standard 52-card deck. Each player gets 10 cards; the next card is turned face up to start the discard pile and the rest form the stock. You start the first round; after that the start alternates.

The aim is to form melds: sets of three or four cards of the same rank (three 7s), and runs of three or more cards of the same suit in order (4-5-6 of hearts). Aces are low, so A-2-3 is a run but Q-K-A is not. Cards that are in no meld are deadwood: aces count 1, number cards their number, and jacks, queens and kings 10.

• On your turn, take the top card of the discard pile or of the stock, then discard one card face up. You can't discard the card you just took from the discard pile.
• When your deadwood is 10 or less after your discard, you may knock: the round ends and both hands are shown.
• The other player lays out their melds and may lay off loose cards on your melds (a fourth 7 on your three 7s, the 7 of hearts on your 4-5-6 of hearts).
• If your deadwood is lower, you score the difference. If the other player's is the same or lower, that is an undercut: they score the difference plus 25.
• Gin is knocking with no deadwood at all: you score the other player's deadwood plus 25, and they can't lay off.
• If only two cards are left in the stock and nobody has knocked, the round is a draw and nobody scores.
• The first player to reach 100 points at the end of a round wins the game.

At the start of your turn, tap the face-up card or the stock (or use the buttons). Then tap the card you want to throw away and press Discard; the line under the table tells you your deadwood after that discard. When it is 10 or less, Knock lights up; with no deadwood it says Gin. Under your name you see your deadwood as the game arranges your melds.

This version keeps the first turn simple: whoever starts may take the face-up card or draw from the stock, with no pass on the first card. There are no box or game bonuses: points from each round add up to 100.

Pick how strong the computer is. Easy plays loosely, normal keeps the cards that leave the least deadwood and knocks early, hard also remembers what you picked up and what has gone by. It never sees your cards or the stock. Your game is saved as you play, and Daily gives everyone the same cards today.

Gin Rummy is a race: lower your deadwood quickly, and watch what the other player collects.

• Throw away high loose cards early: a king that isn't in a meld costs 10 if the other player knocks.
• Knock as soon as you can early in a round; waiting for gin gives the other player time to lower their count.
• Watch the face-up cards the computer takes: they show the ranks and suits it is collecting. Don't discard next to them.
• Cards whose partners are already in the discard pile are dead weight: if both other 9s are gone, your 9 can only join a run.
• Late in a round, keep low cards: they protect you from a big count if the other player knocks.