How to knock
- Draw from the stock or discard pile.
- Arrange as many cards as possible into sets and runs.
- Check the value of your remaining deadwood.
- If your deadwood will be 10 points or less after discarding, discard and declare the knock.
- Reveal your melds and deadwood.
At a card table, players may signal a knock by discarding face down or knocking on the table. In this game, select your discard and use the Knock button.
What the defender can do
After a normal knock, the defender may lay off deadwood cards onto the knocker's melds. For example, if the knocker has 5-6-7 of hearts and the defender has the 8 of hearts as deadwood, the defender can lay off that 8 and reduce their deadwood.
The knocker does not get to lay off onto the defender's melds. Layoff only helps the defender.
What is an undercut?
An undercut happens when the defender ends with deadwood equal to or lower than the knocker's deadwood. This can happen naturally or after layoff. In that case, the defender wins the hand and scores an undercut bonus.
| Knocker | Defender after layoff | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 8 deadwood | 12 deadwood | Knocker scores 4. |
| 8 deadwood | 8 deadwood | Defender undercuts. |
| 8 deadwood | 5 deadwood | Defender scores 3 plus the undercut bonus. |
Knocking and going gin
Going gin means you have no deadwood. It is stronger than a normal knock because the defender does not get to lay off. The gin player scores a bonus plus the opponent's deadwood.
Waiting for gin can earn you a larger score, but your opponent may knock before you complete your hand.
When should you knock?
- Knock earlier when your deadwood is low and your opponent has been drawing from stock.
- Be more cautious if your opponent has taken several useful discards.
- A low knock, with 1 to 4 deadwood points, is harder to undercut.
- A knock with 9 or 10 deadwood points may still be useful if you think your opponent is close to ending the hand.
- Weigh the possible gin bonus against the risk of your opponent knocking first.
Related guides
Sources
Knock and layoff rules: Bicycle Cards and Pagat.