Make 10 Gin Rummy
Math Concepts
Add / Subtract numbers from 1 to 10
Materials
Deck of playing cards
Players
2- 4
Set up
Agree on a target sum, say 10. Remove the face cards and deal seven cards to each player. The remaining cards become a draw pile, and its top card is flipped over to start the discard pile.
Play
The goal is to hold seven cards that are broken into separate groups of one or more cards that add up to the target. During a turn, the player has the choice of picking up the top card of the discard pile or the unseen card at the top of the draw pile. The player then chooses a card to discard.
Goal
When a player successfully fills their whole hand with groups of cards that add up to the target, the player lays down the hand and says “Gin!”
Discussion and Tips
Because there are seven cards in a hand, at least one of the groups will have one card or three cards (or improbably five cards). Discuss the effect this has on strategy for this game.
Variations
Instead of using addition, use the difference of pairs of cards, and use a much smaller target (such as 3, 4, or 5). In this situation, deal an even number of cards to each player.