Crazy Eights
What is Crazy Eights?
Crazy Eights is a fast-paced shedding card game where players race to be the first to get rid of all their cards. It’s known for its simplicity and wild eights, which let players change suits mid-game. Easy to learn and endlessly replayable, Crazy Eights is the inspiration behind many popular games like Uno.
A Brief History of Crazy Eights
Crazy Eights has been around since at least the 1930s and gained its name from American military slang referring to Section 8 (a discharge for mental instability). The game’s simple mechanics and “crazy” wildcard rules quickly made it a favorite among kids, families, and card players looking for a quick, chaotic match.
Objective of Crazy Eights
The goal is to be the first player to discard all your cards. You can play cards that match the suit or rank of the top discard—or play an eight to change the suit. Strategic timing of wild cards and blocking opponents is key to winning.
The Pack and Card Ranks
Crazy Eights is typically played with a standard 52-card deck. For more than 4 players, use two decks.
- Cards rank from Ace (high) down to 2 (low) for matching purposes only.
- Eights are wild and can be played at any time to change the suit.
How to Play Crazy Eights: Step-by-Step Rules
1. Setup
- Players: 2–5 (more with multiple decks)
- Each player is dealt 5 cards (7 in 2-player games)
- Place the rest face-down as the draw pile
- Flip the top card face-up to start the discard pile
2. Playing a Turn
- On your turn, you must play a card that matches the suit or rank of the top discard.
- If you cannot play, draw cards one at a time until you can or the draw pile runs out.
- You must play a card if you draw one that’s playable.
- If no cards can be played, pass your turn.
3. Wild Eights
- An 8 can be played at any time.
- After playing an 8, declare the suit that the next player must follow.
- You don’t need to match the previous card’s suit or rank when playing an 8.
4. Winning the Hand
- First player to discard all their cards wins the hand.
- Remaining players total their unplayed cards for scoring.
Scoring in Crazy Eights
| Card | Point Value |
|---|---|
| 8s (wild) | 50 points |
| Face cards (J, Q, K) | 10 points |
| Number cards | Face value |
| Aces | 1 point |
- After a hand ends, the winner scores points based on the cards remaining in other players’ hands.
- The game continues until a player reaches a target score (commonly 100 or 200), or play a fixed number of rounds.
Common Variations and House Rules
| Variation | Description |
|---|---|
| Reverse/Skip | Playing certain cards (e.g., Queen or 2) reverses play or skips the next player |
| Draw 2 or Draw 4 | Some versions allow 2s or other cards to force opponents to draw extra cards |
| Crazy Jacks | Jacks become wild instead of 8s (or both) |
| Progressive Crazy Eights | Stacked Draw 2s and Draw 4s can build up consequences |
| Pass on Draw | Players may draw one card only, and pass if it can’t be played |
Additional Tips and Fun Facts
- Keep your 8s for emergencies—they’re the most powerful and versatile cards.
- If someone plays an 8, suit-switch strategically to mess with your opponent’s hand.
- Crazy Eights is the direct ancestor of Uno, Skip-Bo, and similar modern card games.
- You can increase the chaos by adding jokers as “wild draw 4” cards in house rules.
Crazy Eights FAQs
What happens if the draw pile runs out?
Shuffle the discard pile (except the top card) to form a new draw pile.
Can you finish with an 8?
Yes. If your last card is an 8, you declare the suit and win the round immediately.
Is there a penalty for not playing when you can?
That depends on house rules—some enforce a penalty or force you to play if legal.
Can you stack 8s?
No. Only one 8 can be played at a time, and it resets the suit.
What’s the best strategy?
Hold onto eights, watch suits others avoid, and force suit changes to disrupt plans.
For more classic card game rules and strategies, explore the rest of our Card Game Rules library.