Gin Rummy requires a good memory and knowing how to increase your odds of winning. Knowing how to increase your odds of winning has a lot to do with knowing when to Knock and knowing when to go for Gin Rummy and get the 20 point bonus.

Knocking in Gin Rummy is when you lay out your hand to your opponent to end the hand. You need 10 points or less in deadwood (Cards that are not affiliated with your sets or runs) in order to Knock. When you knock you will receive points for the amount of deadwood in your opponent’s hand, minus your deadwood points.

Knocking can be a powerful move if you can knock early. Knocking early is knocking within the first 5 or 6 cards pulled. After that you cannot expect to get a lot of points from your opponent’s deadwood, although this does depend on your opponent’s style of play. If your opponent is known to harbor kings, queens and jacks, then you can knock later in the hand and catch them with their pants down.

I also like to knock often when I have a big lead on my opponent. This keeps your opponent on their toes and keeps them from making a fast comeback by getting Gin Rummy and receiving their 20 point bonus. This frustrates a lot of players and we all know a frustrated player is a player not thinking straight, which increases your odds of raking in the dough.

Going for your Gin Rummy bonus is the optimum thing to do when you cannot knock early in the hand. Receiving that 20 point bonus and your opponent’s deadwood points can separate your score from your opponents score real fast.

However, while going for the Gin Rummy bonus, try to keep your deadwood as low as possible. This will help you from giving up a lot of points, just in case you do not Gin Rummy before your opponent does or your opponent knocks. Master this Gin Rummy strategy and you will WIN more often than not!