How many points is gin worth?

Gin is worth a 20-point bonus plus all of the other player's deadwood. The other player can't lay off cards against gin, and gin can't be undercut.

What is an undercut in Gin Rummy?

An undercut is when the player who didn't knock has the same or less deadwood than the knocker, after laying off. They score the difference plus a 10-point bonus.

What score do you play to in Gin Rummy?

Usually 100. The first player whose total reaches 100 wins the game. Oklahoma Gin, a common variant, plays to 150.

What is the line bonus in Gin Rummy?

The line bonus, or box bonus, is 20 points for every hand a player won, added to both players' totals when the game ends. It doesn't count toward reaching 100.

What is a shutout in Gin Rummy?

A shutout is a game in which the loser scored no points. The winner's game bonus doubles from 100 to 200.

Gin Rummy scoring: knock, undercut, gin and game bonuses

In Gin Rummy the player who knocks scores the difference between the 2 players' deadwood. If the other player's deadwood is equal or lower, that is an undercut, and they score the difference plus 10. Gin, going out with no deadwood, scores 20 plus the other player's deadwood. The first player to 100 points wins the game and gets a 100-point bonus, and each player adds 20 for every hand they won.

Scoring happens at the end of each hand, after the knocker spreads their cards and the other player lays off. These are the values on pagat.com, which Card Table uses by default. Some rule books use 25 for the gin and undercut bonuses instead; agree on yours before you deal. If you’re new to the game, start with how to play Gin Rummy.

Points for each hand

How the hand ends	Who scores	Points
Knock, and the knocker has less deadwood	Knocker	The difference
Undercut: the other player has the same or less	The other player	The difference + 10
Gin: the knocker has no deadwood	Knocker	20 + the other player’s deadwood
The stock runs out without a knock	Nobody	0, and the same dealer deals again

Deadwood is counted after lay-offs. Aces count 1, number cards their value, and jacks, queens and kings 10.

Knock

You knock with 6 deadwood. Your opponent has 21 after laying off. You score 21 − 6 = 15.

Undercut

You knock with 8. Your opponent lays off 2 cards and is left with 5. Their deadwood is lower, so they score 8 − 5 + 10 = 13. Knocking with deadwood near 10 risks this, especially late in a hand when your opponent has had time to build melds.

Gin

You go gin. Your opponent can’t lay off and holds 34 deadwood. You score 20 + 34 = 54.

Points at the end of the game

When a player’s total reaches 100, the game ends. 3 things are added:

Game bonus: 100 to the winner, or 200 if the loser scored nothing at all (a shutout).
Line bonus: 20 to each player for every hand they won, the winner and the loser alike.
Line bonuses are added only at the end, so they never decide who reaches 100 first.

A whole game added up

Here is a 5-hand game between you and the computer.

Hand	What happened	You	Computer
1	You knock with 4; the computer has 22	18	0
2	The computer knocks with 7; you have 5, an undercut	30	0
3	The computer goes gin; you hold 31	30	51
4	You go gin; the computer holds 45	95	51
5	You knock with 9; the computer has 17	103	51

You pass 100 in hand 5, so you win. Then the bonuses:

You: 103 + 4 hands won × 20 + 100 game bonus = 283.
Computer: 51 + 1 hand won × 20 = 71.

The computer scored in hand 3, so this isn’t a shutout and your game bonus stays at 100.

Oklahoma Gin scores differently

In Oklahoma Gin, the first face-up card sets the knock limit for that hand: its value, with picture cards counting 10. If that card is a spade, the hand scores double. The game is played to 150. Card Table plays the standard game described above, and shows how every hand was scored, with both hands laid out, before the next deal.