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Crazy Eights is a fast paced, popular card game that is great for card players of all ages. The rules of Crazy Eights are easy to learn and the variations are endless. You can keep it simple for the youngest players or add twists and turns for an older crowd.

There are many other popular card games based on the concept of Crazy Eights, such as Craits (or Crates), Bartok, and Spoons. In fact, the popular card game Uno is also based on the concept of Crazy Eights. The rules to any of these games can easily be found online and Uno is available at most toy stores.

Basic Play

Crazy Eights is a game for two or more players. It is played with a standard 52-card deck, although you can use two decks (shuffled together) if you have a lot of players. (There are specialty Crazy Eights decks available, but the following rules are for standard playing cards.)

If you only have two players, each are dealt seven cards. Otherwise, begin by dealing five cards to each player. The remaining cards are set in the center as a draw pile and the top card is flipped to start the discard pile.

Turns pass clockwise, beginning with the player on the Dealer's left. The object is to be the first to get rid of all of your cards. You can either play to see who wins each round, or keep score (see Scoring, under Variations) and have the player with the lowest points win.

To play a card, it must match the card showing at the top of the discard pile in either suit or number. You can also play an 8 at any time, because 8s are always wild. If you play an 8, you name the suit that the next player will have to match. When you don't have a playable card, draw a card to end your turn.

Variations

In Crazy Eights, variations are endless. Here are a few of the more commonly used variations, divided into categories of game play. You can use any of them or make up your own, just make sure everyone knows the House Rules before the game begins.

Drawing Cards

* Players may have the option of drawing a card on their turn or they may only be allowed to draw a card if they don't have a playable card.

* When players don't have a card to play, they can draw one card, draw up to a set amount of cards, or keep drawing until they do draw a playable card.

* Playable cards drawn on a turn can either be played immediately or have to be held until the player's next turn.

Special Cards

* Skips - When a Queen (or other decided card) is played, it makes the next player miss his or her turn.

* Draw Two - When someone plays a 2, the next player has to draw 2 cards. You can optionally play that he or she loses that turn as well. You can also play where the next player has a chance to avoid the penalty if he or she is able to play a 2. (penalty passes to the following player)

* Reverse - When an Ace (or other decided card) is played, it changes the direction of play. Turns that were passing clockwise (to the left) now pass counter-clockwise, and vice versa.

Last Card

* Players have to announce when they have only one card left (say "Last Card" or similar). If caught not announcing, the penalty is to draw 2 cards.

Scoring

* A player wins a round by being the first to play his or her cards. Everyone else earns penalty points based on the cards they have left in their hands. Commonly, 50 points for 8s, 10 points for face cards (and Aces), and all other cards at their face value.

* When keeping score, play ends when one player reaches a certain number of penalty points, often 500. The player with the lowest points wins the game.

However you play it, Crazy Eights is a classic card game that is great fun for friends or families. When played regularly, you can create and embellish your own House Rules for a unique and challenging game.

Learn more about this author, Susan Quilty.
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