How to Play UNO

This article will help you learn how to play UNO. We’ll briefly describe the object of the game, setup, gameplay, and special cards. UNO can be played with as few as two players and as many as ten players. Note that two-player UNO has a few special rules, so you may want to check out our other post on UNO rules for two players.

Object of the Game

The first player to score 500 points wins the game! Your objective during each round is to be the first player to play all of your cards. You score points for the cards the other players are left holding at the end of the round.

Scoring

• All number cards (0-9): face value (e.g., the ‘9’ card is worth 9 points)
• Draw 2: 20 points
• Reverse: 20 points
• Skip: 20 points
• Wild: 50 points
• Wild Draw 4: 50 points
• Blank (varies)

Setting up the Game

1. Shuffle the deck.
2. Each player draws a card.
3. The player with the highest card is the dealer.
4. Dealer shuffles again.
5. Deal each player seven cards.
6. Place the deck face down – this is the draw pile.
7. Turn over the top card and place it face up.
8. This becomes the discard pile.
9. Note: if this first card is wild or wild draw 4, put it back in the deck and turn over another card.

Game Play

1. The player to the left of the dealer plays first.
2. Play continues to the left, in a clockwise fashion.
3. Match the card on top of the discard pile by number, color, or with a wild or wild draw 4 card.
4. If you don’t have a matching card in your hand, pick a card from the draw pile.
5. If you draw a matching card, play it.
6. Otherwise, it’s the next player’s turn.
7. Important: Before playing your next-to-last card, you have to say “Uno!” If you don’t and another player catches you before they play a card or draw one, you have to pick four more cards!
8. Once a player plays her last card, she wins the hand, and it’s over.
9. Count the points for the cards the other players are left holding.
10. Choose a new dealer and play again until one player reaches 500 points.

Special Cards

• Skip card: the next player after this card is played loses her turn and is “skipped.”
• Reverse card: reverses the direction of play.
• Draw-2 card: the next player draws two cards and loses her turn.
• Draw-4 card: the next player draws four cards and loses her turn.
• Wild card: change the color being played to any color.
• Wild Draw 4 card: allows you to call the next color played. The next player draws four cards and loses her turn.

Summing Up

UNO is a great game for kids, or even better, to play as a family. Feel free to download the official UNO instructions from the link below, and learn more about UNO.