How to play Crazy Eights: rules and scoring

• 52-card deck
• Often five cards each

Goal: Be the first to get rid of all your cards.

Setup

• Everyone gets the same number of cards.
• One card is turned up and the rest form the draw pile.

How to play

1. Play a card of the same suit or rank as the top card.
2. If you can’t, draw.
3. Special cards speed things up: a 7 makes the next player draw.
4. A jack can go on anything and changes the suit.
5. Other special cards depend on the table.

Scoring

• When someone goes out, everyone else writes down the points left in their hand.
• Going out on a jack doubles the penalties.

Winning

• Anyone over the limit (e.g. 101) is out, or you play a set number of hands.
• Whoever has the fewest penalty points wins.

Note

Card points and special card meanings vary by table — agree on them before you start.