If you're wondering what game to play with friends, give UNO a try! At the beginning of the game, each participant is dealt 7 cards. To start the game, select one of your cards that matches the card laid down by the dealer, who places the 'starting' card on the table. The round is won by the player who first gets rid of all their cards. After that, the remaining players tally their points. The game continues until someone reaches 500 points. Once you get the hang of it, start experimenting with different combinations.
Start the Game
Step 1. Shuffle the Cards
Shuffle the cards and deal 7 cards to each player. To do this, take the entire deck of 108 cards and shuffle them thoroughly. Then, deal 7 cards to each player. Explain to the participants that they should keep their cards face down so others cannot see their value.
- UNO can be played with 2 to 10 people. The game is designed for players aged 7 and up.
Step 2. After each player has 7 cards, stack the remaining cards face down in the center of the table.
Once each player has 7 cards, stack the remaining cards face down in the center of the table. This deck will be used by players to draw cards during the game.
Step 3. Draw the top card from this deck to start the game.
Draw the top card from this deck to begin the game. Flip it over and place it next to the deck. The game starts with this first card, and players will play their cards on top of it in turns.
Step 4. The first player must choose a card from their hand that matches the card in the center (they must be the same color, OR the same number, OR have the same symbol).
The first player should select a card from their hand that matches the center card (they must be the same color, OR the same number, OR have the same symbol). The next player must then play a card that matches the one just played (by color, OR number, OR symbol). The following player does the same, and so on, choosing a card that allows them to make a move. Tip: If a player has a 'wild card' (a black card featuring a circle with red, yellow, green, and blue), they can use it for any move.
- For example, if the game starts with a red 8, you can play either any red card or any card with the number 8.
- Typically, play goes clockwise, starting with the player who dealt the cards and played the first card from the deck. Players take turns in a circle.
Step 5. If you have no playable cards, draw one from the deck in the center of the table.
If you have no cards to play, draw one from the deck in the center of the table. If it's your turn and you don't have a card that matches the previous player's card by number or color, draw one from the deck. If it matches, you can play that card immediately.
- If it doesn’t match, keep it and the turn passes to the next player.
Step 6. Pay attention to the active cards and the 'wild card'.
Be mindful of the active cards and the wild card. In addition to the regular basic UNO cards, which are color-coded and numbered, there are also three types of so-called active cards. The wild card allows a player to change the color for the next player. If you play a '+2 cards' card, the next player must draw 2 cards from the deck and skip their turn. If you play a 'reverse' card, you reverse the direction of play. Did you know? The 'wild +4 cards' can be played like a regular wild card, but with one addition: the next player must draw 4 cards from the deck and skip their turn.
- The reverse card has two arrows pointing in opposite directions.
- If you play a 'skip turn' card, marked with a crossed circle, the next player after you skips their turn.
Step 7. If you are down to your last card, shout:
If you have only one card left, shout: "UNO!" Players take turns until one player is left with just one card. When this happens, the player with the last card must loudly say "UNO." If they forget and another player calls "UNO" instead, the player with the last card must draw 2 cards from the deck as a penalty.
- If the player with the last card forgets to say "UNO," they must draw 2 cards as a penalty. However, if they forget and no one notices, they do not have to draw the penalty cards.
Step 8. To win the round, get rid of your last card.
To win the round, get rid of your last card. Once you have only one card left (and you said "UNO"), wait until it’s your turn again. If you manage to play your last card before anyone else does, congratulations — you are the winner!
- If you cannot play your last card, draw one from the deck and continue playing until someone gets rid of all their cards.
- Try to keep your wild card until the end, so you can ensure a win by playing it at almost any point when it's your turn!
Step 9. At the end of each round, tally the points for each player.
At the end of each round, players tally their points based on the cards left in their hands. The player with the most points (i.e., the most cards left) is considered the loser. In fact, you can start a new game after any completed round. However, in the classic version of the game, points are counted after each round for all players (adding up the remaining cards), and then those points are assigned to the player who first got rid of their cards. The game ends when a player scores 500 points — that player is the winner. You can also tally the number of cards remaining in each player's hand, awarding them to the round winner as points.
- Players' points are counted as follows:
- 20 points for each '+2 cards', 'reverse', and 'skip turn' card left in other players' hands.
- 50 points for each wild card and 'wild +4 cards'.
- The numbers on the cards indicate the number of points (for example, if a card says '8', it counts as 8 points).
Try Simple Variations and Ideas
Step 1. Try playing UNO online or on a gaming platform.
Try playing UNO online or on a gaming platform. Don’t worry if you can’t find anyone to play UNO in person! You can easily find this game online. If you want, you can even buy the game and download it to your computer or console (PS4 or Xbox One).
- You can slightly tweak the rules to suit your group, creating unique additions to these rules.
Step 2. Speed up the game by playing two matching cards.
Speed up the game by playing two matching cards. To play a faster version of UNO, agree with other players that a player can play two matching cards at once if they happen to have them. This way, the game will move faster because cards will be played more quickly. Tip: Since there will be more cards in play, consider raising the winning score from 500 to 1000.
- For example, if there’s a 'yellow 3' in the center, the next player can play both a 'yellow 7' and a 'red 3'.
- If you don’t want the game to end quicker, you can agree that players draw not one but two cards from the deck when someone has no playable card.
Step 3. Try something new with the wild card.
Try something new with the wild card. If you’re playing with a new deck, you’re likely to encounter three different variations of the wild card. To make these cards more dynamic, write your own rules that everyone agrees to, and then start playing them just like the other wild cards. Here are a few ideas to spice up the game with this card:
- Everyone must draw 2 cards from the deck.
- The next player after a wild card must sing a song or draw a card from the deck.
- Trade one of your cards with the next player.
Step 4. Swap cards with a player if you draw a swap card.
Swap cards with a player if you draw a swap card. This is another new active card in the updated version of the game. Play the 'wild and swap cards' just like a regular wild card, but decide in advance who you want to swap with.
- For example, wait until the game is almost over, then play this card and swap cards with the player who has the fewest cards.
