How to Play Crazy Eights
How to Play Crazy Eights
Crazy Eights is a quick, friendly discard game for 2–7 players. You need a normal deck of cards, and you can find a regular deck of playing cards from Playmore. The aim is easy to understand: play cards that fit the pile and be the first person to empty your hand. This guide uses one common version; house rules can vary.
Quick facts
| Detail | Rule |
|---|---|
| Players | 2–7 |
| Equipment | One standard 52-card deck |
| Deal | Five cards to each player |
| Goal | Get rid of every card in your hand |
| Wild card | Every 8; the player chooses the next suit |
| Turn order | Clockwise, beginning left of the dealer |
What you are trying to do
Each player holds a hand, meaning the cards they are keeping secret. In the middle of the table is a discard pile, which is a face-up pile where played cards go. On your turn, you want to place one card on the top of that pile. Most cards must match either the top card’s suit or its rank. A suit is hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades. A rank is the card’s identity, such as 7, queen, or ace.
For example, if the top card is the queen of clubs, you may play any club or any queen. An 8 is special because it is wild: it can be played on any card, and the player who plays it chooses which suit comes next.
What you need
Use one ordinary 52-card deck with four suits and thirteen ranks. Remove jokers. You also need a flat playing surface so everyone can see the discard pile. A sheet of paper or a notes app is useful if you want to keep score across several rounds, but you can also play just one round and stop when somebody wins.
Set it up
Choose a dealer for the first round. The dealer shuffles and gives each player five cards, one at a time, face down. Players may look at their own cards but should keep them hidden from everyone else. Place the undealt cards face down in the middle. This face-down stack is the stock, the pile used for drawing.
The dealer turns the top stock card face up beside it to begin the discard pile. If that first card is an 8, place it somewhere in the middle of the stock and turn up a different starter card. This keeps the opening simple: the first visible card is not wild. The player to the dealer’s left takes the first turn, and play continues clockwise.
How to play
- Check the top card. Before playing, look at the card currently showing on the discard pile. Its suit and rank tell you which ordinary cards are legal.
- Play a matching card or an 8. You may play one card that matches the top card’s suit or rank. You may also play any 8, even when it matches neither. Put the card face up on the discard pile.
- Name the next suit after an 8. When you play an 8, say aloud which suit the next player must follow: hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades. The 8 does not make a rank matter; it changes the suit being requested.
- Draw when you choose or need to. If you do not have a card you want to play, draw from the stock. In this common version, you may draw even if you have a playable card. Keep drawing until you find a legal card or the stock runs out. Play the first legal card you draw, then end your turn. Cards you draw that are not played stay in your hand.
- Continue around the table. After a player plays or finishes drawing, the next player takes a turn. If the top card is an 8, that player must play either another 8 or a card of the suit named by the previous player.
- Recycle the stock if necessary. If the face-down stock is empty, leave the top discard card where it is. Shuffle the rest of the discard pile and turn it face down to make a new stock. Then continue playing.
- Say “last card.” When you play down to one card, announce “last card” so the table knows you are close to winning. If your group wants a penalty for forgetting, agree on it before starting; this guide does not add a penalty to the basic game.
Only one card is played on a normal turn. Do not stack cards, play several cards together, or give other cards special powers unless everyone agrees to those house rules before the round begins.
How you win
The first player with no cards left wins the round immediately. For a simple game, celebrate that win and deal again with a new dealer. To keep a running score, the winner adds the value of every card still held by the other players. An 8 is worth 50 points, each king, queen, jack, or 10 is worth 10 points, an ace is worth 1 point, and numbered cards are worth their printed number. Write each round’s points on paper or in a notes app.
After several rounds, the group can stop whenever it likes. One easy finish is to play a set number of rounds and declare the player with the most points the overall winner. You can also skip scoring altogether; emptying your hand first is still the central challenge.
Easy first-game tips
Save an 8 when you can, especially if your hand is full of suits that do not match the pile. Before naming a suit, glance at your remaining cards. Choosing a suit you hold gives you a better chance of playing again soon. Pay attention to the card you draw, too: it may reveal that a suit you thought was scarce is actually useful.
Try to get rid of high-value cards before the round ends, because an 8 or a face card left in your hand creates a large score for the winner. Keep your cards slightly fanned so you can see them without exposing them. Most importantly, announce the chosen suit clearly after every 8 and check the top card before each play.
Quick questions
Can I play an 8 on any card?
Yes. In this version, any 8 may be played on any top card, and you choose the suit that the next player must follow.
What if I cannot play?
Draw from the stock until you find a legal card or the stock runs out. If there are no cards left to draw and you still cannot play, pass your turn.