A particular online casino game comes to mind at this time. Joe (correct name not given to protect identity) was my partner. I ginned and won 10 points plus gin, which totaled 35 points. We had scored on all three lines in  Hollywood, therefore, should we win the box", the value would total nine boxes or 225 points' in the calculation value of the game.

Joe had two melds, with two deuces and a nine left over, which was a card;: needed by his opponent. The total of 13 points did not put us in position to win the box should his opponent gin. After several plays, his opponent discarded a five, which, was of no value to Joe as far as improving his hand; however, it was of tremendous value in getting under the safe key and assuring us of nine boxes, regardless of the outcome of the hand. Much to my surprise, he just passed the five and remained at 13 points. His oppnent ginned!

We lost three points on the count, but the greatest lost was in boxes. Instead of gaining nine boxes, we lost nine boxes for a total of an 18 box swing. This play cost 450 points in game calculations. In a five cent a point game, this cost us $25. The irony of the hand was that the live nine that he held would not have helped his opponent. Joe insisted he played the hand correctly. Needless to say, I try to avoid playing in games where I might possibly draw a partner like Joe who doesn't understand the value of boxes.

Getting under a key often requires sacrifice. When Partner A gives Partner B a key, he must at times play his hand entirely opposite what he would play in a single handed game, just to get under the key.

Ironically, I have watched good casino players work a hand to get under the key and because of their effort, end up winning the hand when they would have lost the hand if they played without a key. Gin is a strange game where one single play may make a big ... difference in score.

Another example of poor play occurred when another partner, and I must say a quality player, violated a basic rule of gin. I had already ginned and won 15 points plus gin. My partner had a meld of the nine, , 10, and jack of spades; three sixes (clubs, hearts and diamonds), the five of diamonds, five of clubs, four of diamonds, deuce of diamonds and deuce of clubs. His unbelted cards totaled 18 points and it was his turn to discard.

He discarded the deuce of Australia clubs, leaving his count at 16 points. The worst part of this experience was that the deuce of clubs ginned his opponent, which again cost us 18 boxes. When I reprimanded him for his play, his retort was that he was playing his strongest hand.

In my opinion, this was an inexcusable situation. He could have discarded the five of clubs, which was comparatively safe, been under the safe key, and still had a very good hand.

These are the pains of playing partnership gin. I would strongly advise entering only partnership games involving quality players. If you enter a game with poor partnership players, which is usually the case, simply take a deep breath and accept whatever happens.

Another classic case of getting under a key happened when I ginned and won 19 points plus gin. When I looked at my partner's hand, he had a four card meld, a three card meld and the jack of diamonds, jack of clubs and queen of diamonds.

His opponent discarded an ace, and my partner passed taking the ace and coming off one of the larger cards. Eventually, the opponent ginned, and again we lost the points and boxes.

When I questioned my partner as to why he did not pick up the ace and discard, a very safe queen, his reply was that it did not get him under 19 points and it spoiled two chances for gin. Of course, he never thought ahead that the very next play would probably" get him under the key.

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