Crazy Eights

Crazy Eights card game is played with a 52-card pack and can be played among 2 or more players.

Related: A list of all card games

Objective

The basic idea is to be the first to play all one’s cards to a communal discard pile.

How to play

In the case of two players, each receives seven cards from the standard 52 card deck.

If they are more than two players, each will receive five cards from a double deck of 104 cards.

The remaining cards are placed facedown to form the stock, and the top card is turned up to start the discard pile.

Starting the Game

Each player takes turns, starting with the dealer’s left,  and plays a card face-up to the discard pile.

Every card played (other than an eight) should match the topmost card in the discard pile by either rank or suit.   

For example: If the K of Hearts is the starter, any heart can be played on it or any King

All 8s are wild and can be played at any time, and a player who plays an 8 should name a suit to be used by the next player.

Drawing from the Stock

If a player is unable/unwilling to follow the topmost card, he/she will be required to draw cards from the top of the stock and keep adding them in hand until one of the cards can be played to the discard pile or if the stock runs out.

End of the game

The game comes to an end when the last card from one of the players’ hands is played or when no one has a card that matches the last card.

The player who is the first to have no cards left wins the game, and he/she collects payment from each of the opponents.

This payment is determined by the total value of cards remaining in the opponent’s hand as follows:

• 8= 50 points each
• K, Q, J, or 10= 10 points each
• Ace=1 point each
• All other cards=their index value

Strategies for winning

Some of the strategies to help you shed all your cards faster include;

• When deciding whether to stay in the suit or match the rank but switch suits, it is advisable to always keep the current suit matching whatever you have the most.
• When matching the suit, you want to play your higher cards first because these are the worst cards to get stuck in your hand when the game ends.
• Save your eights for late in the game but be sure to use them before the end of the game
• If a leading opponent plays an eight and declares a suit and you have a chance to change the suit, then do so before he/she gets another turn. This is so because they could have named that suit because they have a few cards to get rid that are in the suit they have named. 

FAQ