Crazy Eights

Crazy Eights is the classic card-shedding game that’s the ancestor of Uno. Standard 52-card deck. Each player gets 7 cards. Match the top of the discard pile by either rank or suit. Eights are wild. First to play all cards wins. The game has been played in homes for over a century, and Uno (1971) is its direct commercial descendant.

How to play

• Look at the top of the discard pile.
• Click any card in your hand that matches by rank OR by suit.
• If you can’t play (or don’t want to), click stock to draw.
• If drawn card is playable, you may play it.
• Eights are wild. Play an 8 on anything; choose the next suit.
• First to play all cards wins.

Beginner strategy

• Hoard your eights. Save for when you can’t otherwise play.
• Pay attention to opponent’s discards. Their suit choices reveal info.
• Don’t play big cards last. Keep low cards if game scoring matters.
• Watch rank patterns. Repeated rank discards = that rank’s getting scarce.
• Force draws. Play colors opponent likely can’t match.

Crazy Eights → Uno

The commercial Uno deck (1971) is a direct evolution of Crazy Eights. Uno adds: special action cards (Skip, Reverse, Draw Two, Wild Draw Four), color as a separate dimension from rank, and the “Uno!” callout when you have one card left. Core mechanic identical.

FAQ

• Q: Why are eights wild? A: Historical convention — the 8th card in the deck.
• Q: Difference from Uno? A: Uno uses a special 108-card deck with action cards. Crazy Eights uses a standard 52-card deck.
• Q: How many to start? A: 7 cards each (with 5 or 6 players, often 5 each).
• Q: Winning? A: First to empty their hand.

For other card games, try Blackjack, War, Solitaire, or Yahtzee.