What Is the Game Bonus?
The game bonus is a 100-point bonus awarded to the player who wins a Gin Rummy game — reaching the target score (typically 100 points) first. It is one of three bonuses applied during final scoring, alongside box bonuses and the potential shutout doubling.
The game bonus rewards the overall game winner and is calculated only after play ends. During the game, players track only their running hand scores — bonuses don’t appear until the final settlement.
How the Game Bonus Is Applied
Reaching the Target
When a player’s running score reaches or exceeds 100 points after any hand, the game ends immediately (after finishing that hand). Final scoring then begins.
Standard Game Bonus
If the losing player won at least one hand during the game, the winner earns the standard +100 point game bonus.
Shutout: Double Game Bonus
If the losing player won zero hands during the entire game, the winner earns a +200 point game bonus (double) instead of +100. This is called a shutout (also known as Schneider, Blitz, or Skunk).
Final Scoring Example
Player A reaches 105 points after hand 8. The game ends. Here’s the full settlement:
Game summary:
- Player A won 6 hands; Player B won 2 hands.
- No shutout (Player B won hands).
| Player A | Player B | |
|---|---|---|
| Running score | 105 | 38 |
| Game bonus | +100 | — |
| Box bonuses (×25 per hand won) | +150 (6 hands) | +50 (2 hands) |
| Final total | 355 | 88 |
Player A wins the settlement by 267 points.
Shutout Example
Same scenario but Player B never won a single hand:
| Player A | Player B | |
|---|---|---|
| Running score | 105 | 0 |
| Game bonus | +200 (shutout) | — |
| Box bonuses | +200 (8 hands) | 0 (0 hands) |
| Final total | 505 | 0 |
The shutout adds 100 extra bonus points to Player A and eliminates all of Player B’s box bonuses — a massive swing.
How the Game Bonus Shapes Strategy
Don’t Obsess Over Individual Hand Scores
Because the game bonus is a flat reward for winning, the margin of victory in the final hand doesn’t matter. Whether you win by 3 points or 30 points, you earn the same 100-point game bonus. This means it’s sometimes better to knock early and win safely than to chase Gin and risk losing the hand.
Consider the Shutout Premium
If your opponent has yet to win a hand, every decision should factor in the shutout. Winning defensively — knocking whenever possible — is more valuable than maximizing individual hand scores. The 100-point difference between a normal game bonus and a shutout bonus is worth more than most Gin hands.
Closing Out a Game
When your running total approaches 100 points, consider playing more conservatively. Knocking with moderate deadwood is safer than going Gin and risking a reversal. Getting to 100 earns the game bonus — an additional 5 or 10 points from a better hand outcome is relatively insignificant compared to the 100-point bonus at stake.
Three-Way Final Scoring Structure
To understand the game bonus in context, all three end-of-game bonuses work together:
| Bonus | Who Earns It | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Game bonus | Winner only | 100 (or 200 if shutout) |
| Box bonus | Both players | 25 × hands won |
| Shutout bonus | Winner only (if shutout) | Extra 100 (doubling game bonus) |
The box bonus is the only one both players earn. The game bonus and any shutout bonus go exclusively to the winner.
Related Terms
- Box Bonus — 25 points per hand won, earned by both players
- Shutout — when the game bonus doubles to 200 points
- Scoring — the complete scoring guide covering all bonuses
- Knock — winning a hand by knocking contributes to reaching 100 points
- Gin — going Gin earns extra hand points that accelerate reaching the target