• Gin Rummy Vs Poker Card Game
• Gin Rummy Vs Poker
• Gin Rummy Vs Poker Real Money

The main difference between Rummy and Poker is that Rummy requires skills to play, while the result in Poker depends on luck. Because of this, Rummy can be legally played in the country as it’s a game of skill, not a game of chance or luck. Here are some similarities and differences between the two games. There are many types of card games, played in different societies, Rummy and Poker are one amongst them. Rummy is the most popularly known, matching cards games, while Poker is a family card game, which involves betting. Playing Gin Rummy with friends, family, and millions of players worldwide has never been easier! The objective is simple: Build a winning hand before your opponent. Match cards into sets of the same rank (7, 7, 7) or runs of consecutive cards in one suit (7, 8, 9). Magician and writer John Scarne believes gin rummy to have evolved from 19th-century whiskey poker (a game similar to Commerce, with players forming poker combinations) and to have been created with the intention of being faster than standard rummy but less spontaneous than knock rummy. Rummy has popular modifications like Indian Rummy or the 13 Card Rummy, Gin Rummy, Contracts Rummy, etc. Poker, on the other hand, is known for its most popular version, Texas Hold’em Poker. Read on to know more about the association between the two beloved card games.

Gin rummy, or simply gin, is a two-player card game created in 1909 by Elwood T. Baker and his son C. Graham Baker.^[1] It is a variant of rummy. It has enjoyed widespread popularity as both a social and a gambling game, especially during the mid twentieth century, and remains today one of the most widely-played two-player card games.

History[edit]

Magician and writer John Scarne believes gin rummy to have evolved from 19th-century whiskey poker (a game similar to Commerce, with players forming poker combinations^[2]) and to have been created with the intention of being faster than standard rummy but less spontaneous than knock rummy.^[3]

David Parlett finds Scarne's theory to be 'highly implausible', and considers the game of Conquian to be gin rummy's forerunner.^[2]

Deck[edit]

Gin rummy is played with a standard 52-card pack of cards. The ranking from high to low is King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace.

Objective[edit]

The objective in gin rummy is to score points and reach an agreed number of points or more, usually more than 100, before the opponent does.

The basic game strategy is to improve one's hand by forming melds and eliminating deadwood. Gin has two types of meld: Sets of 3 or 4 cards sharing the same rank, e.g. 8♥8♦8♠; and runs of 3 or more cards in sequence, of the same suit, such as 3♥4♥5♥ or more. Deadwood cards are those not in any meld. Aces are considered low—they can form a set with other aces but only the low end of runs (A♠2♠3♠ is a legal run but Q♠K♠A♠ is not). A player can form any combination of melds within their hand; all sets, all runs, or some sets and some runs.

The deadwood count is the sum of the point values of the deadwood cards—aces are scored at 1 point, face cards at 10, and others according to their numerical values. Intersecting melds are not allowed; if a player has a three-card set and a three-card run sharing a common card, only one of the melds counts, and the other two cards count as deadwood. For example; within the five cards 7♣7♠7♦8♦9♦, the seven of diamonds can be included in the set (7♣7♠7♦) or included in the run (7♦8♦9♦), but it cannot be included in both.

Dealing[edit]

Dealership alternates from round to round, with the first dealer chosen by any agreed upon method. The dealer deals 10 cards to each player one at a time starting with their opponent, and then places the next card in the deck face up. This begins the discard pile. The face down pile is known as the stock pile.

Playing[edit]

On the first turn of the round, the non-dealing player has first option of taking the upcard on the discard pile or passing. If the non-dealing player takes the upcard, they must then discard a different card to the discard pile. The player acting second can take the top card from the pile of their choice. However, if the non-dealing player passes the upcard, the dealer is given the opportunity to take the upcard or pass. If the dealer also passes, the non-dealing player must draw from the stock pile, then the next turn and after, players can draw from the pile of their choice.

Gin Rummy Vs Poker Card Game

On each subsequent turn, a player must draw either the (face-up) top card of the discard pile, or the (face-down) top card from the stock pile, and discard one card from their hand onto the discard pile.

Players alternate taking turns until one player ends the round by knocking, going Gin, or until only two cards remain in the stock pile, in which case the round ends in a draw and no points are awarded. The game ends when a player reaches 100 or more points (or another established amount). In tournament rules the game is played in best of five with 250 points per game.^[4]

Knocking[edit]

In standard gin, only a player with 10 or fewer points of deadwood may knock. Knocking with 0 points of deadwood is known as going Gin or having a Gin hand, while knocking with deadwood points is known as going down.^[5]

To knock, the knocking player discards as usual, announces knocking (generally by simply placing a discard face down), and the hand is laid out with the melds clearly indicated and deadwood separated. The other ('defending') player is then entitled to lay out any melds in their hand and can then lay off any of their remaining deadwood cards that fit into the knocking player's melds, provided that the knocking player does not have a gin hand.

For example, the knocking player has a meld of three Kings. The defending player's deadwood has a king. The player can lay off that king, reducing the deadwood count by ten. The knocking player can never lay off their deadwood into the defending player's melds. Once a player knocks or declares gin the round is over and scores are tallied, players cannot draw.

The knocking player then subtracts their deadwood points from the defending player's deadwood points. The result is the number of points the knocking player receives. An undercut occurs if a player knocks and the defending player's deadwood points are less than or equal to the knocking player's. In this case the defending player receives an undercut bonus (usually 25 points) plus the difference in deadwood points. If the defending player has less or equal deadwood to the knocking player's deadwood after laying off any of their deadwood, then it is still a valid undercut.

Gin[edit]

If all 10 cards in a player's hand fit into melds and thereby the player has no deadwood, they can choose to go Gin in which case the round ends and the player going Gin receives a Gin bonus of 25 points (or another established amount) plus any deadwood points in the opponent's hand. The defending opponent can only lay out their melds and cannot lay off any deadwood into the melds of an opponent that has declared Gin. A player can go Gin with a hand of three or fewer melds as long as all cards fit into a meld. Players can also have an 11 card gin, see Big Gin Variant below.

Big Gin[edit]

Gin hands normally consist of 10 cards. However, if a player chooses to draw so that 11 cards fit into melds, they can declare Big Gin in which case the player receives a Big Gin bonus of 31 points (or another established amount, commonly 50 points instead of the standard 31 points, depending on rule set) plus any deadwood in the opponent's hand.

Scoring[edit]

Aces are scored at 1 point, face cards at 10, and all other cards are scored at their numerical values. The number of points awarded for bonuses may vary from region to region. No matter what the bonus amounts are, points are scored in Gin for the following:

Knock points

After a player knocks, and the layoffs are made, the knocking player receives a score equal to the difference between the two hands. For example, if a player knocks with 8, and the defender has 10 deadwood points in their hand after laying off, the knocking player receives 2 points for the hand. If a player is able to knock before any cards are accepted, it is considered a misdeal.

Gin bonus

After going gin, a player receives a bonus of 25 points plus the entire count of deadwood in the opponent's hand. There is no chance to lay off when a player goes gin.

Undercut (or underknocking)

Occurs when the defending player has a deadwood count lower than or equal to that of the knocking player (this can occur either naturally or by laying off after a knock). In this case, the defender scores an undercut bonus of 25 points plus the difference in deadwood in the knocking player's hand. (In some rule sets, the bonus is only 10 or 20 points, or is not awarded in case of a tie.)

Game bonus

Once a player has acquired 500 points (or some other agreed-upon number) the game is over, and that player receives a game bonus of 100 points (or another agreed-upon number).

Line bonus or box bonus

Added at the end of the game. For every hand a player won during the game, 25 points is added to their score.

Big gin

Prior to knocking, if all 11 cards in a player's hand form a legal gin, the player can retain the extra card as part of their hand, and is awarded 31 points plus entire count of deadwood in their opponent's hand. (In some rule sets players may be awarded 50 points or another established amount plus the entire count of deadwood in the opponent's hand)

Shutout bonus

If a game is completed with the winner having won every hand, the points for each hand are doubled before adding the line bonus.

In some variations, if the winning player beats the losing player by exactly 50 points, the winning player must forfeit the match.

Gin Rummy Vs Poker

Variations[edit]

Gin Rummy Vs Poker Real Money

Straight gin[edit]

In straight gin, players are required to play until one of them can go gin. Knocking is not allowed. Scoring and rules remain the same as standard gin rummy.

Mahjong gin[edit]

Similar to straight gin, knocking is not allowed. However, more than one card may be taken, in order, from the top of the discard pile. If more than one card is taken, the lowest position card taken must be used in a hand: e.g. <bottom> 8♠3♥5♥ <top of discard> 8♠ is the lowest position card and must be used in a hand; continue with one discard). Cards are shown to the table, with opponents being able to add on to straights of the same suit or finish a three of a kind with the fourth card for points. After a player has gin, points are added, with cards on the table being added up and cards in hand being subtracted. The player who gins receives 25 additional points, 2 through 9 = 5 points, 10 through K = 10 points, A = 15 points.

Oklahoma gin[edit]

In this version of gin rummy, the value of the first upcard is used to determine the maximum count at which players can knock. If the upcard is a spade, the hand will count double. So if the first upcard was a 4, you can knock and go out with only 4 or fewer points in your hand; and if the card was 4♠, you would get double points that hand.

Another version in this variation (mostly in match play) and in Hollywood gin (see below), a second deck of cards will be used to determine the knock value of a hand. The knock value card will be dealt from the bottom and turned over on top. Above rules apply but both players are dealt ten cards with the last hand winner picking first from the deck.

Hollywood gin[edit]

This is a scoring style, not a rules change to the game of gin. In Hollywood gin, scoring is kept for three different games at the same time. A player's first win will be recorded in their column in Game One. A player's second win will be recorded in their columns for both Game One and Game Two. Their third win will be recorded in their column for all three games. Hands are played until all three games are finished.

Tedesco gin[edit]

Similar to Oklahoma gin, except aces can be used high or low, and runs can be formed 'around the corner' (such as K♠A♠2♠). If you are caught with an unmelded ace, it counts as 15 points against you. Hollywood scoring of three games to 200 when playing head-to-head or with two-person teams. Three-person teams play to 300, 25 points extra if all three teammates win. 50 points for four-person team, etc. This is a more complex gin game for all levels of player.

Single match[edit]

When a single match is to be played, the players will continue to play rounds until one player has 100 points or more. This player wins the match.

Multi-match[edit]

In multi-match games, match scores are reset to zero with the start of each match, while game scores accumulate until a predetermined winning score is reached, perhaps 500 or higher. Each individual match ends when one player scores 100 match points. At the end of the match, players' match scores are credited toward their game scores, as well as:

• 25 game points for each individual round won,
• 100 game points to the winner of the match, and
• 100 bonus game points to the match winner if the loser won no rounds.

Notable players[edit]

• Stu Ungar, widely regarded as the greatest gin rummy player of all time, was described by many as having a near clairvoyant ability to see his opponents' hands. Ungar's almost total dominance of the game during the 1970s and 1980s is thought to have been a factor in the decline of gin rummy as a tournament game in Las Vegas and other gambling venues. (Ungar eventually switched to poker.) ^[6][7]
• Oswald Jacoby, best known as a contract bridge and backgammon champion, also played high-stakes gin rummy and wrote several books on the game.
• Ernie Kovacs, the comedian and television pioneer, published a book in 1962 called How to Talk at Gin.

Fictional characters

• The villain Auric Goldfinger cheats at gin rummy in the key introduction scene of the James Bond film Goldfinger (1964), with the help of an accomplice looking at the opponent's cards through binoculars.^[8] The film script changed the game to gin rummy from two-handed Canasta in the source novel by Ian Fleming.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^'C.G. Baker, Helped Devise Gin Rummy'. New York Times. May 17, 1950. Retrieved May 22, 2008. C. Graham Baker, writer and producer of motion pictures and co-creator of the card game gin rummy, died today at his home in Reseda in the San Fernando Valley. ...
2. ^ ^ab'Parlett's Historic Card Games: Gin Rummy - David Parlett'.
3. ^Scarne, John (2008). Scarne on Card Games: How to Play and Win at Poker, Pinochle, Blackjack, Gin and Other Popular Card Games. Courier Dover Publications. p. 37. ISBN978-0-486-43603-6.
4. ^Hainline, John; Hainline, Lily Ann (2018). 'Gin Rummy Rules for Tournament Play'(PDF). ginrummytournaments.com. Palm Desert: Gin Rummy Association. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
5. ^'Glossary of gin rummy terms'. rummytalk.com.
6. ^Ungar, Stu (June 29, 2006). One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stu Ungar (documentary). USA: Szymanski, Al.
7. ^Michael Konik (April 1, 1999). 'The Gin Mill'. Cigar Aficionado. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
8. ^'Goldfinger (1964) - Miami hotel pool scene'. Retrieved July 18, 2019 – via YouTube.

External links[edit]

• Rules of gin rummy at Pagat.com

Poker and Rummy are two of the most popular card games amongst players. In places like India, where Rummy is a huge part of traditional festivals, Rummy is even bigger than poker. So, what exactly is the difference between poker and rummy? Let’s find out.

The difference between Rummy and Poker? The difference between poker and rummy lies in their rules and game structure. One of the significant differences between Rummy and Poker is their outcome.

The outcome of a poker game depends on luck and the player’s skill. Players with a strong starting hand always have a huge advantage over players with poor hands. In stark contrast, Rummy is mostly based on the player’s skill and not so much on luck.

To get a better idea of how both games differ from each other, we’ll be taking a closer look at them, including their structure, gameplay, and history.

What is Poker?

Poker is a card game where players are dealt cards and try to outwit each other with placed bets. The endgame of poker is for a single player to outbet his opponents and get them to fold to his bet. This allows him to capture the pot, which contains all the placed bets. Poker players are dealt two hole cards at the beginning of a hand. The big blind and small blind make a default bet. Throughout the hand, each player’s action will be to raise, call, or fold to the size of the pot. A fold means the player has decided not to continue the game. A call means the player has matched the size of the last bet, while a raise means the player has increased the previous bet’s size.

Poker bets are made using plastic or ceramic discs, which are called chips. Poker bets could be made with real money, but the use of chips eases the game transaction. After the game, the chips are then exchanged with their money equivalent.

Different forms of poker are available for any number of players, from 2 to 14 players.

The ideal number of players for a classic game of Poker is between 6 to 9 players.

Basic Types of Poker

There are three major types of Poker games. They include:

• Community Card poker: This is also known as Texas Hold’em. It is the most popular variant of poker. Players share some of their cards by displaying them on the center of the table and the cards are used by all the players to form their best hands.
• Draw poker: players are given 5 cards, and then they can decide to discard a card and get a new one to replace it. The players conceal their cards until its time for a showdown
• Stud poker: This is also called a seven-card setup. In stud poker or seven-card set up, some cards are laid face-up on the table so that other players can see them. There is also less popular 5 card stud poker.

What is Rummy?

Rummy is a card game that originated from the United States. Rummy is a game that is based on melding cards of the same suit and sequence.

In the Rummy card game, players try to form matched sets that include a group of three or four of a consecutive sequence of 3+ cards of the same suits or rank.

The first player to meld them all is automatically the winner. A standard deck in Rummy contains 52 cards. Players will receive a certain number of cards from the deck while the remaining cards are placed face down on the table. In a game of 2 or 4 players, each player is dealt 10 cards in total. While in a game of 5 players, they are dealt 6 cards each.

Basic Types of Rummy

There are two basic types of Rummy:

They include Gin Rummy and Oklahoma Gin.

• Gin Rummy: This card game involves two players intending to score points or reach an agreed point or more(Usually 100 points or more) before the opponent does. In the case of 100 points, the first player to score 100 points is declared the winner.
• Oklahoma Gin: This is a variation of Gin Rummy, a card game for 2 to 4 players. In the 2 player version, the players are given 10 cards while in the 3 to 4 players, each player is dealt 7 cards.

In Rummy card game, the objective is to be the first player to reach a decided score point.

Having had a fundamental knowledge of both games, we’d look at the differences.

Differences Between Poker Card Game and Rummy Card Game

• No of Players: In each of the card game, there’s a designated number of players for each.

In Rummy, the minimum number of players is 2, With a Maximum of 5 players.

While in Poker it has a minimum number of players as 2 and a maximum of 9 to 10 players. But in some large tournaments, you can see as many as 11 players.

• Betting Factor: Betting is hardly a factor to consider in Rummy. In Poker, betting is an integral part of the game. Without betting, poker is not exactly what it’s meant to be. Even when players don’t bet with real money, they still have to use some sort of play money.
• Venue for Play: Poker has always been linked to casinos. Although there’s an online platform for playing poker from the comfort of your home, most Poker games are held in a casino. Rummy card game is a traditional game that can be played from the comfort of your home or with friends.
• Game Set up: Rummy is a game with easy rules and directions to follow. Most persons find it easy to play without any initial game experience, unlike poker. Poker has its many rules, and this can often get in the way for a beginner. But with practice comes perfection.
• Game Strategy: The outcome of poker depends on the strength of the cards a player is dealt. In Rummy, your game skill and strategy is the major factor that works for you. Rummy is a game with loads of calculative actions. Although poker players have to deal with mathematics as well, a bigger percentage of the game still depends on luck compared to rummy.
• Variants:
  In Poker, there are three main variants: 1. Community Card poker, 2. Stud poker, and 3. Draw Poker.
  In Rummy, there are two(2) main variants: 1. Gin Rummy and 2. Oklahoma Gin.

Final Thoughts

Although Poker and Rummy are both card games, their differences cut across the rules and game structure. Rummy might be easier to learn, but poker is a lot more rewarding. While Rummy is more of a recreational game, people play poker on a professional level and even make a career out of it.

FrequentlyAsked Questions:

What’s the difference between Oklahoma Gin and Gin Rummy?

The difference between these two card games is seen in the selection of the discard pile. In Gin Rummy, the first card the dealer flips to the table face-up after the deal is the card that will initiate the discard pile and will also set the number of the points a player can knock with.

What’s the duration of a typical Rummy card game?

This depends on the final score decided by the players. The final score could be 100, 200, 250, etc. But anyway, Rummy is usually a quick game.

What is deadwood in the Rummy card game?

Deadwood refers to the unmatched cards in hand and is used in the game to calculate game points.