Crazy Eights is a classic card game that's easy to learn and fun to play! Here's a basic rundown of the rules using eeBoo's cards:
Objective: The objective of Crazy Eights is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards. Play all the cards in your hand, matching either numbers or suits (hearts, clovers, stars or anchors). All “8” cards are wild and can be played at any time.
Players: 2+ players
Ages: 5 and up
Setup:
- Use a crazy eights specific deck (or a standard 52-card deck.)
- Shuffle and deal 7 cards to each if two are playing, 5 cards to each if three or more are playing.
- Remaining cards are placed facedown for a draw pile, with one turned up as a discard pile. If the turned up card is an 8 (lion) card, put it in the middle of the draw deck and turn the next card over.
Gameplay:
- Youngest player goes first. They can play a card from his hand if it matches either the number or the suit of the card showing in the discard pile.
- If the player does not have a card that is the same suit or number, but does have a wild 8 card, he plays that and chooses the suit that his opponents must play next.
- If he or she has no matching card and no wild card, they must draw a card from the draw pile, playing it if possible. If it cannot be played, he draws again. Once he has drawn three cards from the draw pile, his turn ends, whether he was able to play or not.
- Play continues to the left, with each player playing a card to match the number or suit of the face-up card, a wild 8 card, or drawing up to three additional cards.
- On your turn, you must play one card from your hand onto the discard pile that matches either the suit or rank of the top card. For example, if the top card is a 7 of hearts, you can play any 7 or any heart.
- If you can't play a card, you must draw from the draw pile until you draw a playable card. If the draw pile runs out, reshuffle the discard pile to form a new draw pile.
- If you have an 8 in your hand, you can play it at any time, regardless of suit or rank. When you play an 8, you must declare a new suit, and play continues as if the last card played was of that suit.
- When the draw pile is used up, dealer picks the top card from the discard pile and shuffles the rest, turning them over for a new draw pile.
- The game continues until one player runs out of cards. That player is the winner!
Winning: The first player to empty their hand of cards wins the game.
Special Cards & Alternate Rules:
- 8s: Are wild. 8s can be played at any time, and the player who plays an 8 gets to choose the next suit.
- Jacks (when playing with a standard deck): Sometimes played with a rule that they "reverse" the order of play.
- 2s: Sometimes played with a rule that they "skip" the next player's turn.
Variations: Crazy Eights has many variations, and rules can vary depending on where you're playing and who you're playing with. Crazy eights can also be played with a standard 52 card deck. Feel free to customize the rules to fit your preferences or try out different variations for added fun!
