Crazy Eights

Computer players2

Play with friends

Make a private room and share the link, or join one with its code. Everyone plays on their own phone; add computer players to fill seats.

Match the suit or the number. Eights are wild.

Match the suit or the number, change the suit with a wild eight, and be first to empty your hand. Play against the computer, then read the rules.

Players
2–5
Time
15 min
You need
1 deck
To win
Empty your hand first

How to play Crazy Eights

Setup

  • One standard deck, two to five players (two decks for more).
  • Deal seven cards each for two players, five each for three or more.
  • Put the rest face down as the stock and turn the top card face up to start the discard pile. If it's an eight, bury it in the stock and turn another.

Your turn

  1. Play one card that matches the top card's suit or rank: on a 5 of hearts, any heart or any 5.
  2. Eights are wild. Play one on anything and name the suit the next player must follow.
  3. Can't play? Draw from the stock until you can. If the stock runs out, pass.

Winning

The first player to get rid of every card wins. For a longer game, the winner scores the cards left in everyone else's hands: 50 for each eight, 10 for kings, queens and jacks, 1 for aces and face value for the rest. Play to 100 or 500.

Tips

  • Save your eights. They get you out of trouble when nothing else fits.
  • When you play an eight, call the suit you hold the most of.
  • Watch what others draw for: if someone draws three times on spades, they're out of spades.
  • Draw two: a 2 makes the next player draw two cards unless they play a 2 too.
  • Skip: a queen skips the next player.
  • Reverse: an ace reverses the direction of play.

More games: Go Fish, Golf and Speed.

Frequently asked questions

How many cards do you deal in Crazy Eights?

Seven each for two players, five each for three or more.

What do eights do in Crazy Eights?

Eights are wild. You can play one on any card, and you name the suit the next player has to follow.

What if you can't play a card?

Draw from the stock until you get a card you can play. If the stock runs out, pass.

Is Crazy Eights the same as Uno?

Uno is a commercial game based on the same idea: match the color or number, with wild cards to change it. Crazy Eights is the original, played with a standard deck.

How do you score Crazy Eights?

Many families just play for the win. To keep score, the winner gets points for the cards left in the other hands: 50 for each eight, 10 for a court card, 1 for an ace and face value for the rest.