What is the point value of a King in gin rummy?

A King is worth 10 points, the same as a Jack or Queen. All three face cards have the same deadwood value.

How do I count deadwood if I have multiple unmatched cards?

Add the point values of all cards not in a meld. For example, an unmatched 7 and an unmatched 3 total 10 points of deadwood.

Does Oklahoma Gin change the point values of cards?

No. Card point values stay the same. Only the knock limit changes: it is set by the value of the first upcard instead of a fixed 10 points.

Gin Rummy Card Values: Quick Point Reference

Q: Can I knock with exactly 10 points of deadwood?

Yes. In standard gin rummy you may knock with 10 or fewer points of deadwood. Exactly 10 is allowed.

Gin rummy card values follow a simple pattern. Ace counts as 1, number cards 2 through 10 count as their face value, and Jack, Queen, King each count as 10. Add up the cards left outside your melds and you have your deadwood total. In standard gin rummy, knock with 10 or fewer points of deadwood. Below you will find a lookup table, examples, and notes on related terms such as gin rummy points per card, deadwood values, and gin rummy face card value.

Card Point Values Table

Every card in the deck has a fixed value for deadwood counting. Use this table for quick recall.

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

If you have ever asked how much is a king worth in gin rummy, the answer is 10, the same as all face cards.

Deadwood Counting Basics

Deadwood is the total value of cards that are not part of a meld. A meld is a set or run. After arranging your hand into melds, any leftover cards are deadwood. Add their values to get your deadwood count. The lower your deadwood, the better. In standard gin rummy you may knock with 10 or fewer points of deadwood.

Counting A Single Unmatched Card

If you hold one card that does not fit any meld, its value is your deadwood. An unmatched Ace is 1 point of deadwood. An unmatched Queen is 10.

Counting Multiple Unmatched Cards

Add the values of all unmatched cards. An unmatched Jack, 9, and 4 come to 23 points of deadwood (10 + 9 + 4). An unmatched Ace and 3 come to 4 (1 + 3).

Quick Count Examples

These examples show deadwood totals for common leftover combinations.

Example 1: Unmatched King, 7, 2. King is 10, 7 is 7, 2 is 2. Total deadwood = 10 + 7 + 2.
Example 2: Unmatched 5, 5, 5 (three separate unmatched fives). Each 5 is 5 points. Total deadwood = 5 + 5 + 5.
Example 3: Unmatched Ace, Ace, 3. Ace is 1 each, 3 is 3. Total deadwood = 1 + 1 + 3 = 5.
Example 4: Unmatched Queen, Jack. Queen is 10, Jack is 10. Total deadwood = 10 + 10.

Deadwood values are simply the sum of each card's value. Knowing gin rummy points per card lets you tally quickly.

Knock Limit and Hand Size

In standard gin rummy you may knock with 10 or fewer points of deadwood. If your deadwood is 10 or less, end the round. Hands are 10 cards; after drawing you hold 11 before discarding one card back to the discard pile.

Oklahoma Gin Variation

Oklahoma Gin sets the knock limit by the value of the first upcard. If the first upcard is a 5, the knock limit becomes 5 points of deadwood. If the first upcard is a face card (value 10), the knock limit is 10. This rule changes how aggressively you knock.

Face Card Values in Detail

The gin rummy face card value for Jack, Queen, and King is always 10 points each. There is no difference among them for deadwood counting. All three face cards are equal in point value. Aces are not face cards; they are worth 1 point each.

Deadwood and Melds

Deadwood is the total value of cards not in a meld. A meld is either a set (three or four of the same rank) or a run (three or more cards of the same suit in sequence). Cards used in melds have zero deadwood value. Only the leftover cards are counted. If you have a meld of three Kings and an unmatched 8, your deadwood is 8 points. If you have a run of 4, 5, 6 of hearts and an unmatched Ace, your deadwood is 1 point.