Rule of Uno

Eligibility: 7+ Years

Number of Players: 2 to 10

CONTENTS: 108 cards as follows

• 19 blue cards - 0 to 9
• 19 green cards - 0 to 9
• 19 red cards - 0 to 9
• 19 yellow cards - 0 to 9
• 8 "Skip" cards - 2 each in blue, green, red and yellow
• 8 "Reverse" cards - 2 each in blue, green, red and yellow
• 8 "Draw 2 Cards" - 2 each in blue, green, red and yellow
• 4 "Wild" cards
• 4 "Wild Draw 4 Cards"

OBJECT:

The first player to play all of the cards in his/her hand in each round scores points for the cards their opponents are left holding. The first player to score 500 points wins the game.

SET UP:

1. Each player draws a card. Player with the highest point value is the dealer.
2. Shuffle the deck.
3. Each Player is dealt 7 cards.

ACTION CARDS:

Draw 2 Cards - When you play this card, the next person to play must draw 2 cards and forfeit his/her turn. If this card is turned up at the beginning of play, the first player must draw two cards. This card may only be played on a matching color or on another Draw 2 Cards.

Reverse Card - This card reverse direction of play. Play to the left now passes to the right, and vice versa. If this card is turned up at the beginning of play, the player to the right now plays first and play then goes to the right instead of left. This card may only be played on a matching color or on another Reverse Card.

Skip Card - The next person in line to play after this card is played, loses his/her turn and is "skipped". If this card is turned up at the beginning of play, the first player (the player to the left of the dealer) is skipped. This card may only be played on a matching color or on another Skip Card.

Wild Card - When you play this card, you may change the color being played to any color (including the current color) to continue play. You may play a Wild Card even if you have another playable card in hand. If this card is turned up at the beginning of play, the person to the left of the dealer chooses the color to play and plays the first card.

Wild Draw 4 Cards - This card allows you to call the next color played and requires the next player to pick 4 cards from DRAW pile and forfeit his/her turn. However, there is a hitch! You can only play this card when you do not have a card previously played. If turned up at the beginning of play, return this card to the deck and pick another card.

Note: A player may play a "Wild Draw 4 Cards" even if they have a matching number or action card of a different color in their hand. If you suspect that a player has played a Wild Draw 4 Cards illegally, you may challenge them. A challenged player must show his/her hand to the player who challenged. If challenged player is not guilty, the challenger must draw the 4 cards, plus 2 additional cards. Only the person required to draw the 4 cards can be the challenger.

GENERAL PLAY:

1. Player to the left of the dealer play first. Play passes to the left to start.
2. Match the top card on the DISCARD pile either by number, color or action. For example, if the card is a green 7, you must play a green card or any color 7 or you may play any Wild Card or a "Wild Draw 4 Cards".
3. If you don't have anything that matches, you must pick a card from the DRAW pile. If you draw a card you can play, play it. Otherwise, play moves to the next person.
4. Before playing your next to last card, you must say "UNO". If you don't say UNO and another player catches you with just one card before the next person begins their turn you must pick two more cards from the DRAW pile. If you are not caught before the next player either draws a card from the DRAW pile or draws a card from his/her hand to play. You do not have to draw the extra cards.
5. Once a player plays his/her last card. The hand is over. Points are tallied (see Scoring section) and you start over again.

GOING OUT:

If you forget to say "UNO" before your card touches the DISCARD pile, but you "catch" yourself before any other player catches you, you are safe and not subject to the 2 cards penalty.

You may not catch a player for failure to say "UNO" until his/her second-to-last card touches the DISCARD pile. Also, you may not catch a player for failure to say it after the next player begins his/her turn. "Beginning a Turn" is defined as either drawing a card from the DRAW pile or drawing a card from your hand to play.

If the last card played in a hand is a Draw 2 Cards or Wild 4 Cards, the next player must draw 2 or 4 cards, depending upon the card played. These cards are counted when points are tallied.

If no one is out of cards by the time the DRAW pile is depleted, reshuffle the DISCARD pile and continue play.

SCORING:

If you are first to get rid of all your cards, you get points for the cards left in the other players hands. Each is worth the following: All number cards (0-9) is the card face value, Draw 2 Cards is 20 points, Reverse is 20 points, Skip is 20 points, Wild Card is 50 points and Wild Draw 4 Cards is 50 points.

The WINNER is the first player to reach 500 points. However the game may be scored by keeping a running total of the points each player is caught with at the end of each hand. When a player reaches 500 points, the player with the lowest points is the winner.

RENEGING:

You may choose not to play a playable card from your hand. If so, you must draw a card from the DRAW piles. If playable, the card can be played, but you may not play a card from your hand after the draw.

TWO PLAYERS, PARTNERS AND MULTI-TABLE TOURNAMENTS:

Rules for Two Players - Special rules for 2 players "UNO"

1. Playing a Reverse card works like playing a Skip card. By playing the Reverse, you may immediately play another card.
2. By playing a Skip, you may immediately play another card.
3. After playing a Draw 2 Cards or a Wild Draw 4 Cards, your opponent draws the number of cards indicated, and play is back to you.

Partners (4 players) - Sit across from your partner. When either goes out, the hand is over. Total all the points in both opposing partners hands and score for the winning team.

Variation - With 4 player play 4 hands with each of the other 3 players as your partner (a total of 12 hands). Each player keeps stack of his points scored in each partnership. Play several rounds, with the person scoring the highest number of points declared the winner with 8 players play two separate games at 2 tables with each player having every other player as a partner for 4 hands each (a total of 28 hands). Score as above.

CHALLENGE UNO:

This game is scored by keeping a running total of what each player is caught holding in his hand. As each player reaches a designated amount, that play is eliminated from the game. When only 2 players are left in the game, the play head to head. When a player reaches or exceeds the amount designates, they lose. The winner of that final hand is declared the winning player of the game. This variation is the most challenging to play.