Step by step
Learn Crazy Eights
Five quick lessons with a question each. Get through them and you're ready to deal.
Prefer it all on one page? Read the full rules
1. Match the suit or the rank
Rule A: On your turn, play a card that matches the top card's suit or its rank.
Example: On a 9 of Hearts you can play any Heart, or any 9.
Try it yourself
The top card of the discard pile is the 9 of Hearts.
2. Eights are wild
Rule B: An 8 can be played on anything. When you play it, you name the next suit.
Example: Play the 8 of Diamonds on a 5 of Spades and call “Hearts” — now the next player needs a Heart or an 8.
Try it yourself
You play the 8 of Diamonds and call Hearts.
3. When you can't play
If you can't play (or don't want to), draw from the stock until you can. You're even allowed to draw when you could play — handy for saving an 8.
Try it yourself
The top card is the Jack of Spades.
You have no Spades, no Jacks and no 8s.
4. Scoring a hand
The first player out scores the cards left in everyone else's hand: 8s are 50, K, Q, J are 10, Aces 1, and other cards their number.
Try it yourself
You went out first. Your opponent is stuck with these cards.
5. Save your eights
An 8 is your get-out-of-jail card. If you have another card you can play, play that instead and keep the 8 for when you're stuck.
Try it yourself
The top card is the 6 of Clubs.
You hold the 8 of Hearts and the 2 of Clubs.
Answer all 5 to finish
Next: try a full sample hand, or print the cheat sheet for the table.