This page is part of the Invented Games section of the Card Games web site. It is a collection of variations of the card game Crazy Eights.

Crazy Eights Poker Rules Card Game
Crazy Eights Poker Rules Games
Crazy Eights Poker Rules Poker
Crazy Eights Poker Rules How To Play

Roy (archive copy)

See also Bartok (in which a new rule is added after each hand), Mao (in which the rules are not disclosed to the players) and the Mao Variants page which features games submitted by readers.

Bitch

Contributed by Miles Dansereau (killabeez65@hotmail.com)

Eights are wild. When a player plays an eight, they get to state the suit that gets played next. For example, you play an eight, you can state hearts as the next suit, and the player after you must play a heart. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins! A variation of the Crazy Eights card game by Albert York Crazy Pairs is a souped up version of Crazy Eights which adds some strategy to the game. It can be played by any number of players and multiple decks can be used if required. The deal moves in a clockwise direction. Each player receives 8 cards. Crazy Eights is a fun card game that can be played with a standard 52 card deck. You need at least 2 people to play. If more than five players play, you might need two decks to have enough cards for the game to be fun. Starting the Game Typically 2 to 4 people play Crazy Eights. If there are two players, deal 7 cards each. If you’re looking for a simple and fun game to pass some time, the Crazy Eights card game is a good choice. Much easier to learn than complex poker rules, so you’ll be ready to play the game in a matter of minutes, even if you never had an opportunity to play before. Crazy Eights is a fast-paced card game equally fitting for all age groups.

This game branches off 'Crazy 8 Countdown.' Me and my buddy Jason call it 'Bitch' cause every one bitches when they have to pick up 16 cards.

[Editor's note: a pick up card is one that requires the next player either to draw the specified number of cards from the stock or play another pick up card.]

K of hearts is pick-up 7
J of spades and hearts are pick-up 5
Jokers are blockers or wilds but not pick up cards.
A are miss a turn.
2 are pick up 2 unless you are on 2's.

All 2's, J of H & S, K of H are pick ups. Jokers block pick ups. If a 2 of D is played, you can lay a K of H, and not pick up a single card, the player to your right has to pick up 9, etc,etc,etc. Suits are not relevant when you are facing a pick up card. If you have to pick up,and you get a pick up card, you can lay it,but only at its original value. Jokers stop any picking up, or can be added to make a pair.

Strategy: Only lay a pick up card if you have another one in your hand. It could blow up in your face.

One Left

Contributed by Justin Huneke

Introduction

One Left is a card game especially designed for 2 players and plays like the widely played card game Uno[or like Crazy Eights]. In fact, I created this card game one day after playing Uno with only one other person. We both found it boring. The Reverses and Skips were like an automatic discarded card. Uno just isn't a two player game. Fortunately for you (and me) I've created a 2 player game that’s much better than 2 player Uno. In One Left, there are no Skips. Instead there are Give Ones. There are also no Reverses. There are Pick Up Twos instead. Draws 2's are now draw 3's. There are no Wild Draw Fours You play with a standard deck of 52 cards. With this said, here’s how you play.

Play

Like I've said, One Left plays mainly like Uno. [A standard 52-card pack without jokers is used.] You start by dealing 7 cards to both players. Place the remaining cards in the center, forming the draw pile. Flip the top card off the draw pile and place it beside it, forming the waste pile. Decide who goes first and start playing.

On your turn, you can either play a card from your hand or draw from the draw pile. To play a card, all you got to do is put one card from your hand onto the discard pile that matches either the suit or the number/face value. If you have a card that you can play, you must play it. If you don’t have a card you can play, you must draw.

Along with this, there are other cards that can change the fate of the game. They are as followed:

Give 1: These cards are Kings. You may play these only on matching suits or another King. When you play these cards, give your opponent one card from your hand. Unlike Uno, your opponent's turn is not skipped.

Wild: These cards are Aces. They can be played anytime on anything to change the suit.

Draw 3: These cards are Threes. You can only play these on the matching suit. Your opponent's turn is not skipped.

Pick up 2: These are Twos. You can only play these on the matching suit. When you play these cards, you can shuffle the waste pile! Put the Two you played to the side (do not shuffle the Two into the waste pile). Shuffle the waste pile, place it face down and have your opponent draw the top 2 cards. Then turn the discard pile face up again and replace the 2 on top. If somehow there is no face up card on the discard pile, flip the top one of the stock onto the discard. Your opponent's turn is not skipped.

When you only have one card left you must call 'One Left'. If your opponent calls it before you, you must draw 2 cards. You win when you deplete your hand.

One Left will keep the both of you busy for hours just like its much older brother Uno, but with a few different twists, One Left seems like a whole new card game!

Enjoy!

Crazy Pairs

A variation of the Crazy Eights card game by Albert York

Crazy Pairs is a souped up version of Crazy Eights which adds some strategy to the game. It can be played by any number of players and multiple decks can be used if required.

The deal

The deal moves in a clockwise direction.

Each player receives 8 cards. The remaining cards are placed face down to for the stock. The top card from the stock is turned over to start the pile.

If the stock is depleted then top card of the pile is set aside and the pile is shuffled and turned over to form a new stock. The card that was set aside becomes the new pile.

Basic play

Each player plays in turn clockwise (except as noted below) and may choose to play or pass. If he chooses to play he is not required to draw any cards. However, before he can pass he must take one card (and only one card) from the stock and add it to his hand. After drawing a card he can still choose to pass or play. If he chooses to pass he says 'Pass' and play continues to the next player. A player is never required to play a card.

Basic play is exactly like Crazy Eights. A player may play a card which matches the suit or rank of the card on the top of the pile. Eights are considered wild and may be played regardless of the card on the pile. When an eight is played the player must call the suit for the next player.

When one player has discarded all of his cards then the game is over.

Kicker cards.

Kicker cards are cards which have special powers when played.

Ace: Play reverses direction. In order to keep track of the direction of the play the stock is rotated ninety degrees. When playing in a clockwise direction the stock will be parallel with the pile. When playing in a counter clockwise direction the stock will be at a ninety-degree angle with the pile.
Four: The next player to play must take four cards unless he also plays a four, in which case the next player must take eight. This can continue as long as each subsequent player plays a four, adding four cards each time. After a player takes four cards he can still take an additional card if he chooses but he is not required to if he wants to pass.
Jack: The next player loses his turn.
Eight: Wild card. Player must call the suit.

Playing off pairs

The ability to play off pairs is what makes Crazy Pairs fun and challenging.

After a player plays a card, either by matching the suit or rank of the top card on the pile, if he has one or more cards of the same rank as the one he played he can play those cards as well. This is called a pair. Note that a 'pair' in this game can therefore consist of two, three or four equal ranked cards! However, he must always cover his pair with a cover card. A cover card is a card of the same suit (but of a different rank) then the top card of the pair

Crazy Eights Poker Rules