How to Play UNO: Official Rules for Beginners

UNO is the classic “shedding” card game in which the goal is simple: be the first player to get rid of every card in your hand. It is played with a special 108-card deck of coloured numbers and action cards, works for 2 to 10 players, and takes only a couple of minutes to learn. This guide walks through the official Mattel rules from start to finish — the object of the game, setup, how a turn works, what every card does, when to call “UNO”, and how scoring to 500 points decides the winner — so a first-time player can sit down and play a fair game right away.

What is the object of UNO?

The object of UNO is to be the first player to play all of your cards in a round and to score points for the cards your opponents are still holding. Rounds are played one after another, and the points add up over time. The first player to reach 500 points wins the whole game. In other words, you win individual rounds by emptying your hand, but you win the game by being the first to cross the 500-point line.

How many players and cards do you need?

UNO is designed for 2 to 10 players and is recommended for ages 7 and up. You need one standard UNO deck, which contains exactly 108 cards. Understanding what is in the deck makes the rest of the rules much easier to follow.

• 76 number cards — 19 in each of the four colours (blue, green, red and yellow), numbered 0 to 9. Each colour has a single 0 and two each of the numbers 1 through 9.
• 24 coloured action cards — 8 Skip, 8 Reverse and 8 Draw Two cards, split evenly as two of each per colour.
• 8 black Wild cards — 4 standard Wild cards and 4 Wild Draw Four cards.

The card-type table below summarises what each card is worth and what it does when you play it.

How do you set up a game of UNO?

Setting up a round takes only a few seconds. Follow these steps before the first turn:

1. Pick a dealer. Each player draws a single card; the player who draws the highest number deals. Any card showing a symbol instead of a number counts as zero for this draw.
2. Deal seven cards. The dealer shuffles and deals 7 cards face down to every player.
3. Form the DRAW pile. Place the rest of the deck face down in the middle of the table.
4. Start the DISCARD pile. Turn the top card of the draw pile face up next to it. If that first card happens to be an action card, its effect applies immediately to the start of play.

How do you play UNO, turn by turn?

On your turn you must play one card that matches the top card of the discard pile by colour, number or symbol — if you cannot, you draw. Play begins with the person to the left of the dealer and normally moves clockwise. Here is a single turn in order:

1. Look at the top discard. Suppose it is a red 7. You may play any red card, any coloured 7, or a Wild card.
2. Play a matching card from your hand onto the discard pile, or play a Wild card, which can be played at any time.
3. If you have no playable card, draw one from the draw pile. If the card you drew can be played, you may play it in that same turn.
4. End your turn. If you draw and still cannot (or choose not to) play, the turn passes to the next player. You may not play any further cards from your hand after you have drawn.

A small but important detail: if you choose not to play a card you could have played, you must still draw a card from the draw pile before your turn ends.

What do the UNO action cards do?

Action cards change the flow of the game, and each has a specific effect. The coloured action cards (Skip, Reverse, Draw Two) can only be played on a card of a matching colour or on another card of the same type; the black Wild cards can be played at any time.

• Skip: The next player in turn loses their go entirely.
• Reverse: The direction of play flips — clockwise becomes anti-clockwise, and vice versa.
• Draw Two (+2): The next player must draw two cards and miss their turn.
• Wild: You choose the colour that play continues in, even repeating the current colour if you like.
• Wild Draw Four (+4): You choose the new colour, and the next player draws four cards and misses their turn. Crucially, you may only play this card when you have no other card in your hand matching the colour of the top discard (matching numbers or symbols are fine).

Because Wild Draw Four has a legality condition, it comes with a challenge rule. If you suspect a player used it illegally, you may challenge them and they must show you their hand. If they were cheating, they draw the four cards instead of you. If they were innocent, you draw the four cards plus two more — six cards in total. UNO action cards are worth learning well, because they are also where most house-rule arguments start.

What does “calling UNO” mean?

You must shout “UNO” the moment you play your second-to-last card, leaving you with just one card in hand. It is a warning to the table that you are about to go out. If you forget and another player catches you before the next player begins their turn, you must draw two cards as a penalty. If nobody notices before the next turn starts, you are safe. The word simply means “one” — a reminder that you are down to a single card.

How does scoring work, and how do you win?

When a player empties their hand, the round ends and that player scores the value of every card still held by the other players. The card values are:

• Number cards (0–9): their face value.
• Draw Two, Reverse and Skip: 20 points each.
• Wild and Wild Draw Four: 50 points each.

After the points are added up, if no one has reached 500 the cards are reshuffled and a new round begins. The first player to reach 500 points across all the rounds wins the game. Mattel also lists an alternative method: instead of the winner collecting points, each player tallies the points left in their own hand, and once someone reaches 500 the player with the fewest points is the winner. One special case worth remembering — if the winning player’s final card is a Draw Two or Wild Draw Four, the next player still draws those cards, and they count toward the winner’s score.

How do you play UNO with two players?

UNO works well head-to-head, with only a couple of tweaks to how action cards feel. With just two players, a Reverse card effectively works like a Skip: reversing the direction of play simply hands the turn straight back to you. A Skip likewise lets you take another turn, since the “skipped” opponent is the only other person at the table. Everything else — the 7-card deal, matching, drawing, calling UNO and scoring to 500 — stays exactly the same as the standard game.

What happens if the draw pile runs out?

If the draw pile is used up before anyone has emptied their hand, you keep playing by rebuilding it. Set aside the top card of the discard pile so play can continue from it, then shuffle the rest of the discard pile face down to form a fresh draw pile. Nothing else about the round changes — players continue matching and drawing as normal until someone goes out. This is why UNO rounds always reach a finish even in a long, cautious game.

What are the most common UNO mistakes and misread rules?

Most UNO disputes come from popular house rules that people assume are official but are not. Knowing the difference keeps games friendly.

• Stacking is not official. In 2019 Mattel publicly confirmed that you cannot answer a Draw Two with another Draw Two, or a Wild Draw Four with another +4, to pass the penalty along. Under the official rules you simply draw the cards and lose your turn. Stacking is a well-known house rule, not a real one.
• You cannot play an extra card after drawing. If you draw because you had no match, you may play only that drawn card — you cannot then unload another card from your hand.
• Wild Draw Four has a condition. It is meant to be played only when you hold no card matching the current colour; playing it otherwise is technically cheating and can be challenged.
• “Jump-in” and “Seven-0” are house rules. Playing an identical card out of turn, or swapping hands on a 7 or 0, are official optional house rules — fun, but not part of the base game unless everyone agrees first.
• Forgetting to call UNO. The two-card penalty only applies if you are caught before the next player starts their turn, so alert opponents should speak up quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many cards do you start with in UNO?

Each player is dealt seven cards at the start of every round. The remaining cards form the face-down draw pile, and the top card is flipped over to begin the discard pile.

Can you end an UNO game on an action card?

Yes. You can win a round by playing any card as your last card, including an action or Wild card. If your final card is a Draw Two or Wild Draw Four, the next player still draws those cards and their value is added to your score.

What happens if you forget to say UNO?

If you fail to call “UNO” when you play your second-to-last card and another player catches you before the next turn begins, you must draw two cards as a penalty. If no one notices in time, there is no penalty.

Can you stack Draw Two or Draw Four cards?

Not under the official rules. Mattel confirmed in 2019 that you must draw the required cards and lose your turn — you cannot play another draw card to pass the penalty on. Stacking is a common house rule that players must agree to use.

How many points do you need to win UNO?

You need 500 points to win the game. Points are earned each round from the cards left in your opponents’ hands, and the first player to reach 500 across all rounds is the overall winner.