How to play Crazy Eights

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How to play Crazy Eights

Crazy Eights is the classic shedding game that Uno grew out of. You match the discard pile by suit or rank, eights are wild, and the first player with an empty hand ends the round.

The deal

Each of the four players gets five cards from a standard deck. One card is turned face up to start the discard pile, and the rest becomes the stock.

Your turn

Play one card matching the suit or the rank of the top discard. If you cannot, draw from the stock until you can play, or pass once the stock is empty.

Eights are wild

An eight can be played on anything, and whoever plays it names the suit that must be followed next — the single most powerful move in the game.

Scoring

When someone goes out, everyone else counts their remaining cards against them: an eight is 50, kings through tens are 10, an ace is 1, and other cards are face value. Lowest total when someone passes 100 wins the match.

Tips from the table

  • Hold an eight back as an escape card rather than dumping it early — it is 50 points if you get caught with it.
  • Shed your high cards first; they hurt most in the scoring.
  • Name the suit you hold most of, not just the one you can play right now.
  • Watch which suit an opponent keeps dodging — that is the suit to name.