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UNO rules
PLAYERS: 2 to 10
OBJECT: To be the first player to score 500 points. Points are scored by ridding yourself of all the cards in your hand before your opponent(s). You score points for cards left in your opponent's hands.
UNO IN A NUTSHELL
- Each player is dealt 7 cards with the remaining ones placed face down to form a DRAW pile. The top card of the DRAW pile is turned over to begin a DISCARD pile.
- The first player has to match the card in the DISCARD pile either by number, color or word. For example, if the card is a red 7, player must throw down a red card or any color 7. Or the player can throw down a Wild Card. If the player doesn't have anything to match, he must pick a card from the DRAW pile. If he can play what is drawn, great. Otherwise play moves to the next person.
- When you have one card left, you must yell "UNO" (meaning one). Failure to do this results in you having to pick two cards from the DRAW pile. That is, of course if you get caught by the other players.
- Once a player has no cards left, the hand is over. Points are scored (see scoring section) and you start over again. That's UNO in a nutshell.
DETAILS
Each player picks a card. The player who picks the highest number deals. If you picked a "word" card, too bad, they don't count. Player to the left of the dealer starts play.
If a word card is the first one turned up from the DRAW pile, this is what happens:
- Wild Draw Four - It's put back in the deck and another one is chosen.
- Wild Card - The player to the left of the dealer calls out a color, then plays.
- Draw Two - The player to the left of dealer must pick two cards and then the next player goes (sad, but true).
- Reverse - The dealer plays first, but then goes to the right instead of the left.
- Skip - The player to the left of dealer doesn't start (get it, he's skipped). The player to the left of him starts.
WHAT WORD CARDS MEAN:
- Draw Two - The next person must draw 2 cards and forfeit his turn.
- Reverse - Reverse direction of play. Play left becomes play right, and vice versa.
- Skip - The next player loses his turn and is "skipped."
- Wild Card - This card can be played on any card. The person playing the card calls any color to continue play, including the one presently being played if desired. A Wild card can be played even if the player has another playable card in his hand.
- Wild Draw Four Card - This is the best, meanest, most sneaky card to have. Not only does the player get to call the next color played, but the next player has to pick 4 cards and forfeit his turn. There is a hitch, however (of course): you can only play this card when you don't have a card in your hand that matches the color of the card previously played.
GOING OUT
- A player who forgets to say UNO before his card touches the discard pile, but "catches" himself before any other player catches him, is safe and is not subject to the penalty. You may not catch a player for failure to say UNO until his second to last card touches the DISCARD pile. Also, you may not catch a player for failure to say UNO after the next player begins his turn. "Beginning a turn is defines 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 Two or Wild Draw Four card, the next player must draw the two or four cards. These cards are counted when points are totaled.
- If no one is out of cards by the time the DRAW pile is depleted, reshuffle and continue play.
When a player is out of cards, he gets points for cards left in the opponent's hands as follows:
- All cards through 9 = Face value
- Draw 2 = 20 points
- Reverse = 20 points
- Skip = 20 points
- Wild = 50 points
- Wild Draw 4 = 50 points
The WINNER is the first player to reach 500 points. However, the game may be scored by keeping a running total of points of each player is caught with at the end of each hand. When one player reaches 500 points, the player with the lowest points is the winner.
RENEGING: A player may choose not to play a playable card from his hand. If so, the player must draw a card from the DRAW pile. If playable, that card can be played, but the player may not play a card from his hand after the draw.
WHAT WOULD A GAME BE WITHOUT PENALTIES
- If a player makes a card suggestion to another player, he must draw 4 cards.
- If a player plays a Wild Draw 4 card illegally and gets caught, he must first show his hand to the player who challenged. If guilty, he must draw 4 cards. If not guilty, the challenger must draw 2 cards in addition to the 4. The challenge can only be made by the person required to draw the four cards.
VARIATIONS
Partners - Four Players - Sit across from your partner. When either partner goes out, the hand is over. Total all of the points in both opposing partner's hands and score for the winning team.
Challenge UNO - This game is scored by keeping a running total of what each player is caught with in his hand. As each player reaches a designated amount, we suggest 500, he is eliminated from the game. When only two players are left in the game, they play head to head. When a player reaches or exceeds the amount designated, he loses. The winner of that final hand is declared the winning player of the game. THE MAKERS OF UNO FIND THIS VARIATION THE MOST CHALLENGING WAY TO PLAY.