The winner is the player with the least points. Traditionally, pure Crazy Eights is scored 50pts for an 8, 10pts for a picture card, and face value for a spot card. Points are incurred for any cards left in hand at the end of a round. Scoring varies depending on the weighting of special cards. This goes on until a player goes down all the way to drawing one card and is able to discard that hand. For example, if a person was dealt eight cards in his/her first hand and discards them all, s/he draws a second hand - this time with seven cards (thus 7 becomes his/her particular wild card). Once a player is able to discard his or her first hand, s/he draws another hand with one less card. Failure to show the 8 results in a penalty (drawing two or more cards.)Īnother version of the game is "Crazy Eights Countdown", usually played to extend the length of the game. If a player's last card is an 8 (or multiple 8's) then the player must not only announce "Last Card" but also show the 8 to his/her opponents. Therefore a player who uses the 8 as their last card is almost guaranteed victory. Note that this usually has to be caught by another player before the last card is discarded.Ī player may use the 8 to change suits, as well as also block draw cards. Failure to announce "Last Cards" incurs a draw penalty (usually two or five cards). Some players use black jacks as draw 5's, and allow red jacks to cancel the draw.Ī player who can make a final play on their next turn must announce "Last Card". Playing more than one draw card simultaneously will usually require a draw equal to the sum of the cards (i.e. If the next player can play another draw card, they add up and the third player must draw the total, unless he or she also has a draw card or an 8. There are two basic draw cards: the 2 (draw 2) and the Q♠ (draw 5).
A similar option exists with draw cards, where 2's and the queen of spades may be played on each other interchangeably if players agree on "Draws on Draws". Players may agree that Aces and 4's may be played on each other regardless of suit ("Skips on Skips"). Skip cards are usually both Aces and 4's. If more than one card is played, the appropriate number of players are skipped. Skip - The next player in the rotation is skipped.Other special actions applied to cards include: 8♥ has to be played on a heart) or whether it can be played irrespective of the top card.
In other versions of the game, the suit-changing card may be a different card (often Jacks or Aces), and rules vary as to whether the card has to be played on a matching suit (ie. The 8 can be played irrespective of the top card on the pile, and unless the 8 is the player's last card, the player may then call a change of suit. In the basic form of Crazy Eights, the only card with such attributes is the 8 (hence the name). The main variations in play concern the characteristics of cards with special actions.
Other players may choose to continue playing for second place, etc. The first player to get rid of all their cards is the winner. If the stock pile runs out of cards, the top card of the discard pile is removed and the remaining cards in the discard pile are reshuffled and serves as the new stock pile. If a player is unable to match the rank or suit of the top card of the discard pile and they don't have an 8, they draw cards from the stock pile until they draw a card that they are able to play (alternatively they may pass after drawing one card - the rules over passing vary). Generally, any number of cards of the same rank may be played consecutively (see below for "Skips on Skips" and "Draws on Draws" rules). Players discard by matching rank or suit with the top card of the discard pile, starting with the player left of the dealer. an Ace, 2, 4, 8, or Q♠) and continue taking cards until an "ordinary" card surfaces. Some players may agree to the "Dealer's Goodies" rule, in which the dealer is permitted to take the first discarded card if it is a "special" card, (i.e. The top card is then turned face up to start the discard pile. 2.1 Other special actions applied to cards include:Įach player is dealt seven cards, with the rest of the deck being placed face down at the center of the table.