2006_07_01_archive

Thinking Man's Poker: Gin Rummy is back in 2006.

Almost everyone remembers playing a game of Gin Rummy as a youngster,

usually introduced by a grandparent keen on giving you your first

taste of serious card play. However, few people younger than 40

realise that before Poker, Rummy* was pretty much the card game of

choice for hard core gamblers and casual players alike from the 1920's

through to the early 70's. Gin Rummy was accessible and sexy. Bogart

and Bacall played it, Shirley MacLaine had a gun pulled on her while

playing with mob boss Sam Giancana, and of course the Rat Pack would

indulge in the game while nursing a whiskey sour and cigarette.

Bankrolled and endorsed Rummy pro-players criss-crossed the US looking

for high-stakes tournaments and games (Vegas, Miami, California and

New York being the major hubs). It was not uncommon to have $500 -

$1,000 buy-ins per game (a lot of money in those days), with property

and other capital sometimes put up as collateral.

Gin Rummy was the epitome of cool and everyone wanted in. Even Poker's

first "rock `n roll superstar" Stu `The Kid' Ungar, had been a

travelling Gin Rummy pro, to the extent that he eventually couldn't

even get a money game anywhere in the US. Famously, the three times

WSOP champ uttered the words "I don't see how anyone could ever play

Gin better than me" - though Rummy old timers swear that he was by no

means the best. Ironically, Ungar's lifestyle and image signalled a

popular cultural shift towards Poker (and specifically the `crapshoot'

- as Rummy players describe it - that is `Texas Hold `Em') and

eventually the multimedia money-spinner it is now. Poker captures the

imagination due to a spectacular combination of culture, luck and huge

purses. Importantly, anyone can dream and even sometimes realise a

serious tournament win. Crucially, these elements translated almost

perfectly into the online and television environment.

Poker slowly but surely swept Gin Rummy and other more skill-based

Poker formats such as Omaha into a dusty corner (try and find a

serious Omaha or Stud game in Vegas - it ain't easy - that's because

the game is considered `too skilful').

With growth in Poker slowing (though by no means dead) and the major

operators consolidating or fighting for players, Gin Rummy has been

slowly gaining a cyber presence. It certainly is a given that all Gin

Rummy players are Poker players and vice-versa the same applies too.

Certainly, Rummy is a far easier game to pick up and play, and it's

portability (either as a 2-or even 4-player game) is a prerequisite

for internet popularisation - without the collusion issues of Poker or

complications of Contract Bridge. Basically, a person can master the

rules in 2 minutes (there are only minor variants). That's also

roughly the time it takes to get addicted to the format. Before long,

you want to play the game for money - something genuine Rummy players

take very seriously. As a rake-based online product, Rummy pretty much

mimics all the dynamics and economics of online Poker and the

requisite tournaments it supports. Instead of growing pots for

example, your allocation of the profits can be determined through `per

point' Money Play - profits increasing according to the skill applied

and the moves made (and sometimes risks taken) to win your hand. Gin

Rummy is a Skill Game (in the US it is considered as such in most

states - making it a fantastic legal advertising vehicle) - but it

retains the elements of chance necessary to make it encouraging to all

newcomers. After all, you can almost never beat a pro in chess or pool

and even backgammon benefits from handicapping or rating systems. It

takes a long time to master and memorise the over 66,000 possible hand

variations in Rummy, but it is ultimately about common sense and keen

observation. Rummy players build a vision of their opponent's hands

and the banter and culture of psyching out that player is almost as

thrilling as the Poker variant because bluff and bluster still figure

strongly in the game. What Rummy needs is the injection of youth and

vigour associated with Poker - and of course TV. There is a strong

belief that technology could enable a far more compelling television

experience than some other games out there being televised (Let's not

forget that the Poker we see is a heavily edited production that

erases all the typical lulls and boring hands).

The game is rejuvenating online and player ages range from 20-50, with

a good mixed demographic. Stakes can vary from the typical $4.00 mark

to as much as $800.00 per game. Offline games currently caters to a

mostly older crowd - but that crowd knows Rummy and there are hundreds

of Doyle Brunsons and Titanic Thompson's out there who are dying to

take on the youth and educate them in the process.

With over 40 million hands of Gin Rummy played, www.redhotrummy.comis

a site that has seen a huge uptake in the game and provides the kind

of community spirit that confirms its potential as complementary to

Poker as a serious gaming source for both the casual and serious

player (stakes per game vary from $2 to $800 per game!). More than any

other game, Gin Rummy looks set to take the online market by storm

this year and form the backbone of the another industry success story!

By Meir Moses (Marketing Manager - RedHotRummy.com)