Gin Rummy - Knocking
The play ends when a player knocks. This can be done on any turn (including the first), immediately after drawing, provided that you can form sufficient of your cards into sets. Having knocked, you complete your turn by discarding one card as usual and then spreading your remaining cards face up on the table, arranged as far as possible into groups and sequences. Any remaining cards from your hand which are not part of a set are called unmatched cards or deadwood. In order to be allowed to knock, the total value of your unmatched cards must be ten points or less. Knocking with no unmatched cards at all is called going gin, and earns a special bonus.
You are never forced to knock. A player who is able to knock may choose instead to carry on playing, to try to get a better score.
The opponent of the player who knocked must then spread their cards face-up, arranging them into sets where possible. Provided that the knocker did not go gin, the opponent is also allowed to lay off any unmatched cards by using them to extend the sets laid down by the knocker - by adding a fourth card of the same rank to a group of three, or further consecutive cards of the same suit to either end of a sequence.
If a player goes gin, the opponent is not allowed to lay off any cards.
Note that the knocker is never allowed to lay off cards on the oppponent's sets.
The play also ends if the stock pile is reduced to two cards, and the player who took the third last card discards without knocking. In this case the hand is cancelled, there is no score, and the same dealer deals again.
|
