gamerisms
combines gin rummy oklahoma gin for part 4 of this skill games
section.
Gin is perhaps one of the most popular variations of classic Rummy. It
gained popularity in the 1930s when the depression hit the United
States and people were looking for cheaper ways to keep themselves
entertained.
Gin Rummy Rules: 
The game can be played by two people though other variations allow for
four or more players. The deck used is a standard 52-card deck with no
wild cards.
Dealing the Game:Gin Rummy Oklahoma
The dealer deals out 10 cards to each player after which
the next card, called the
upcard,
becomes the top of the discard pile
while the rest becomes the stockpile.
The game then ensues with players forming their melds, either runs or
sets, much like rummy. Examples are run=7-8-9 (same suit) or set=7-7-7
(same number).
The goal of the game is to form combinations in the form of sets or
runs, consisting of three of four cards.
In addition, one has to reduce the number of unmatched cards in one’s
hand to less than your opponents.
Playing gin rummy is faster and easier than classic rummy. It has
clear-cut procedures that involve two compulsory acts.
The non-dealer has to play first and he/she has to either draw a card
from the stockpile or the discard pile. Cards on the discard pile are
placed face up while on the stockpile, they are face down. After
noticing your cards, deciding which card you need least (one which does
not form a set or a run), you must discard the card.
Most house rules prevent players from drawing and discarding the same
card.
Scoring and Winning: Gin
Rummy Oklahoma
A player can score or announce victory in Gin Rummy by knocking,
ginning or undercutting.
When a player has formed their cards into melds, they may choose to
‘knock’ if the total value of their unmatched cards (deadwood) is less
than ten points.
After this, his/her opponents match their unmatched cards by adding to
his melds and thus reducing their deadwood counts. This is known as
laying off’
A customary way of winning is that the player signals by throwing the
final card face down instead of up.
When a player has no unmatched cards in his hand, then he may win by
‘ginning’ which earns him a 25-point bonus and the points on deadwood
for other players’ hands. One advantage of ginning is that opponents
cannot meld their cards on a gin hand.
Undercutting is a tricky way of winning. After a player knocks, if the
opponent has a lower or equal deadwood count then he ‘undercuts’ to
score a 20 point bonus plus the total difference in their deadwood
counts.
The opponent usually lowers their deadwood counts by laying off.
The gin rummy game ends once a player knocks, gins, or undercuts or if
there are only two cards left in the stock.
The player who scores 100 points usually wins the game (though some
house rules extend game play to 150, 200 or 250 points).
The winner adds another 100 points as game bonus to the final score.
Even if one player fails to win a game, then the winner doubles his
entire score and that is called a ‘shutout’.
3 Gin Rummy Variations: Gin Rummy Oklahoma Gin
Straight Gin is the same except players
cannot knock; Celebes Rhum--usually played in Southeast Asia where one
cannot knock rather he/she has to meld all his cards using jokers. The
third, Oklahoma Gin is the most popular version.
Oklahoma Gin:
Oklahoma Gin is similar,
however with this difference -- the
rank of the topmost card of the discard pile (the up card) decides the
highest number of points needed for a player to knock in that
particular hand.
For example, the up card is 6 then a player must have six points or
less. If however, that card is an ace, then both must play for gin.
Some house rules say that a spades for the up card doubles the points
in the hand.
Oklahoma Gin has more skills involved compared to Gin Rummy and thus
requires more strategy. One must remember that with a high knock card
value, one must play for two melds and a quick knock. Alternatively, a
low knock card requires that one must form three melds. Therefore, when
it is compulsory to gin, kings and aces have the slightest value.
Gin Rummy Oklahoma Gin
is
followed by Canasta + 5 Poker Tips
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