What Is UNO?
UNO is one of the world's most popular card games, playable by 2–10 players aged 7 and up. The goal is simple: be the first player to empty your hand of cards. First published in 1971, UNO has sold hundreds of millions of decks worldwide and remains a staple at family game nights everywhere.
What's in the Deck?
A standard UNO deck contains 108 cards, broken down as follows:
- Number cards (0–9): Four colors (Red, Green, Blue, Yellow) — one 0 per color, two of each 1–9 per color (76 cards total)
- Action cards: Draw Two, Skip, and Reverse — two of each per color (24 cards total)
- Wild cards: 4 standard Wilds and 4 Wild Draw Four cards (8 cards total)
Setting Up the Game
- Shuffle the deck thoroughly.
- Deal 7 cards to each player, face down.
- Place the remaining cards face down in the center — this is the draw pile.
- Flip the top card of the draw pile face up to start the discard pile. If it's a Wild Draw Four, return it to the deck and draw a new one.
- The player to the left of the dealer goes first.
How to Play Your Turn
On your turn, you must play a card that matches the top card of the discard pile by color, number, or symbol. If you cannot play, draw one card from the draw pile. If that card is playable, you may play it immediately; otherwise, your turn ends.
Action Cards at a Glance
| Card | Effect |
|---|---|
| Skip | The next player loses their turn. |
| Reverse | Reverses the direction of play. |
| Draw Two | The next player draws 2 cards and loses their turn. |
| Wild | You choose the new color to continue play. |
| Wild Draw Four | You choose the color AND the next player draws 4 cards and loses their turn. |
Calling "UNO!"
When you have only one card left in your hand, you must shout "UNO!" before the next player takes their turn. If you forget and another player catches you, you must draw 2 cards as a penalty. This rule adds a fun layer of attention and memory to every game.
Winning the Game
The first player to play all their cards wins the round. In a scoring version of UNO, the winner earns points based on the cards left in other players' hands:
- Number cards = face value
- Draw Two, Skip, Reverse = 20 points each
- Wild and Wild Draw Four = 50 points each
Play continues across multiple rounds until someone reaches 500 points — that player wins the overall game.
Quick Tips for New Players
- Save your Wild and Wild Draw Four cards for when you're truly stuck.
- Pay attention to how many cards other players have — be ready to challenge an UNO slip!
- Reverse cards are powerful with just 2 players — they act like Skip cards.
With these basics under your belt, you're ready to shuffle up and deal. Good luck!