How to Play
How to Play Uno: Official Rules, Scoring and Tips
Settle the stacking argument for good. Here are the official Uno rules, how scoring to 500 works and the tactics that win more rounds.
· 7 min read
Cards
Uno online
Match colours and numbers, play action cards and shout Uno. Official rules, first to 500.
2–6 players
Uno guide
Match colours and numbers, hit rivals with action cards and race to 500 points with 2-6 players.
What is Uno?
Uno is a shedding card game for 2 to 6 players: match the top card by colour, number or symbol, use action cards to slow rivals, and call Uno on your last card. On DD Games you can play free against 1 to 5 bots, pass one device around, or play online in a room or Quick Play.
Uno is the family card game that turns quiet evenings loud: one Draw Four at the wrong moment and the whole table reacts. Rounds are quick, but the match runs over several rounds, because the round winner scores the cards left in everyone else's hand and the first to 500 points wins.
DD Games plays the standard rules by default: no stacking, a single draw when you cannot play, and Wild Draw Four only when you hold no card of the current colour. Hosts of online rooms can switch on house rules before the game starts: a 5, 7 or 10 card deal, a target of 100, 200, 300 or 500, stacking Draw Twos and Draw Fours (optionally mixed), draw until playable, and the 7-0 rule. Solo games and Quick Play always use the standard rules.
How to play Uno
- Choose vs Bot to face 1 to 5 bots, Same device to pass one phone around, or Online to play in a room or via Quick Play (2 to 6 players).
- Everyone is dealt 7 cards and one card is turned face up to start the discard pile.
- On your turn, play a card that matches the top card by colour, number or symbol, or play a Wild card and pick the next colour.
- If you cannot or do not want to play, draw one card. If it is playable you may play it straight away; otherwise your turn ends.
- Call Uno when you are down to your last card. Empty your hand to win the round and score points.
- Keep playing rounds until someone reaches 500 points.
Rules
- The deck has 108 cards: numbers 0-9 in four colours plus Skip, Reverse, Draw Two, Wild and Wild Draw Four.
- Skip misses the next player. Reverse changes direction, and with two players it works like a Skip, so you play again.
- Draw Two makes the next player draw two cards and lose their turn. In the standard game these cannot be stacked.
- Wild lets you choose the next colour. Wild Draw Four also makes the next player draw four, and you may only play it when you hold no card of the current colour; the game checks this for you, so there is no challenge.
- If you go down to one card without calling Uno, any other player can catch you before the next player acts, and you draw two penalty cards.
- If the first card turned up is a Skip, Reverse or Draw Two, it takes effect straight away; a Wild Draw Four is never used as the starting card.
- The round winner scores the cards left in opponents' hands: numbers at face value, action cards 20, wilds 50. The first player to 500 points wins the match.
Tips and strategy
- Hold on to Wild cards for when you are stuck; they are your escape hatch late in a round.
- Change the colour to one you have plenty of, especially when an opponent is close to Uno.
- Save Draw Two and Skip cards for the player who is about to go out.
- Dump high-value cards early: if someone else wins the round, they score what is left in your hand.
- Call Uno as you play your second-to-last card so nobody gets a chance to catch you.
- Watch the other players' card counts and pounce with a catch when someone forgets to call.
Questions
How many cards to draw when caught in Uno?
Two. If you are down to one card and did not call Uno, another player can catch you before the next player acts, and you draw two penalty cards.
Can you stack Draw Two cards in Uno?
Not in the standard game: a Draw Two or Wild Draw Four makes the next player draw and lose their turn. The host of an online room can switch on stacking as a house rule.
When can you play a Wild Draw Four?
Only when you have no card of the current colour. DD Games enforces this, so the card cannot be played illegally and there is no challenge step.
What are the Uno rules for 2 players?
The rules are the same, except a Reverse works like a Skip, so you get another turn straight away.
How many cards do you deal in Uno?
Seven cards each. In an online room the host can change the deal to 5 or 10 cards as a house rule.
How many players can play Uno online?
Two to six players per room. The first player to reach 500 points across rounds wins the match, unless the host sets a lower target.
Can I play Uno against the computer?
Yes. Choose vs Bot and play against 1 to 5 bots on Easy, Medium or Hard, or pick Auto to let the level follow your recent results.
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