Crazy Eights is a popular card game where players race to be the first to discard all the cards from their hand. It's a game of strategy, quick thinking, and a bit of luck!
The Objective
The primary goal of Crazy Eights is to be the first player to successfully get rid of all the cards in your hand.
What You'll Need
- One or two standard 52-card decks: Use one deck for 2-4 players, and two decks for 5 or more players.
- 2 to 7+ players: Crazy Eights can be enjoyed by a small group or a larger gathering.
Game Setup
- Dealing: A designated dealer shuffles the deck(s). For 2 players, deal 7 cards to each player. For 3 or more players, deal 5 cards to each player. Place the remaining cards face down in the center to form the draw pile.
- Starting the Discard Pile: Flip the top card from the draw pile face up and place it next to the draw pile. This card begins the discard pile.
- Important Note: If the first card flipped is an 8, the player whose turn it is (the player to the dealer's left) determines what suit that 8 will represent for the first play.
How to Play Your Turn
Play proceeds clockwise, starting with the player to the dealer's left. On your turn, you must play a card from your hand onto the discard pile.
The central rule is that the card you play must match either the rank (number) or the suit of the card currently on top of the discard pile.
Playing Regular Cards
- Look at the top card of the discard pile.
- If you have a card that shares the same suit (e.g., a 7 of Hearts on a 5 of Hearts) or the same rank (e.g., a Queen of Spades on a Queen of Clubs), you can play it.
- Place your chosen card face up on top of the discard pile.
Using Wild Eights
- Eights are wild! This means an 8 can be played on any card, regardless of its suit or rank.
- If you play an 8, you must declare what suit it will be for the next player's turn. You can choose any of the four suits (Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, Spades), even if you don't have a card of that suit in your hand. This is a powerful strategic move to change the flow of the game, either to benefit yourself or to hinder an opponent.
Drawing Cards
- If you do not have any playable cards in your hand (neither a matching rank/suit nor an 8), you must draw cards one by one from the draw pile.
- Continue drawing until you pick up a card that you can legally play. If you draw a playable card, you can play it immediately.
- If the draw pile runs out and you still cannot make a play, your turn ends, and play passes to the next player. No reshuffling of the discard pile occurs in this scenario.
How to Win
The first player to successfully discard all the cards from their hand wins the round. When a player plays their last card, they declare "Crazy Eights!" or simply "Out!"
Tips for Success
- Strategize with Eights: Save your 8s for when you truly need them, such as to change the suit when you're stuck, or to get rid of your last card.
- Observe Opponents: Pay attention to what suits your opponents are playing. If they keep drawing, they might be low on a particular suit, giving you an opportunity to change the suit to one they don't have.
- Manage Your Hand: Try to empty out suits you have many cards of, especially if you also hold an 8 to switch back to that suit later.
- Don't Forget to Declare! If you play an 8, always remember to call out the new suit.
You can learn more about general card game strategies and history by exploring resources like Wikipedia's Card Game page.
