Gin rummy card values chart
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 point |
| 2 | 2 points |
| 3 | 3 points |
| 4 | 4 points |
| 5 | 5 points |
| 6 | 6 points |
| 7 | 7 points |
| 8 | 8 points |
| 9 | 9 points |
| 10 | 10 points |
| Jack | 10 points |
| Queen | 10 points |
| King | 10 points |
Every suit uses the same values. An unmatched king counts 10 whether it is a heart, diamond, club, or spade. Standard gin uses 52 cards and no jokers.
Are aces high or low?
Aces are low in standard gin rummy. A–2–3 of one suit is a valid run; Q–K–A and K–A–2 are not. An unmatched ace always counts 1 point.
Count a ten-card hand
Your hand has 4–5–6 of hearts, three 9s, and four unmatched cards: ace of clubs, 2 of diamonds, 3 of spades, and king of clubs. The run and set count zero. Add the four unmatched cards: 1 + 2 + 3 + 10 = 16 deadwood points.
Draw the 7 of hearts, extend the run, and discard the king. Your deadwood drops to 1 + 2 + 3 = 6 points.
Check the knock limit
Six deadwood points is below the standard 10-point knock limit. You can knock as you discard the king in that example. Gin requires zero deadwood.
After a knock, your opponent lays off where possible, then you compare deadwood totals. A tie or lower defender total is an undercut. Read the knock rules and scoring examples for the full calculation.
Print the cheat sheet for your next game, or count a hand in scoring practice.
Sources
Card values and ace-low rules: Bicycle Cards, Gin Rummy. Melds and knocking: our gin rummy rules guide.