Last Updated on December 18, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

UNO is a popular card game published by Mattel and enjoyed by millions of players worldwide. Known for its simple setup, fast gameplay, and chaotic action cards, UNO is easy to learn but surprisingly strategic. Whether you are teaching new players, settling a rules dispute, or brushing up on standard UNO rules, this guide covers everything you need to know from setup to scoring, penalties, and popular house rules.

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How to Play UNO (Complete Rules)

Overview of UNO

UNO is played with a standard UNO deck where players race to get rid of their entire hand. On each turn, players match cards by color, number, or symbol while using special cards to disrupt opponents. The winner of each round earns points based on the remaining cards in opponents’ hands, and the overall winner is determined by reaching a target score or having the lowest score, depending on how the stakes are set.

UNO games are typically fast-paced, social, and easy to customize with house rules, making it one of the most enduring card games ever created.

Components and Cards in the Standard UNO Deck

A standard UNO deck contains 112 cards made up of number cards, action cards, wild cards, and optional blank cards.

Number Cards

Each color has number cards from 0 to 9:

Blue cards
Red cards
Green cards
Yellow cards

Each number card appears twice per color, except 0, which appears once per color. Number cards are worth their face value when scoring.

Action Cards

Action cards change the flow of the game:

Skip card: skips the next player’s turn
Reverse card: changes the direction of play
Draw Two: forces the next player to draw two cards and lose their turn

Each action card appears twice per color.

Wild Cards

Wild card: allows the player to choose the current color
Wild Draw Four: changes the color and forces the next player to draw four cards

Wild cards are playable at almost any time, but Wild Draw Four has restrictions under official UNO rules.

Make sure to checkout UNO Show’em No Mercy for even crazier wild cards!

Blank Cards

Blank cards can replace lost cards or be customized with pencil or pen to create new action cards or house rules.

Objective of UNO

The objective of UNO is to be the first player to play the last card from your hand. When a player goes out, the round ends and points are scored based on the remaining cards in opponents’ cards. The game continues until a player reaches 500 points, or until players agree on an alternate ending condition.

Setup

Shuffle the entire deck thoroughly.
Each player draws one card; the highest card deals. Action cards count as zero during this draw.
The dealer gives each player 7 cards.
Place the remaining cards face down to form the draw pile.
Flip the top card of the draw pile to start the discard pile.
If the first card is a wild card or wild draw, shuffle it back into the deck and flip a new card.
The first player is the person to the left of the dealer.

Gameplay and Turn Order

UNO is played clockwise unless changed by a reverse card.

On your turn, you must:

Play one playable card from your hand, or
Draw one new card if you cannot play

Playable cards must match the top card of the discard pile by:

Color
Number
Symbol

Wild cards may be played regardless of the current color.

If you draw a card and it is playable, you may play it immediately. Otherwise, your turn ends and play moves to the next person.

Action and Special Cards Explained

Skip Card

The next player loses their turn entirely. In a two-player game, Skip acts like an extra turn.

Reverse Card

Reverses the direction of play. In two-player games, Reverse also functions as a Skip.

Draw Two

The next player must draw two cards and skip their turn.

Wild Card

Allows the player to choose the current color. The next player must follow the chosen color.

Wild Draw Four

Forces the next player to draw four cards and lose their turn. This card may only be played if the player has no card matching the current color. The affected opponent may challenge the play.

Saying “UNO” and Penalties

When a player has only one card remaining in their hand, they must say “UNO.”

If another player catches them before the next player’s turn begins, the offender must draw two cards as a penalty. If the player catches themselves before anyone else notices, no penalty applies.

Ending a Round and Scoring

A round ends when one player plays their last card.

Points are scored as follows:

Number cards: face value
Skip, Reverse, Draw Two: 20 points
Wild, Wild Draw Four, Blank cards: 50 points

Points are added to the winner’s score. The rest of the cards in opponents’ hands are counted, including remaining cards not played.

Winning the Game

There are two common ways to determine the winner:

First player to reach 500 points wins
Player with the lowest score after a set number of rounds wins

Players should agree on the method before starting.

Reshuffling the Draw Pile

If the draw pile runs out, shuffle the discard pile (except the top card) to create a new draw pile and continue gameplay.

Two-Player and Team Variations

Two Players

Reverse cards act as Skip cards
Draw cards give the same player another turn

Partners

Players sit across from their partner
When one player goes out, the round ends immediately
Scores are combined for teams

Popular House Rules (Optional)

Many groups use popular house rules to add chaos or strategy:

Jump-in: play an identical card out of turn
Stacking: pass Draw Two or Draw Four penalties
Wild swap hands: trade entire hands
Wild shuffle hands: collect and redistribute all hands
Draw until playable
Seven-zero hand swapping rules

These are not part of official UNO rules but are commonly used. If you are looking for a more official way to spice up UNO, make sure to checkout Liar’s UNO!

Strategy Tips for Better Play

Track opponents’ cards and colors
Save wild cards for critical moments
Force opponents to draw when they have few cards
Change colors strategically, not randomly
Avoid ending the round with a Wild Draw Four if possible

UNO FAQ

Can you stack Draw Two or Draw Four cards?

No, not under official UNO rules. Stacking is a house rule.

Can you play a Wild Draw Four anytime?

No. You must have no card matching the current color.

What happens if the last card is a Draw Two or Wild Draw Four?

The next player must draw the required cards, which count toward scoring.

Can you draw even if you have a playable card?

Yes. You may choose to draw instead of playing, but you cannot play another card afterward.

Who starts the game?

The first player is seated to the dealer’s left.

Conclusion

UNO remains one of the most popular card games ever made because it balances luck, strategy, and social chaos. Whether you play strictly by standard UNO rules or spice things up with custom action cards and house rules, the core gameplay stays fun, fast, and competitive. Mastering timing, color control, and opponent awareness can turn a casual player into a consistent winner—and keep every UNO game exciting until the very last card.

Interested in exploring some of the many variations of UNO? Take a look at our Best Uno Games Guide!

Video Tutorial

Remember, Uno is a game that can get intense and competitive, so be prepared for plenty of twists and turns as you strive to be the first to shout “Uno!” and win the game.