Crazy Eights

Players: 2+
Type: Shedding

Objective
Be the first player to reach the target amount of points by shedding all your cards.

The Deal
The dealer gives one card at a time face down to each player,starting with the player to his left,
in a clockwise direction. A standard 52-card deck is used when there are five or fewer players.
When there are more than five players, two decks are shuffled together and all 104 cards are
used. The Jokers can also be included. The remaining cards are placed face down in the centre
of the table, forming the stockpile. The top card is then turned face up to start the game.

The Play
Players discard cards in their hand by laying cards that match either the rank or suit with the top
card of the discard pile. Play starts with the player to the 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, they
must draw a card from the stockpile. If the stockpile runs out of cards and the player still cannot
play, then he or she must pass. If the card picked up can be laid then it can be done so before
play passes to the next player

If the player plays an eight, they 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: If the six of clubs has been played the next player may either:
1. Play any of the other sixes
2. Play any other club
3. Play any eight (then must declare a different suit)
4. Pan a joker (if included and the next player plays a card of his/her own choosing)
5. Or, if unable to perform any of the above, must draw from the stockpile and end their go
unless they draw either a six, club, joker, or eight, which is then played.

When a player lays their penultimate card down, leaving one card left in their hand they must
say “Last Card”. If the player fails to do this and proceeds to lay their final card on their next
turn, they incur a 5 card penalty (must pick up 5 cards) and must resume play.

Special Cards
The following cards have special abilities in this game:
 ● Eights - May be laid on any card and allows the player to change the suit
● Joker - May be laid on any card and the next player may lay anything on it
● Queen - Play changes direction
● Ace - The next player misses a go
● 2 - The next player must draw 2 cards or lay another 2. If they lay another 2 then the
next player must either draw 4 cards or lay another 2 and so on. A player cannot lay any
cards once they have started drawing and their go ends after picking up all their cards.

Scoring
The winner of the game is the first player to reach a specific amount of points. For two players
the goal is usually 100 points and for each additional player the target is raised by 50 points e.g.
for three players the goal is 150 points.

Players win points be shedding all their cards before any other player and the amount of points
gained depends on the cards the remaining players have left in their hands.Traditionally, the
winner gets 50 for each Eight, 10 for each face card (J,Q, K), and face value for a spot card.

Variations
● A player picking up a card that could be played cannot play it immediately

● 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, they must keep drawing cards from the stockpile until they get a card
that they are able to play. This card is then played.

● If a player's last card is an Eight, he must reveal this to the other players.

● Any number of cards of the same rank may be played at the same time

● Some players, play the queen of spades to pick up 5.

● When two Ten’s are played at the same time the next player draws one.

● The king of diamonds can cancel the queen of spades and next player draws five move

● Special cards can be changed and added to. Popular changes include allowing Eights to
also skip and to make 3’s behave like 2’s except players draw three cards instead.

● A player does not have to play a card if they do not wish. This allows the possibility of
picking up extra cards if one desires.