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The Ultimate Guide to Mastering the Classic Board Game, Uno: Rules and Strategies for Beginners.

Uno is a captivating card game with a simple objective: be the first player to discard all your cards and triumph! Each player starts with seven cards, and the thrill begins. It's a game filled with twists and turns, keeping players on their toes as they strive to be the ultimate winner.

Administrator

27 July, 2024

Uno is one of the most popular games today and is loved by many, especially young people. Have you known the rules and how to play Uno yet? If not, don’t miss out on this article! Below, we will explain the Uno playing rules, guide you on how to play Uno for beginners, and even give you some tips. Let’s get started!

1 What is Uno?

Uno is a card game that originated in the United States

Uno is a card game that originated in the United States, using a special deck of cards with vibrant colors and distinctive symbols. The general principle of the game is derived from Crazy Eights, another popular card game in the US.

Uno was developed by Merle Robbins in 1971 in Ohio, USA, and quickly gained popularity among people. Today, Uno has become one of the most beloved board games worldwide.

Reference: What is Uno? Top 15 popular board games

2 Learn the Uno rules in 5 minutes

Basic Uno gameplay

The dealer shuffles the cards and deals 7 cards to each player, placing the rest face down in the middle. Then, the dealer draws the first card from the face-down pile and plays it.
The next player (in a clockwise direction) plays a card following the two principles of “same color or same number” and “special function cards” (these two principles will be explained below). If they don’t have a suitable card, they must draw another card from the face-down pile.
The round continues following these two principles, and during play, you can also apply the Combo and Double Play rules (explained below).
When a player has only 2 cards left, they must say “Uno” before playing their card; otherwise, if caught by another player, they must draw 2 extra cards.
The first player to get rid of all their cards wins the round, and the game ends. Points are then calculated and added to the winner’s score. Continue to the next round until someone reaches 500 points and becomes the ultimate winner.

3 How to play the Uno board game

Preparation

Prepare an Uno deck, pen, and paper before starting the game

A complete Uno deck: Make sure you have all 108 cards (for the standard deck) or 112 cards (for the expanded deck).
Paper and pen: Use these to record and calculate scores after each round.

Players

Uno can be played with 2 to 10 players

You only need 2 players to start an Uno game. However, most young people prefer to play Uno in larger groups as it creates a more lively and exciting atmosphere. Each Uno game can accommodate a maximum of 10 players!

Cards

Draw Cards

Draw +2 and Draw +4 Cards

Draw +2 Card: This card adds to the count of +2 cards of a different color or +4 cards. The next player must draw 2 extra cards unless they have a similar function card. You can play this card when an opponent plays a card of the same color as your +2 card.
Draw +4 Card: When you play this “powerful” card, you get to choose the color for the next turn, and the player after you must draw 4 extra cards. However, if the next player has a similar card, they can use the Combo rule, explained later.

Other Special Function Cards

Wild, Skip, and Reverse Cards in Uno

Skip Card: As the name suggests, when you play this card, the next player in line misses their turn and cannot play a card.
Wild Card: When you play a Wild Card, you can choose the color for the next turn. Used wisely, this card can give you a significant advantage in the game.
Reverse Card: This is a very special card. When played, it reverses the order of play, starting from the next player, so the direction of play becomes counterclockwise.

Game Rules

Basic Rules

The dealer shuffles the cards and deals 7 cards to each player, placing the rest face down

First, the dealer shuffles the cards and deals 7 cards to each player, placing the rest face down in the middle. Then, the dealer draws the first card from the face-down pile to determine the color for the first turn and the order of play (clockwise). The next player then chooses one of their cards to play, following these principles:

“Same color or same number” principle: The played card must be of the same color or have the same number as the previously played card. If the first card played is a function card, apply the “special function cards” principle.
“Special function cards” principle: Special function cards (black cards) can be played at any time, regardless of the characteristics of the previously played card.

If you don’t have a card that meets the above two principles, you must draw another card from the face-down pile

If you don’t have a card that satisfies either of the above two principles, you must draw another card from the face-down pile. If the drawn card meets one of the two principles, you can play it immediately; otherwise, it’s the next player’s turn.

The round continues until one player has only 2 cards left. At this point, the player must say “Uno” and play their card immediately. If they forget to say “Uno” and are caught by another player, they must draw 2 extra cards. However, if no one notices, the player can choose to remain silent and try to get rid of their last card in the next turn.

The round ends when a player gets rid of all their cards. Then, the points of the remaining players are calculated and added to the winner’s score.

Point calculation principles:

Numbered cards: The points are equal to the number on the card.
Draw 2, Skip, and Reverse Cards: 20 points each
Wild and Draw 4 Cards: 50 points each

After calculating the points, the players continue to the next round until someone reaches at least 500 points, becoming the ultimate winner.

Other Uno Rules

Combo Rule

The Double Play rule allows a player to play two identical cards at once

Double Play, also known as Double, is a rule that allows you to play two identical cards at once, speeding up the process of getting rid of your cards. The condition for Double Play is that the two cards must be identical in both appearance and number. Don’t forget to announce “Double” to the other players when playing these cards to avoid any penalties!

4 Where to play Uno online?

Due to its appeal and the advancement of technology, this game now has an online version. With online play, you don’t need to gather everyone in one place, and you can play from anywhere.

Some websites and apps for playing Uno online include Uno Friends, UNO, and Uno & Friends.

5 Uno playing tips

The black cards are very powerful, so think carefully before playing them!

Play high-number cards first: When playing Uno, try to play cards with higher numbers first. This will help reduce your remaining points when the round ends, minimizing the chance of coming last. However, if you have a clear plan for your card order, you don’t need to follow this tip.
Use black cards at the right time: The special function cards (black cards) are very powerful, so don’t play them randomly. Unless you can’t play any other card or want to prevent someone from winning, it’s best to hold on to these cards until the last few turns to increase your chances of winning.

Further reading: Uno strategies for beginners

That concludes our sharing of the Uno playing rules and some tips for this fantastic game. It’s indeed very interesting, isn’t it? Get your own Uno deck and start playing with your family and friends! Thank you for reading, and see you in the next article.

Frequently asked questions

The objective of the game is to be the first player to score 500 points, accumulated over multiple rounds. Points are scored by being the first player to get rid of all your cards. Cards are played by matching color or number to the card in the center of the table.

To set up the game, first, shuffle the deck and deal 7 cards to each player. The remaining cards are placed face-down in a draw pile, with the top card turned face-up to start the discard pile. If the card is an Action or Wild card, another card is drawn until a number or color card is turned up. Play then begins with the player to the dealer’s left.

Players take turns matching the card in the discard pile by color or number, or playing an Action or Wild card. If a player cannot match the card, they must draw a card from the draw pile. If they are able to play the drawn card, they may do so, otherwise, play moves to the next player. Special cards include Draw Two, Reverse, Skip, Wild, and Wild Draw Four cards, which have specific effects when played.

Draw Two cards force the next player to draw two cards and skip their turn. Reverse cards change the direction of play. Skip cards cause the next player in sequence to lose their turn. Wild cards can be played regardless of the color in the discard pile and allow the player to choose a new color to continue play. Wild Draw Four cards have the same function but also force the next player to draw four cards and lose their turn.

Beginners should focus on remembering to say ‘UNO’ when they have one card left, failing to do so results in a penalty. It’s also important to pay attention to the cards being played and the colors called out. Keeping track of Wild cards played can help predict the colors your opponents may have. Additionally, using Action cards strategically can help slow down opponents and give you an advantage.