How to Play Crazy Eights
The deck for family game night
Dog Deck — $14.99
A different illustrated breed on every card. Kids learn the game and argue about which dog is best.
Shop the deck or the Cat Deck →Players: 2–7 · Deck: standard 52 cards (use two decks for 6+) · Goal: be the first to play every card in your hand.
Want a quick round now? Play Crazy Eights online.
The deal
Deal 7 cards each for two players, 5 each for three or more. Put the rest face down as the draw pile and flip the top card to start the discard pile. If it's an 8, bury it in the deck and flip another.
How to play
- Starting left of the dealer, play one card onto the discard pile that matches the top card's suit or rank. A 7♦ can go on any diamond or any 7.
- Eights are wild. Play an 8 on anything and name the suit the next player must follow.
- If you can't play (or choose not to), draw from the pile until you can. Popular variation: draw just one card and pass if it doesn't fit.
- If the draw pile runs out, shuffle the discards (except the top card) to make a new one.
Winning and scoring
The first player out of cards wins the hand. For a longer game, the winner scores the cards left in everyone else's hands:
- Each 8: 50 points
- King, Queen, Jack: 10 points
- Ace: 1 point
- Other cards: face value
Play to a target like 200 (or 100 for little kids).
Tips
- Save your 8s for when you're stuck.
- When you play an 8, name the suit you hold the most of.
- Watch what suits other players can't follow and change to them.