Basic Strategies in Gin Rummy

[screamingmimi04]

A good memory is the best tool you can possess to be a good gin rummy player. You must be able to memorize all possible melds in a hand, and also must be able to calculate your chances for your 2 of a kind sequences. Think about your own strategy and resources first, and then concentrate on your opponents. If you can figure out what cards are held by your opponent, you won't give away good cards or hold cards for an unlikely meld.

It is better to discard a card ranking one or two away from (and a different split) to the one your opponent has previously discarded. As an example, if your opponent has discarded a 7 of spades, then discarding the 6 or 8 of hearts, diamonds, or clubs will probably be safe. If you do not hold any of these, then discarding one such as the 7 of diamonds should be safe as well (since statistics are that only 4 chances are that an equally ranked card will be used against you).

The seven is the most valued card in the deck when it's time for forming melds as it can be used to extend melds more than any other card in the deck.

Keep in mind that you are more likely to win in gin rummy if you:
1. try to knock and score as soon as possible in the game
2. (this is especially true during the first couple discards) anticipating your opponents 'baits'.
3. Don't speculate....this can jeopardize a good hand
4. Towards the end of the game, play either the score or try to keep under to prevent your opponent from winning the game with that hand.