Gin-Go: Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions (Board Game FAQs)

Amurá
Aug 7
4 min read

Just got your hands on Gin-Go and want to introduce the board game to your friends and family but have a few questions on how to get started. Here are the Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions that we have encountered when introducing newcomers to the game.

FAQ #1) How Do I Set Up the Gin-Go Board Before the Game Begins?

Instructions on how to set up the suit-row in a game of Gin-Go - FAQ #1

Answer: A set of color corresponding suit markers are placed onto each ends of the board. Shuffle the deck and reveal the top cards until all the suits are revealed to determine the suit-order from left to right for each player.

If a "Joker" is revealed before all the suits are revealed, the dealer may caller for other setup formats like "Suit-for-Suit" or "Secrecy". If the second "Joker" is revealed before all suits are revealed, the other player may call for their desired format.

FAQ #2) How Do I Form A "MELD"?

Instructions on how to form a meld in the board game of Gin-Go (FAQ #2)

Answer: Melds consist of either three or more sequential cards of the same suit (3, 4, 5 of hearts) or a set of three or four cards of the same value (4-hearts, 4-clubs, 4-diamonds). Players can "Hit" off existing melds in play with cards from their hand if it continues the sequence or completes a set.

Creating melds or "Hitting" is the only way to place your chips onto the game board. Note: Jokers are optional wild cards that can be used to complete melds.

FAQ #3) What is the "Suit-Row" and How Is it Used?

How is the suit-row used in a game of Gin-Go (FAQ #3)

Instructions on how the suit row is determined and operated in a game of Gin-Go (FAQ #3)

Answer: The "Suit-Row Markers" are the x-axis to the Suit-to-Card coordinate grid which govern the placement of chips during play. There is a set for RED and a set for GREEN.

The suit-row order is determine at the start of the game, and once established, never changes until the end of the game.

FAQ #4) What is the Objective of Gin-Go?

What is the Objective of Gin-Go. (FAQ #4)

The goal of Gin-Go is to achieve a connecting line from end-to-end of the board. (FAQ #4)

Answer: The goal is to create a connected line of your chips (either straight or zig-zag) from your "Ace" to "King" row on the board while preventing your opponent from achieving the same.

FAQ #5) How Does the Gin-Go Board Interact With Standard Playing Cards?

How Does the Gin-Go Board interact with standard playing cards? (FAQ #5)

By creating melds and runs, chips corresponding their value are placed onto the Gin-Go board. (FAQ #5)

Answer: When you make a meld, place the chips on the board spaces corresponding to the cards in the meld. You make as many melds as you want during your turn.

FAQ #6) What Does It Mean To "Go Out" During A Gin-Go Game?

What does it mean to "Go Out" during a Gin-Go game? (FAQ #6)

Going Out in Gin-Go is the end of the round phase of the game when a player no longer has anymore cards in hand. (FAQ #6)

Answer: To end every turn, you must discard a card into the discard pile. You "go out" when you discard your final card final card, usually after forming melds, and have no cards in hand. The first player to go out during a round collects all the cards remaining in all other players hands and that places their chips according to the cards values collected on to the board. If the player that "went out" already has or creates a successful link from "Ace" to "King" from the cards collected, that player wins the game. If not, collect the cards, shuffle, and pass dealership to the next player to distribute their desired number of cards (any odd number between 1-15; 1-9 for 4-player).

FAQ #7) How Do Jokers Work In the Game?

How do Jokers work in the game of Gin-Go? (FAQ #7)

Jokers are optional wild cards in the game of Gin-Go. They can be used to complete melds. (FAQ #7)

Answer: Jokers are (optional) wild cards that can complete any meld, but they cannot hit closed sets or replace existing cards in play. However, players can hit with standard cards on top of a Joker to overlay the value it represented within the existing meld, and placing a chip on to the board.

If a player captures a Joker, from an opponent's hand during the "going out" phase, it can be laid off on to any open meld on the table. If it cannot be laid off, it cannot be used.

FAQ #8) What Happens When The Draw Pile Runs Out?

What happens when the draw pile runs out in the game of Gin-Go?

Instructions on how the draw pile is reset in the game of Gin-Go (FAQ #8)

Answer: It is rare, but should the Draw Pile get used up, leaving the Discard Pile and no one can "go out", All cards on the table (this includes melds) are collected, shuffled, cut, and laid next to the Discard Pile as the new Draw Pile, then play resumes.

FAQ #9) How Do You Win In Gin-Go?

How do you win in a game of Gin-Go? (FAQ #9)

Answer: You win by maintaining a connected link of your color chips on the board from "A" to "K" rows after a player "Goes Out" (no more cards in hand). If both players have connected lines, the player who "Goes Out" first wins.

FAQ #10) Can I Play Gin-Go With More Than Two People?

Can more than two people play Gin-Go? (FAQ #10)

How is a 4-player game of Gin-Go set? (FAQ #10)

Answer: Yes, Gin-Go can be played with more 2-players or as a 4-player game in teams of two. Team players sit opposite of each other, and one player is responsible for managing the game board. In a 4-player game, a dealer can distribute any ODD number of cards from 1 to 9, and the player that "Goes Out" first collects the remaining cards from all hands. Team games play much faster than standard 2-player games.

If have any more question regarding the game of Gin-Go that you may have stumbled upon through your play-throughs, let know and the comments below. And you can always find a copy of the game rules here.