How to Play UNO: Card Game Rules and Scoring

The deck has four color suits (red, yellow, green, blue), each numbered 0-9 plus Skip, Reverse, and Draw Two cards, and four Wild cards and four Wild Draw Four cards. Each player is dealt 7 cards; the remaining deck is the draw pile and one card is flipped to start the discard pile. Play proceeds clockwise unless reversed.

On your turn, match the top card's color, number, or symbol, or play any Wild. Action cards: Skip makes the next player lose their turn; Reverse flips direction; Draw Two forces the next player to take two cards and lose their turn; Wild lets you name any color; Wild Draw Four forces the next player to take four cards, lose their turn, and you name the color (house rules often restrict it to when you hold no matching color). If you cannot play, draw one card; if that card is playable you may play it, otherwise your turn ends. When you play your second-to-last card you must say 'UNO' before the next player's turn; failing to do so (if caught) costs you two drawn cards.

Myth: you can only play a Wild Draw Four if you have no other move. Fact: official rules allow it anytime, but many house rules require holding no matching color; agree this before playing. Myth: a Skip card also makes you draw. Fact: Skip only passes the turn; only Draw Two and Wild Draw Four force cards. Myth: you win by points immediately. Fact: you win a round by emptying your hand, then points are tallied.

1. Deal 7 cards to each player; flip one to start. 2. On your turn, play a matching card or a Wild, or draw if stuck. 3. Apply action effects (Skip, Reverse, Draw Two, Wild, Wild Draw Four). 4. Say 'UNO' at your last card. 5. First to empty their hand wins the round. 6. Score: the winner adds the value of cards left in each opponent's hand (number cards face value, Skip/Reverse/Draw Two = 20, Wild/Wild Draw Four = 50). 7. First player to reach the agreed target (often 500) wins the game.