Picking up, Selecting, and Moving Cards
You use the mouse to pick up, select, and move cards in Classic Gin Rummy.
You can also use keyboard shortcuts to take a card from the discard or draw pile, to discard a card, and to automatically meld your hand at the end of a game.
Using the mouse
Picking up and moving a card in Classic Gin Rummy is just like moving a file or folder on the desktop. Simply place the cursor over the card you want to pick up, and click and hold down the mouse button. With the mouse button still depressed, you can move the card around the screen.
When you place the cursor over a card you can pick up, the cursor changes to a hand with the pointer finger-extended. If for some reason you cannot pick up a card (you have 11 cards and you're trying to pick up a discard, for example), the cursor changes back to an arrow. (Note: You can always turn on balloon help to give you tips on which cards you can and cannot pick up.)
The "finger" cursor in Classic Gin Rummy
The "arrow" cursor in Classic Gin Rummy
Flipping and discarding your 11th card
When you're ready to go out, you need to flip and discard your 11th card. To do this, simply option-click on the card you'd like to flip and discard.
Selecting one or more cards in your hand
To select one or more cards in Classic Gin Rummy, simply shift-click on the cards you wish to select or deselect.
Shift-clicking on cards in your hand
You can also click outside of your hand, and drag the mouse around the cards you'd like to select.
Clicking and dragging a selection of cards
Double-clicking on a card for the default action
In Classic Gin Rummy, you can double-click on a card to perform the most logical action at that point in the game.
For example, if you have 11 cards and double-click on a card in your hand, it will discard that card for you, saving you from the effort of dragging it to the discard pile.
Likewise, double-clicking on the discard or draw piles, when it is your turn, will automatically send the top card to your hand.
When you are melding, if you select multiple cards and double-click on one of the selected cards, it will send that set to the meld area, if it's a valid meld.
If you double-click on a card in your hand after you've started melding, it will send that card to:
- a meld in the meld area, if it fits,
- to a meld in the computer's melds if the computer has knocked and the card fits in one of its melds
- to any empty meld area, if one exists
Using keyboard shortcuts
If you're the type of person that likes to keep their hands on the keyboard, you'll love Classic Gin Rummy -- you can play the whole game without touching the mouse.
There are customizable keyboard shortcuts to:
- take the discard card,
- take a card from the draw pile,
- discard a card, and
- automatically meld your cards
To customize the keys, choose "Preferences..." from the "Edit" menu.
Once the Preferences dialog box is active, click on the "keyboard" icon and select the shortcuts you'd like for each action.
Key preferences in Classic Gin Rummy
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