Crazy Eights Rules

Crazy Eights is a popular card game that originated in the United States, and can be played with 2-8 players. The game requires a standard 52-card deck, although two decks can be used if there are more players.

Objective

The objective of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all of their cards by matching the number or suit of the previous card discarded.

Setup

Before starting the game, shuffle the deck of cards and deal 5 cards to each player (7 cards each if there are only two players). The remaining cards form a draw pile in the center of the table, with the top card flipped over to start a discard pile.

How to Play

Play proceeds clockwise, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. On their turn, a player can either play a card from their hand that matches the number or suit of the top card on the discard pile, or draw a card from the draw pile if they cannot play a card.

If the top card on the discard pile is an Eight, the player who played it must choose a suit for the next card played. If a player does not have a card of the chosen suit, they must play an Eight or draw a card from the draw pile. If an Eight is turned up as the first card of the discard pile, it is treated as though the dealer played it, and the player to the left of the dealer must play a card of the suit chosen by the dealer.

There are also special cards in the game:

• Aces reverse the direction of play (clockwise to counterclockwise or vice versa)
• Queens cause the next player to miss a turn
• Twos require the next player to draw two cards or play another Two (an Eight cannot be played in this case)

If a special card is turned up as the first card of the discard pile, it is treated as though the dealer had played it. If it is an Ace, play begins anticlockwise and the player to the dealer's right has the first turn; if it is a Two, the first player must play another Two or draw two cards; if it is a Queen, the first player is the player two places to the dealer's left. And if the last card played by the winner happens to be a special card, its effect is simply ignored.

A player who has only one card left in their hand must say "last card" to alert the other players. If a player fails to do so, they must draw two cards as a penalty.

Scoring and End of Game

The first player to get rid of all their cards wins the game. The remaining players score penalty points based on the cards they have left in their hands: 50 points for an Eight, 10 points for a picture card (Jack, Queen or King), and the face value of spot cards (Ace = 1, Two = 2, etc.). If the draw pile is exhausted, the played cards, except for the last one, are shuffled and stacked face down to make a new draw pile, and the game continues.

Common Variants

There are many variations of Crazy Eights, and different groups may have their own house rules. Some common variations include changing the roles of the special cards, using different cards to change suit, and allowing a player holding multiple equal-ranked cards to play them all at once.

A Fun Fact or Record

Crazy Eights is one of the most popular card games in the world, and is played in many different countries under various names: Crates, Switch, Swedish Rummy, Last One or Rockaway in English-speaking countries, Mau-Mau in Germany, Tschausepp in Switzerland, Pesten in the Netherlands. Some British players even call it Black Jack, which is unfortunate, since it invites confusion with the well-known American banking game Blackjack.

Where to Get the Game

If you're looking to play Crazy Eights, you can find a standard 52-card deck on Amazon at this link: 54-card deck on Amazon

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting to say "last card" when you have only one card left in your hand
• Playing an Eight out of turn or playing an Eight when you don't have to
• Failing to pay attention to the suit chosen by the player who played an Eight
• Drawing too many cards when required to draw due to a Two or a special effect

FAQ

• Can I use a deck with fewer than 52 cards? No, a standard deck of 52 cards is required to play Crazy Eights.
• How many players can play? The game is usually described for 2 to 8 players. With a lot of players, two 52-card packs are shuffled together rather than one.
• Can I use jokers in Crazy Eights? Jokers are not traditionally used in Crazy Eights, but some groups may include them as wild cards.
• Can I change the scoring system in Crazy Eights? Yes, you can change the scoring system to suit your group's preferences, as long as all players agree to the changes.
• Can I play Crazy Eights with a different number of cards dealt at the beginning of the game? Yes, some groups may play with a different number of cards dealt, such as 8 cards each.

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