UNO Card Game 🎴
UNO has been one of our family's favorite games for years! It's perfect for those rainy afternoons or family game nights when you want something fun that everyone from kids to grandparents can enjoy together.
This guide presents the rules as we play them in our family. As there seems to be 100+ if not more variations of Uno cards these days we have decided to stick with the OG Classic cards although we do love a chaotic game of Uno all wild in our house.
Materials Needed
One of the great things about UNO is that everything you need comes in one box! The colorful cards are durable and easy to shuffle, making setup quick and cleanup even quicker. If you don't have an official UNO deck, you can buy them at most toy retailers and game shops.
Deck Composition
A standard UNO deck consists of 108 cards with the following distribution:
19 Red cards: one 0 card and two each of 1-9
19 Blue cards: one 0 card and two each of 1-9
19 Green cards: one 0 card and two each of 1-9
19 Yellow cards: one 0 card and two each of 1-9
8 Skip cards: 2 each in red, blue, green, and yellow
8 Reverse cards: 2 each in red, blue, green, and yellow
8 Draw Two cards: 2 each in red, blue, green, and yellow
4 Wild cards: change the color of play
4 Wild Draw Four cards: change the color and make the next player draw four cards
Each card has a specific purpose in the game, from the straightforward number cards to the more strategic action and wild cards. The balance between these card types creates a game that's easy to learn but still offers opportunities for clever plays and tactical decisions.
Setting Up The Game
Setting up UNO is quick and straightforward:
- Choose a dealer (the youngest player, or decide randomly).
- The dealer shuffles the cards thoroughly to ensure a good mix of colors and numbers.
- Deal 7 cards to each player, one at a time, face-down.
- Place the remaining cards face-down in the center to form the draw pile.
- Turn over the top card from the draw pile to start the discard pile.
- If the first card is an action or wild card, follow these special rules:
- If it's a Skip card: The first player is skipped, and play begins with the second player.
- If it's a Reverse card: Play begins with the player to the dealer's right, and proceeds counter-clockwise.
- If it's a Draw Two card: The first player draws two cards and loses their turn (Unless they can stack a +2 or +4 on top)
- If it's a Wild card: The dealer chooses the starting color.
- If it's a Wild Draw Four card: Return it to the deck, shuffle again, and draw a new card.
- The player to the left of the dealer takes the first turn (unless modified by the starting card).
For younger players, you might want to play the first few rounds with hands visible to help them learn. You can also reduce the initial hand size to 5 cards to make it easier for children to manage their cards and understand the game.
Basic Rules
UNO's core gameplay is built around matching colors or numbers, with some special cards to mix things up:
Remember, you can only play one card per turn unless you're responding to a Draw Two or Wild Draw Four with our family's "stacking" rule (see Special Family Rules section). Wild cards can be played at any time regardless of the current color in play.
Special Cards Explained
UNO's action and wild cards add strategic depth to the game:
When played, the next player in sequence loses their turn. Example: If play is moving left and you play a Skip, the player to your left is skipped, and it becomes the turn of the second player to your left.
Changes the direction of play (clockwise to counter-clockwise, or vice versa). In a two-player game, it acts like a Skip card – the player who plays it gets another turn.
When played, the next player must draw two cards and forfeit their turn. In our family rules, this can be "stacked" – if the next player also has a Draw Two, they can play it, forcing the following player to draw four cards (unless they too can stack) +4 may be stacked on a +2 but cannot be stacked the other way around.
Can be played on any card, regardless of color. When played, you choose which color continues play (red, blue, green, or yellow).
Can be played if you don't have a card that matches the current color. The next player must draw four cards and lose their turn, and you choose the new color. In our family rules, this can be "stacked" with another Wild Draw Four
Special Family Rules
Over the years, our family has developed some favorite house rules that make UNO even more exciting:
If a Draw Two or Wild Draw Four is played, the next player can stack another Draw Two or Wild Draw Four instead of drawing cards. The cards stack up, so if a Draw Two is played, followed by another Draw Two, the third player must draw four cards (unless they can stack again). Draw Two cards can, only be stacked on each other but Wild Draw Four cards can be played on anything. The final player who cannot stack must draw the accumulated total (can be quite a lot in a big game).
When a zero card is played, all players pass their hands to the player next in line of play. This adds an unpredictable element as you might suddenly find yourself with a completely different set of cards! We don't play this variation often but since regularly playing Uno All Wild which has swap hands cards the children have started to enjoy it.
If you can't play a card, you must keep drawing until you find one you can play. This makes the game move faster but can be dangerous if you have to draw many cards!
If the player after you has one card left and you have no special cards in your hand to stop them you can choose to play the card off the draw pile in hopes it will stop them winning. Once the card has been taken it must be played if possible and no other card in your hand may be played.
Always agree on which house rules you're using before starting the game! The stacking rule especially can dramatically change gameplay. We find that clearly stating the rules before each game prevents disagreements later, especially when playing with new friends or family members.
Gameplay Walkthrough
Let's walk through a typical UNO round to see how it all works together:
The most exciting moments in our family games always come from epic stacking sequences! I've seen players have to draw 16+ cards when several Draw Twos and Wild Draw Fours stack up. The tension builds with each additional stack, and everyone gets involved cheering or groaning!
Scoring
While many casual players just play single rounds of UNO, the official rules include a scoring system for playing multiple rounds:
Number cards (0-9): Face value (0 = 0 points, 9 = 9 points)
Skip, Reverse, Draw Two cards: 20 points each
Wild and Wild Draw Four cards: 50 points each
When a player goes out (plays all their cards), the round ends immediately. All other players add up the point values of the cards remaining in their hands. The winner receives the total points from all other players' hands. Play continues for multiple rounds until a player reaches 500 points (or any agreed-upon target).
Some families play where each player gets negative points for cards left in their hand after someone wins. The player with the lowest score after a set number of rounds (like 5) wins the game.
For casual family play, we often skip the formal scoring system and just play individual rounds for fun. However, keeping score across multiple rounds adds a strategic element – sometimes it's worth holding onto a high-value Wild card rather than playing it immediately if you think you might not win the round!
Strategies for Winning
While UNO involves luck of the draw, strategic play can significantly improve your chances of winning:
Try to play higher value cards first (Skip, Reverse, Draw Two, Wild) if possible. Group cards by color in your hand to more easily see your options. Save Wild cards for when you really need them – they're your most flexible cards.
Pay attention to which colors other players seem to have many or few cards in. Watch how many cards each player has and focus your "attacks" on those close to winning. Notice which players tend to save their special cards and which play them immediately.
Change colors with Wild cards to ones you have multiple cards in. Save Draw Two and Wild Draw Four cards to counter other players' similar cards when stacking is allowed. When down to 2-3 cards, try to maintain different colors so you have more play options.
One of our family's favorite strategies is to watch the discard pile closely. If you notice several cards of a particular color have already been played, that color is less likely to appear often. This might influence which color you choose when playing a Wild card – pick a color that hasn't been seen much yet!
Adapting for Younger Players
UNO can be modified to be more accessible for younger children while still being fun for everyone:
With our younger family members, we found it helpful to begin by focusing on just matching colors, then introducing matching numbers, and finally the special cards. This gradual approach builds confidence and understanding before adding the more complex elements of the game.
Common Rule Questions
No, in standard UNO rules, you can only play one card per turn (unless responding to a Draw card with stacking as per our family rules). Even if you have two identical cards, they must be played on separate turns.
Leave the top card of the discard pile, shuffle all other discarded cards, and turn them face down to create a new draw pile.
In official rules, yes. If a player plays a Wild Draw Four when they had a matching color card in their hand, you can challenge them. If guilty, they draw 4 cards instead of you. If innocent, you draw 6 cards.
You must call "UNO" before your second-to-last card touches the discard pile. If you forget and are caught before the next player begins their turn, you must draw two penalty cards.
In standard rules, no – you can choose to hold onto it if you wish. In our family's "Keep Drawing" variation, if you draw a playable card you must play it.
Parent Notes
UNO offers numerous developmental benefits while being genuinely fun for the whole family:
UNO creates wonderful family bonding moments. The mixture of strategy and luck means everyone has a chance to win, regardless of age or experience. We've found that our most memorable game nights often involve dramatic UNO comebacks or unexpected twists!
Share Your Experience!
We'd love to hear about your family's UNO adventures! Do you have any unique house rules or memorable game moments? Have you created any interesting variations? Share your stories in the comments below.
Don't forget to check out our other home activities for more family fun ideas that combine entertainment with valuable learning opportunities!