3 of 3

Write now Article Tools

The Crazy Eights card game was the very first card game I taught my children when they were very young. It has been a favorite game for children and adults for generations.

The basic rules begin with a typical 52 card deck that has been shuffled well. A dealer is chosen randomly to distribute the cards singularly to each player including himself, beginning to the left of the dealer. If only two people are playing, the dealer will distribute seven cards singularly and alternatively to his opponent and to himself. If there are more than two players, the dealer will distribute five cards to each player and to himself.

*Variation: At the beginning of the game, the dealer can decide if certain cards alter the playing sequence. For example: The dealer announces when someone plays a Jack, the next player loses a turn. The Jack would have to be played legally in the suit or on top of a previously played Jack. Or the dealer can announce when a 2 of any suit is played, the next player has to draw 2 cards.

After dealing the cards to the players, the dealer places the remaining deck face down in the center of the playing area and draws the top card to place face up. This drawn card becomes the discard pile. Beginning to the left of the dealer, each player in turn will play a card depending on the value or suit of the top card on the discard pile. Example: if the top card on the discard pile is a 4 of diamonds, the first player needs to place a 4 of any suit or a diamond of any value face up on the discard pile, hiding the previously played card. If you have one of the 8 cards whether 8 of diamonds, 8 of spades, 8 of hearts or 8 of clubs, you can chose to play that 8 instead of a 4 or a diamonds. If you chose to play the 8 you can change the suit to that 8's suit. Example: You play an 8 of clubs on the 4 of diamonds, now the next player has to either play a club or another 8.

*Variation: You can play that when you play an 8, you can change the suit, no matter what suit the 8 belongs to, but this rule must be decided before the game begins and the player must specify when he places the 8 that he is changing the suit.

If it is your turn and a 4 of diamonds is the discard top card and you do not have a 4, a diamond, or an 8, you must draw cards from the face down deck until you draw a 4, a diamond, or an 8.

*Variation: You can play where you must draw only one card from the face down deck and if it can be used, you can play it, if not, you pass the play on to the player on your left.

The game continues until a player is left with only one card. At this time, the player has to inform the other players that he is down to one card remaining. If he fails to make this announcement, when it is his turn instead of playing the one card and being out of cards, he has to draw an additional card for failing to announce. A player wins when he plays his last card legally and has no more cards to play. If players go through the entire deck without a winner, the dealer shuffles the discard pile, places face down, draws the top card for the discard pile and play resumes. If there are a lot of players, you can use two 52 card decks.

When scoring points, the winner receives 0 points. His losing opponents tally their scores by the cards still unplayed in their hands: 50 points for an 8, 10 points for face cards and the ace, and 5 points for non face cards. The winner of the series of games played is the player with the fewest points.

The card game is fun for all ages and certainly bridges generation gaps.

Learn more about this author, Madison Briggs.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Crazy Eights: House rules and variations?
We want to hear your view. Write now!