Uno Rules: Classic Game and Variants

Uno is a popular card game that has been entertaining players worldwide since its creation in 1971. The game is designed for 2-10 players and requires a standard Uno deck of 108 cards. Each deck consists of 19 Blue Cards (0-9), 19 Green Cards (0-9), 19 Red Cards (0-9), 19 Yellow Cards (0-9), 8 Draw Two Cards, 8 Reverse Cards, 8 Skip Cards, 4 Wild Cards and 4 Wild Draw Four Cards. The Draw Two, Reverse and Skip cards come two per colour in blue, green, red and yellow.

Objective

The objective of Uno is to be the first player to get rid of all of their cards in each round and score points for the cards your opponents are left holding. Points in rounds accumulate, and the first player to reach 500 points wins the game.

Setup

To start the game, each player draws a card. The player who draws the highest number deals (count any card with a symbol as zero). The dealer then shuffles the deck and deals each player 7 cards. The remainder of the deck is placed facedown to form a DRAW pile. The top card of the DRAW pile is turned over to begin a DISCARD pile. If any Action Cards (symbols) are turned over to start the DISCARD pile, follow the special instructions under the "Functions of Action Cards" section.

How to Play

The player to the left of the dealer starts the game. On your turn, you must match a card from your hand to the card on the top of the DISCARD pile, either by number, color, or symbol (symbols represent Action Cards; see "Functions of Action Cards" section). If you don't have a card that matches the one on the DISCARD pile, you must draw a card from the DRAW pile. If the card you picked up can be played, you are free to put it down in the same turn. Otherwise, play moves on to the next person in turn.

You may choose not to play a playable card from your hand. If you do, you must draw a card from the DRAW pile. If playable, that card can be put down in the same turn, but you may not play any other card from your hand after the draw.

Functions of Action Cards

• Draw Two Card: When you play this card, the next player must draw 2 cards and miss their turn. This card may only be played on a matching color or on another Draw Two card. If turned up at the beginning of play, the same rule applies.
• Reverse Card: When you play this card, the direction of play reverses (if play is currently to the left, then play changes to the right, and vice versa). This card may only be played on a matching color or on another Reverse card. If this card is turned up at the beginning of play, the dealer goes first, then play moves to the right instead of the left.
• Skip Card: When you play this card, the next player is "skipped" (loses their turn). This card may only be played on a matching color or on another Skip card. If a Skip card is turned up at the beginning of play, the player to the left of the dealer is "skipped," hence the player to the left of that player starts play.
• Wild Card: When you play this card, you get to choose the color that continues play (any color including the color in play before the Wild card was laid down). You may play a Wild card on your turn even if you have another playable card in your hand. If a Wild card is turned up at the beginning of play, the person to the left of the dealer chooses the color that continues play.
• Wild Draw Four Card: When you play this card, you get to choose the color that continues play PLUS the next player must draw 4 cards from the DRAW pile and lose their turn. However, there is a hitch! You may only play this card when you do NOT have another card in your hand that matches the COLOUR on the DISCARD pile (but it is acceptable to play this card if you have matching number or Action Cards). If turned up at the beginning of play, return this card to the deck and pick another card.

If you suspect that a Wild Draw 4 card has been played on you illegally (i.e., the player has a matching card), then you may challenge that player. The challenged player must show you their hand. If guilty, the challenged player must draw the 4 cards instead of you. However, if the challenged player is innocent, you must draw the 4 cards PLUS an additional 2 cards (6 total).

Going Out

When you play your next-to-last card, you must yell "UNO" (meaning "one") to indicate that you have only one card left. If you don't yell "UNO" and you are caught before the next player begins their turn, you must draw two cards.

Once a player has no cards left, the round is over. Points are scored (see "Scoring and End of Game" section), and play starts over again. If the last card played in a round is a Draw Two or Wild Draw Four card, the next player must draw the 2 or 4 cards respectively. These cards are counted when the points are totaled.

If no player is out of cards by the time the DRAW pile is depleted, the DISCARD pile is reshuffled, and play continues.

Scoring and End of Game

The first player to get rid of their cards in a round receives points for all of the cards left in their opponents' hands as follows:

• All number cards (0-9) Face Value
• Draw Two 20 Points
• Reverse 20 Points
• Skip 20 Points
• Wild 50 Points
• Wild Draw Four 50 Points

Once the score for the round has been tallied, if no player has reached 500 points, reshuffle the cards, and begin a new round.

Winning the Game

The WINNER is the first player to reach 500 points.

Alternative Scoring and Winning: Another way to score points is to keep a running tally of the points each player is left with at the end of each round. When one player reaches 500 points, the player with the lowest points is the winner.

Common Variants

The official Mattel instruction sheet describes only one alternative to the standard rules: instead of the winner of a round collecting the points left in the other hands, players keep a running tally of the points they are each left with at the end of every round, and once someone reaches 500 points the player with the lowest total wins.

Beyond that, Mattel sells separate boxed editions of the game with their own components and rule sheets. Their rules are not part of the classic Uno instructions above, so play them from the sheet supplied in that particular box rather than assuming they work like the standard game.

Why This Game Is So Popular

Uno's simplicity and fast-paced action make it an addictive game for players of all ages. The strategic element of choosing when to play Action Cards adds a layer of depth, while the yelling of "Uno" and the excitement of running out of cards creates memorable moments during play.

Where to Get the Game

Embark on your Uno journey by getting the uno card game on Amazon. Enjoy countless hours of fun with family and friends!

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting to yell "Uno" when you have one card left.
• Playing a Draw Two or Skip card when you could play a matching number card to avoid forcing another player to draw cards.
• Playing a Wild card too early, giving other players a chance to play cards that limit your options.
• Failing to challenge another player when you suspect they have played a Wild Draw Four card illegally.

FAQ

• Can I use a deck of regular playing cards to play Uno? No, Uno requires a specialized deck of 108 cards.
• Is Uno suitable for children? Yes. The box is marked 7+ and the game is played by 2 to 10 players.

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