Do I need to include the line bonus after each hand?

No. The line bonus of 25 per hand won is added only at the end of the game, not after each hand. Just mark which hands each player won, then multiply and add at the end.

What if both players reach 100 in the same hand?

Only one player can win a hand. The hand winner is the one who knocks or goes gin. That player earns the points and the running total. The game ends when one player’s running total reaches or passes 100.

How do I record the undercut bonus on the score sheet?

Add the undercut bonus (commonly 25) to the hand score for the winner. Write that total in the winner’s column for that hand and update the running total.

Can I use a score sheet for a game to a different point total?

Yes. The same layout works for any target score. Just change the target number at the top. The line bonus, game bonus, and shutout rules remain the same unless you agree otherwise.

How to Keep Score in Gin Rummy: The Score Sheet

Scorekeeping in Gin Rummy demands a paper sheet that tracks each player’s cumulative total, marks every hand won, and records the game bonus and any shutout double. This guide lays out and fills a gin rummy score sheet step by step, with a worked example. It covers recording a match, not the point values themselves. For point values, see the sibling site ginrummy.me.

What You Need for a Score Sheet

Play to 100 points. Take a sheet of paper, a pen, and draw two columns, one per player. Write each player’s name at the top. Draw a vertical line down the middle. The left column belongs to Player A, the right to Player B. Leave space at the bottom for the final game bonus and any shutout calculation.

Each row is a hand. Record the cumulative total after each hand and mark each hand won with a small tick or dot. The gin rummy box score refers to the line bonus of 25 points added at the end of the game for each hand won. Track the gin rummy line bonus separately, or fold it into the final tally.

Laying Out the Score Sheet

Draw a grid with these columns:

Hand number (starting at 1)
Player A cumulative total
Player B cumulative total
Winner (A or B)

At the bottom, reserve a row for the game bonus (100 points) and a row for the shutout double, if applicable. Reserve a row for the line bonus total (25 per hand won).

How to Fill the Score Sheet Hand by Hand

Record the Hand Score

After each hand, determine the winner. The winner scores the deadwood difference if the hand ended by a knock, or the opponent’s deadwood plus a gin bonus (commonly 25). If the winner undercut the opponent, add an undercut bonus (commonly 25). Write the points earned in the winner’s column for that hand. Add it to the previous cumulative total. Write the new cumulative total in the winner’s column. The loser’s cumulative total stays the same.

Mark the Hand Won

In the winner column, place a small mark (a dot or check) next to the cumulative total. This lets you count the number of hands won at the end of the game for the line bonus.

Repeat for Each Hand

Continue until one player reaches or passes 100 points. That player wins the game and earns a game bonus of 100 points.

Adding the Line Bonus and Game Bonus

When the game ends, count the number of hands each player won. Multiply that number by 25 to get the gin rummy line bonus for each player. Add this amount to each player’s final cumulative total.

Then add the game bonus of 100 points to the winner’s total. If the loser scored no points at all (a shutout or blitz), double the winner’s total (including the line bonus and game bonus). Do not add the 100 point game bonus separately.

Write the final totals clearly at the bottom of the score sheet.

Worked Example Score Sheet

Suppose Player A and Player B play a game to 100 points. Below is a worked example showing a few hands. A full game runs more hands.

Hand 1: Player A knocks and wins with a deadwood difference of 12. Player A’s cumulative total: 12. Mark a win for A. Player B: 0.
Hand 2: Player B goes gin (deadwood 0) and scores Player A’s deadwood (say 18) plus gin bonus 25 = 43. Player B’s cumulative total: 43. Mark a win for B. Player A: 12.
Hand 3: Player A undercuts Player B. Undercut bonus 25 plus difference (say 8) = 33. Player A’s cumulative total: 12 + 33 = 45. Mark a win for A. Player B: 43.
Continue until one player reaches 100. Suppose after 8 hands Player A reaches 100. Player A wins the game.

Count hands won: Player A won 5 hands, Player B won 3 hands. Line bonus: Player A gets 5 x 25 = a few points. Player B gets 3 x 25 = 75. Add to cumulative totals. Then add game bonus of 100 to Player A. If Player B scored some points (not a shutout), no doubling. Final totals: Player A = 100 + a few + 100 = a longer total. Player B = 43 + 75 = a few.

Handling a Shutout

A shutout occurs when the loser scores no points at all during the entire game. In that case, double the winner’s total (including line bonus and game bonus). Do not add the 100 point game bonus separately. Instead, double the winner’s total. For example, if the winner’s cumulative total was 100, line bonus a few, and game bonus 100, the total would be a longer total. Doubled, it becomes a larger number. The loser’s total remains 0.

Mark the score sheet with “Shutout” or “Blitz” and note the doubled total.

Tips for Keeping the Score Sheet Clean

Use a pencil in case of errors.
Write the cumulative total clearly after each hand.
Keep a separate tally of hands won (a row of tick marks at the bottom).
Double-check the line bonus multiplication at the end.
A printed gin rummy scorecard may vary in layout, but the same principles apply.