Overview
This session covered the official rules for playing Uno, including setup, turn sequence, special cards, scoring, and variants, clarifying common rule misunderstandings.
Game Setup and Starting Play
- Each player is dealt seven shuffled cards.
- The remaining cards form the draw pile in the center.
- Play begins to the left of the dealer and proceeds clockwise.
- Players can only view their own cards.
- The first player may play any card to start the discard pile.
Turn Sequence and Card Play
- Players must match the discard pile top card by color, number, or symbol, or draw one card if unable.
- After drawing, the player’s turn ends, even if they now have a playable card.
- Play continues until a player is down to one card.
- Players must declare "Uno" with one card remaining, or draw two cards as a penalty if caught not doing so before the next turn.
- The game is won instantly when a player has no cards left.
Special Cards Rules
- Reverse: Switches turn direction; playable only on matching color or another Reverse.
- Skip: Next player loses their turn; functions as the first card if revealed at game start.
- Draw Two: Next player draws two cards and loses their turn; playable on matching color or another Draw Two.
- Wild: Can be played anytime; player declares the new color.
- Wild Draw Four: Can only be played when holding no cards matching the discard pile’s color (other than Wild Draw Four); next player draws four cards and skips turn.
- Challenges on Wild Draw Four: Player must prove they had no matching color; if guilty, they draw four cards, if not, challenger draws six.
- Wild Draw Four cannot start the game; it is shuffled back and replaced.
Scoring and Winning the Game Night
- After each round, the winner gets points: numbered cards are face value, Reverse/Skip/Draw Two are 20 each, Wild/Wild Draw Four are 50 each, custom wilds are 40.
- The session continues until a player accumulates 500 points and wins the Uno night.
Official Team Variant
- Teams of two (sitting opposite) compete against each other.
- If either team member wins, their team wins that game.
- Only the losing team's players’ cards count towards scoring.
Questions / Follow-Ups
- House rules were invited for discussion in the comments.