Crazy Eights facts for kids
Crazy Eights is a super fun card game that two to seven people can play. The main goal is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards. You do this by matching cards to a discard pile. It's a bit like other games such as Switch and Mau Mau.
If you have five or fewer players, you'll use one standard deck of 52 cards. For more than five players, you'll need two decks shuffled together. That means you'll play with all 104 cards!
Contents
How to Play Crazy Eights
Setting Up the Game
To start, each player gets eight cards. If only two people are playing, each player gets seven cards instead. The rest of the cards are placed face down in the middle of the table. This pile is called the "stockpile."
Next, the very top card from the stockpile is turned face up. This card starts the "discard pile."
Taking Your Turn
The player to the left of the dealer goes first. When it's your turn, you need to play a card that matches the top card on the discard pile. You can match it by its number (rank) or its symbol (suit).
- For example, if the top card is a 6 of Clubs, you can play any other 6.
- You can also play any card that is a Club.
What Happens If You Can't Play?
If you don't have a card that matches the rank or suit, and you don't have an 8, you must draw cards. You keep drawing cards from the stockpile until you get a card you can play.
Using the Special "8" Card
The "8" card is very special in Crazy Eights! If you play an 8, you get to choose the next suit that everyone must play. For example, if you play an 8 of Hearts, you can say "Clubs!" The next player must then play a Club or another 8.
Here’s a quick look at your choices when it's your turn:
- Play a card that matches the number of the top card.
- Play a card that matches the suit of the top card.
- Play any 8 card, then choose a new suit for the next player.
- If you can't do any of the above, draw cards from the stockpile until you can play.
Winning a Game of Crazy Eights
The game ends when one player successfully gets rid of all their cards. That player wins the round!
To win the overall game, players usually play several rounds. The first player to reach a certain number of points wins the whole game. The points needed depend on how many players there are:
- Two players: 100 points
- Three players: 150 points
- Four players: 200 points
- Five players: 250 points
- Six players: 300 points
- Seven players: 350 points
See also
In Spanish: Ocho loco para niños
