Crazy Eights

CARDS

A standard deck of 52 cards is used. The Eight card is a wild card which can be played any time. If the suit matches the previously played card then you may specify a new suit that the next player must follow or they may play another Eight. Playing a Two card forces the next player to draw two cards from the deck. Playing a Queen causes the next player to miss their turn. The Ace card will reverse play in the other direction.

PLAY

Seven cards are dealt out to each of 4 players. The object of the game is to play all cards in your hand before anyone else. A card is flipped over from the deck to start the discard pile. The player to the dealer's left starts by playing a single card of the same suit or number as the top card in the discard pile. A player may also play an Eight card at any time. If a player can't play a card or chooses not to play a card then they must draw cards from the deck until they can play. If the deck is used up then the player can choose to pass. Play starts in a clockwise direction but can change to counter-clockwise when a Reverse card (Ace) is played.

SAMPLE GAME

Player 1 deals 7 cards to each player

10 of spades is flipped over from the deck

Player 2 plays a 9 of spades

Player 3 plays a 2 of spades - Player 4 picks up 2 cards

Player 4 plays a Queen of spades - Player 1 is skipped

Player 2 plays a Queen of clubs - Player 3 is skipped

Player 4 plays an Ace of Clubs - Play is reversed

Player 3 plays a 8 of hearts

Player 2 plays a 5 of hearts

Player 1 plays a 5 of diamonds

Player 4 plays a 8 of diamonds - Changes suit to spades

Player 3 plays a 4 of spades

SCORING

The score is calculated by adding the remaining cards from the losing players and giving those points to the winner. The first player to reach 100 points wins the game.

50 points for every Eight

10 points for every 10, Jack, Queen or King

1 point for an Ace

All other cards are at face value

OPTIONS

The Special Cards such as 2 for Draw Two, Queen for Skip and Ace for Reverse are all optional. Uncheck them if you want the cards to behave as standard cards.

There are 3 variations for playing the Eight card:

Play Eight only if matching - The Eight card can only be played if the suit matches or if followed by another Eight. The player will always be able to choose a new suit when played.

Specify suit only if Eight matching - The Eight card can be played at any time. The player may only choose a new suit when the suit matches or when followed by another Eight. This is the default setting.

Play Eight & specify suit anytime - The Eight card can be played at any time. The player will always be able to choose a new suit.

The are 2 variations for drawing cards:

Draw until able to play - The player must draw cards from the deck until they find a card that can be played. This is the default setting.

Draw just once and pass - The player must draw one card and then play is passed to the next player. The drawn card cannot be played until the next turn.