Crazy Eights - Basic Play

Basic Play

Eight cards are dealt to each player. The remaining cards of the deck are placed face down at the center of the table. The top card is then turned face up to start the game.

Players discard by matching rank or suit with the top card of the discard pile, starting with the player left of the dealer. If a player is unable to match the rank or suit of the top card of the discard pile and does not have an eight, he draws cards from the stockpile until he gets a card that he is able to play, when he draws a card he is able to play he must play it. If the stockpile runs out of cards and the player still cannot play, then he must pass. A player may choose to draw from the stockpile. When a player plays an eight, he or she must declare the suit that the next player is to play; that player must then follow the named suit or play another eight.

As an example: Once the six of clubs is played the next player:

1. can play any of the other sixes
2. can play any of the clubs
3. can play any eight (then must declare the suit or card number)
4. can play a joker (the next player plays a card of his/her own choosing)
5. can choose to draw from the stockpile
6. if none of the above, must draw from the stockpile until drawing either a six, club, joker, or eight, which is then played
7. If you call last when no other player has last you must pick up

Typically the game doesn't take very long, but its time frame can vary greatly.