CRAZY EIGTHS

Shuffle &
Deal
Score Sheet

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RULES

GLOSSARY

  1. Shedding Game: Game in which player tries to discard all cards in her hand before all other players.
  2. Round: First player to discard all cards in her hand, wins the round.
  3. Game: First player to reach 100 points, wins the game.
  4. Stock: Part of the deck that is face down and is used by players to draw cards from.
  5. Discard Pile: Pile to which players add their discarded card face up.

PLAY

Introduction
Crazy Eights can be played by two or more players, but here at CardGames.club you’ll have to deal with one opponent only. Both players are dealt seven cards from a standard 52-card deck. Crazy Eights is a shedding game, which means your goal is to be the first player to discard all the cards in your hand.

There are many variations of Crazy Eights, and the game is known under other colorful names like Mau Mau, Craits, Last Card, Switch, Pesten and Swedish Rummy. The description that follows is thus only one of the many ways this game can be played, but of course it is the best one. It’s fast and exciting.

Play
After the dealer has dealt seven cards to both players, the remainder of the cards is placed face down in the middle of the table. This is the stock from which cards will be drawn. The top card of the stock is turned face up next to the stock as the first card of the discard pile.

A player discards by matching the rank or suit of the top card of the discard pile. An 8 can be played at any time, and allows a player to declare the suit of the card her opponent has to play. When a player is unable to play, she draws a card from the stock pile, until she can play one of her cards, or until she has drawn a maximum of three cards. A player can only draw a card, when she is unable to play.

A player has to draw two cards after her opponent has played a 2.

When the stock is exhausted, all cards from the discard pile, except the one on top, are taken, and shuffled to form a new stock pile.

The first player who discards all her cards wins the round.

Scoring
The winner’s score is equal to the total value of the cards remaining in the opponent’s hand. 8’s are worth 50, ace, king queen, jack and ten all are 10 and all other cards are worth face value. The first player to reach 100 points wins the game.

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STRATEGY

Luck is the main factor in Crazy Eights, but there is some room for strategy.

1. Card Counting: Keep track of the cards played to anticipate your opponents' moves and adjust your strategy accordingly.

2. Holding Wild Cards: Save your eights for crucial moments when you need to change the suit in play or prevent an opponent from playing a card.

3. Suit Control: Play cards from the suit with the highest quantity in your hand to increase the chances of depleting that suit and gaining control of the game.

4. Blocking: Pay attention to the cards your opponents are playing and use your cards strategically to block their moves.

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TRIVIA

Origins

The origins of Crazy Eights can be traced back to the 1930s, with the game believed to have been derived from the older card game, Eights.

Variants

Mau Mau: A German variant of Crazy Eights, Mau Mau introduces additional rules for specific cards, such as reversing the direction of play or skipping the next player's turn.

Uno: This popular commercial adaptation uses a specialized deck with unique cards and actions, such as Draw Two, Reverse, Skip, and Wild cards.

Popularity

One of the reasons Crazy Eights is so popular is that the rules are simple and easy to understand. Players take turns playing cards from their hand, matching the suit or rank of the top card in the discard pile. If a player cannot play a card, they must draw cards from the deck until they find one they can play or the deck is exhausted. The first player to get rid of all their cards is the winner.

Another reason for its popularity is the game's flexibility. While the basic rules remain the same, there are many variations and house rules that can be added to make the game more interesting and challenging. For example, some players add extra rules for certain cards, such as requiring the player to draw extra cards or skip a turn.

Finally, Crazy Eights can be played with just a standard deck of cards, making it an accessible game that can be played almost anywhere, at any time. It is a great game for social gatherings, family game nights, or just passing the time with friends.

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