Gin Rummy Players

Skarney Gin Triples

This variation is played exactly like Skarney Gin except that the scoring system used in regular Hollywood Gin Rummy is employed.

Skarney Gin Rummy for Three Players

Skarney Gin, though primarily for two players, makes an enjoyable game for three players. Although three players take part, only two are in play against each other simultaneously, as in captain play. To determine which two shall start, any player, by consent of the others, shuffles, and the three cut cards. Low man-that man whose exposed card is of lowest rank-sits out the first hand. The other two play a game of Skarney Gin. The score of the first hand is credited to the winner, and the loser drops out. The winner proceeds to play the next hand against the third man. (Generally the non player keeps the score.) So it goes, loser giving way to non player hand by hand, until one of the three scores 200 points or more.
The winner is paid off in the amount of his credit over each opponent. The player with the second highest score collects from low man. A player scoring a shutout can collect his shutout bonus only from the player who scored zero. For example, A scores 205 points; B, 90; and C, none. A gets credit for a shutout over C but not over B. Value of credits and bonuses is the same as in two-handed Skarney Gin. In three-handed Skarney Gin a player may collect from two players, lose to two players, or win from one and lose to one.

Skarney Gin Captains

This is a variation of Skarney Gin for three players, borrowed from rummy where it is called coquette or "in the box." A plays the first game as captain against Band C; B playing the first hand and continuing to playas long as he wins. But when he loses, C takes his place and continues to play until he loses, when B comes back again, and so on until the game ends. The captain keeps playing with strategy to the end of the game, regardless of whether he wins or loses. A single score is kept and totaled at the end of the game. The captain wins or loses the net total from or to each of the opponents. Then B becomes the captain playing against A and C, and so on.

Skarney Partnership Gin

This is four-handed Skarney Gin. Two players are teamed against the other two. Two games of two-handed Skarney Gin are played simultaneously and the partners enter their score as one. The players cut for partners, holders of the two highest exposed cards being teamed against the holders of the two lowest. All the cheating rules of Skarney Gin apply to this variation. The only variation is in the scoring.
Team scores, not players' scores, are entered. Example: (a) A and B are partners playing against C and D. A, playing the first hand against his opponent C, wins by 68 points. D, playing against B, wins by 20 points. Team A-B wins the box by 48 points. That is the only score entered on the score sheet. (b) As before, A and B are partners against C and D. At the end of the first hand A switches seats with B and plays against D, while B plays against C. At the end of the second hand, A and B shift back to the original positions. This alternation continues with each hand until the game ends.
Note: Due to the great number of cards melded, it is suggested that two tables be used, one for each two contestants. Game is 300 points. Game bonus remains at 200, shutout bonus 200, and all other scoring is as in two-handed Skarney Gin.

Skarney Gin Rummy Strategy

Skarney Gin becomes a considerably more scientific game than regular Gin Rummy Online, owing to the lack of a discard pile. However, like regular Gin, it is a game of deduction and counter deduction: (1) You must try to figure out what cards your opponent is holding so that you won't offer him vital cards; (2) you must try to build up your hand for a possible contract meld.