Crazy Eights is a wonderful, social card game that can be enjoyed by a group of players.

Cards are played with matching suits or rank, and the eights are wild.

Keep your score low by being the first to get rid of all your cards to win this game.

Find the video tutorial and written explanation for how to play crazy eights below.

Crazy Eights Tutorial

Needed

52 card deck; two to five players (more players require an additional deck); pen and paper for scorekeeping.

Deal

Five cards are dealt to each player, one card at a time. The top card of the remaining deck is placed face up to start the discard pile.

Objective

The objective of the game is to be the player with the lowest score when a player gets 100 points or more.

Keep your score low by being the first player to get rid of all your cards in a round.

Game Play

The player left of the dealer is the first to play. Cards with a matching suit or a matching number with the top card of the discard pile can be played.

The 8s are wild and can be played on any card. The player of an 8 will state a suit, and the next player will have to play a card in the suit that was stated.

If a player is unable to play a card in the same suit or rank, the player will draw up to three cards and pass if he/she still cannot play.

If the player draws a card that can be played, that card is played.

The round ends when a player gets rid of all his/her cards.

Scoring

Players get the point value of the cards left in their hands at the end of the round. Cards have the following values:

  • Ace - 1 point

  • 2-10 - Face Value (except for 8s)

  • Face Card - 10 points

  • 8 - 50 points

Rules

  • An 8 cannot be the first card to start the discard pile. If an 8 is flipped up, bury it into the middle of the deck, and flip the next card from the deck face up.

  • If the draw deck is gone and a player cannot play, that player must pass. If every player cannot play, the round is over, and each player gets the value of their unplayed cards.