Uno (with standard deck) Card Game Rules

Uno (with standard deck) is a card game for 2-6 players. A game typically takes 30-60 minutes, and the recommended age is 7+.

Rules for the card game Uno (with standard deck): Get rid of all cards first, use special cards to your advantage. Uno (with standard deck) is also known as Last Card.

2-6 players
30-60 minutes
7+ years

About the Game

Uno with a standard deck, also known as Crazy Eights, is a card game where the goal is to be the first to get rid of all your cards. It works for 2-6 players. All you need is a standard 52-card deck (no jokers) and some table space.

The game is built around matching cards by suit or rank, with eights acting as wild cards that let you change the suit. There is a decent mix of luck and tactics involved.

Illustration for Uno (with standard deck): About the Game

Setup

Start by shuffling the deck thoroughly. Then deal cards to each player:

  • 2-3 players: 7 cards each
  • 4-6 players: 5 cards each

Place the remaining cards face down in the center of the table as the draw pile. Turn over the top card and place it beside the draw pile to start the discard pile.

If the first card turned over is an eight, put it back somewhere in the deck and turn over a new card.

Card Functions

In this Uno variant, regular playing cards have the following functions:

  • Numbers 2-7 and 9-10: Regular cards with no special function
  • Eights (8): Wild cards - can be played at any time and let you choose a new suit
  • Ace (A): Skip the next player
  • Jack (J): The next player draws 2 cards
  • Queen (Q): Reverse the direction of play
  • King (K): Wild draw 4 - choose the suit and the next player draws 4 cards

Note: Some people prefer simpler rules where only eights have special functions.

Gameplay

Play goes clockwise from the player to the dealer's left. On your turn, you can:

  • Play a card that matches the top card of the discard pile by suit (♠️♦️♣️♥️) or rank (same number or face card)
  • Play an eight (wild card) and choose a new suit
  • Draw cards from the pile if you have nothing to play

If you have no playable cards, draw up to 3 cards from the draw pile. If you draw a card you can play, you may play it straight away. If you have drawn 3 cards and still cannot play, say 'pass' and the turn moves on.

Special Rules for Eights

Eights are the most powerful cards in the game:

  • Can be played regardless of what suit or rank is on top
  • The player who plays an eight decides which suit the next player must follow
  • You must announce the new suit out loud (for example, 'I'm changing to hearts')
  • Save eights for when you really need them.

If you have multiple cards of the same rank, you can play them all at once - but only if the first card matches the discard pile.

Important Rules

'UNO!' / 'Last Card!': When you are down to one card (after playing your second-to-last card), you must say 'Uno!' or 'Last card!' out loud. If you forget and another player catches you before your next turn, you must draw 2 penalty cards.

Empty draw pile: If the draw pile runs out, take all cards from the discard pile except the top one, shuffle them, and use them as the new draw pile.

Last card: You can finish with any card, including special cards.

Scoring

When a player has played all their cards, they score points based on the cards still in other players' hands:

  • Eights: 50 points each
  • Face cards (K, Q, J): 10 points each
  • Aces: 15 points
  • Number cards 2-10: Face value

Play several rounds until someone reaches 500 points. That player wins.

About this version

These rules describe how to play an Uno-style game with a standard 52-card deck, which is essentially Crazy Eights with eights as wild cards. The commercial UNO deck from Mattel has its own cards and rules.

Do you play with different rules where you live, or did you spot a mistake? Send me an email.

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