Welcome to Ginski!

Ginski is a fun variation of the classic Gin Rummy game, designed specifically for three players. What sets Ginski apart is the use of the unique Rumski deck, which adds a thrilling twist to the game. With its three-player format, Ginski offers a perfect balance of strategy and excitement for a memorable experience.

In Ginski, the objective is to quickly create melds using the cards in your hand. If luck is on your side, you may even be able to meld all ten cards and achieve a “Ginski.” And if you’re really fortunate, you might even achieve a “Big Ginski” by melding all ten cards and the one you draw on your final turn.

Getting Started: The Cards and the Deal

To play Ginski, you’ll need a deck of cards called Rumski. This deck has five different colors, with cards numbered from 1 to 13, and it also includes five wild cards.

First, shuffle the deck and give each player at the table 10 cards. Then, place the remaining cards face down in the center of the table as the draw pile. Flip the top card over to start the discard pile. The dealing goes from left to right in each round.

HOW TO PLAY

Starting with the player on the left side of the dealer, that player can choose to pick up the first card in the discard pile or pass it. If they decide to pick it up, they must discard one card from their hand. Then, it’s the next player’s turn. If they choose to pass, the following player can either pick up the card or pass as well. If all three players pass, the dealer gets the chance to pick it up or pass. If everyone passes, the normal play begins with the player to the left of the dealer.

When I play the game, my turn starts with me drawing a card. I can take the top card from either the draw or discard pile. When I’m ready to end my turn, I have to discard a card. After that, it’s the next player’s turn, and we keep going until someone wants to end the round.

The goal of the game is to create melds in my hand. There are two types of melds: runs and sets. A run is when I have three or more cards of the same color in sequential order. For example, if I have a red 4, 5, and 6, I have a run. A set is when I have three or more cards of the same rank, regardless of color. For instance, if I have a red 5, a blue 5, and a green 5, I have a set. It’s important to keep all my runs and sets hidden from my opponents until the end of the round.

In the game, any card that is not part of a set is considered “deadwood.” To end the round, I only need to have 13 points or fewer in deadwood. But I have an opportunity to do something even more impressive: I can try to end the round with zero deadwood points! And if I manage to do that, I’ll receive bonus points. However, I need to be careful because if an opponent has less deadwood than me, I will be penalized and they will win the round.

Ending the Round

When it’s my turn and I have 13 deadwood points or fewer in my hand, I can choose to end the round. I just need to draw a card like I normally would and then discard my final card face down. This lets everyone know that the round is over, and we all show our hands to see who has the least deadwood points.

If I manage to end the round with all of my cards melded, meaning I have no deadwood points at all, then it’s called “Going Ginski.” I just need to discard my last card face down and shout “Ginski!” And of course, I’ll receive bonus points for achieving this impressive feat!

If I manage to meld all the cards in my hand, including the one I just drew, that’s what we call a Big Ginski. And let me tell you, if I pull off a Big Ginski, there’s no need for me to discard any cards. I get bonus points for that, and you can bet I’ll be showing off my hand and shouting “Big Ginski!” I might even do a little victory dance, just to rub it in.

WILDS

In a Rumski deck, there are five wild cards, and they’re a game-changer. I can use a wild card to represent any number I need. But here’s the catch: I can only have one wild card in each meld. So, no sets of only wild cards allowed.

SCORING

Let’s talk about scoring. Each card in the deck has a value equal to its number. But wilds are special. They’re worth a whopping 20 points! Now, how we score depends on how the round ends. It’s all about strategy, my friend.

If ending the round with 13 or fewer points, you earn the difference between the deadwood in your opponents’ hands and your own as points. For instance: I end the round with 8 points, while my opponents have 15 and 20 points. In this case, I get 35 points and subtract 8 from my own hand, leaving me with a score of 27 for the round.

If I go Ginski, I earn 25 points plus the total value of deadwood in my opponents’ hands.

If I get a Big Ginski, I earn 31 points plus the total value of deadwood in my opponents’ hands.

If the round ends and I have 13 deadwood points or fewer, but you have even fewer deadwood points than me, then you’ve undercut me! And guess what? You get 25 points plus the total value of deadwood in my hand. Let me give you an example: I finish the round with 9 deadwood points, and you have 20 deadwood points. But then, another player, let’s call them Player 3, reveals that they only have 5 deadwood points. Player 3 just undercut me! They earn 25 points plus the 29 deadwood points from my hand. Ouch!

WINNING

The game is won by the first player to reach 100 points or more.

The game is won by the first player to reach 100 points or more.