Crazy Eights is typically played with a standard 52-card deck.
The dealer shuffles the deck and deals each player a hand of cards, usually seven cards for two to four players, or five cards for more players.
The remaining cards form the draw pile, and the top card is placed face up to start the discard pile.
Gameplay:
Starting the Game: The player to the left of the dealer goes first. Play proceeds clockwise around the table.
Playing Cards: On their turn, a player must play one card from their hand onto the discard pile. The card played must match the rank or suit of the top card of the discard pile, or it must be an eight (which is a wild card).
Eights are Wild: When a player plays an eight, they must declare which suit the next player must play. For example, if an eight of hearts is played, the next player must play either a heart card or another eight.
Drawing Cards: If a player cannot play a card from their hand, they must draw cards from the draw pile until they draw a playable card. Players may draw one card at a time until they have a playable card, or they may choose to draw multiple cards at once.
Winning the Game: The first player to get rid of all their cards wins the game. The game can also end if the draw pile is depleted, and no more cards can be drawn.
Variations and Additional Rules:
Some variations of Crazy Eights include special rules such as skipping the next player’s turn if an eight is played, reversing the direction of play, or allowing players to play multiple cards of the same rank at once.
In some versions, players must call out “Crazy Eights” when they have one card left in their hand to avoid being penalized.
Additional Notes:
Crazy Eights is a simple and entertaining game suitable for players of all ages. It’s often played as a family game or as a casual game among friends.
While the basic rules of Crazy Eights are consistent, there are many variations and house rules that players may choose to incorporate to add complexity or excitement to the game.