Skip-Bo is a sequencing card game made by Mattel — the same company behind UNO and DOS — in which the aim is to be the first player to empty a personal face-down pile of cards called your Stock pile. You do that by building shared piles in the middle of the table up from 1 to 12, using cards from your hand, your discard piles and the top of your Stock pile. It plays with 2 to 6 people, suits ages 7 and up, and a typical game runs about 20 to 40 minutes.
This guide explains the official Skip-Bo rules step by step: what is in the deck, how to set up, how a turn works, how the wild Skip-Bo card is used, how to win, and how to keep score across several games. You will also find how Skip-Bo compares with UNO and DOS, the main variants, the mistakes beginners make, and a few strategy tips.
Skip-Bo Quick Facts
- Game type: Numerical sequencing card game
- Players: 2 to 6
- Recommended age: 7 and up
- Deck: 162 cards (twelve each of 1 to 12, plus 18 wild Skip-Bo cards)
- Stock pile dealt: 30 cards each (2 to 4 players) or 20 cards each (5 to 6 players)
- Playing time: About 20 to 40 minutes
- Maker: Mattel, from the makers of UNO
- Objective: Be the first to empty your personal Stock pile
What is Skip-Bo?
Skip-Bo is a numbered card game where every player races to clear their own Stock pile before anyone else. Unlike UNO, there are no colours and no turn-skipping action cards — the only special card is the wild Skip-Bo card. The whole game revolves around numerical order: you build communal piles in the centre that always run 1, 2, 3 and so on up to 12.
Because it is simple to learn but rewards planning, Skip-Bo works well for families and mixed-age groups. It is made by Mattel, which also publishes UNO and DOS, so if you enjoy those you will likely take to this one too. If UNO is new to you, our guide on how to play UNO is a good companion read, and you can browse the whole family on our UNO versions and editions overview.
What is in a Skip-Bo deck?
A Skip-Bo deck has 162 cards. There are twelve copies of each number from 1 to 12, which gives 144 number cards, plus 18 wild Skip-Bo cards. There are no suits or colours — the number is all that matters.
| Card type | Copies | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Number cards (1 to 12) | 12 of each | 144 |
| Wild Skip-Bo cards | — | 18 |
| Whole deck | — | 162 |
A wild Skip-Bo card can stand in for any number you need, which makes it the most valuable card in the game.
How do you set up Skip-Bo?
Setup is quick once you know the deal size, which depends on how many people are playing. Shuffle the whole deck, then deal each player their Stock pile face-down.
| Players | Stock pile cards each |
|---|---|
| 2 to 4 players | 30 cards |
| 5 to 6 players | 20 cards |
After dealing, follow these steps:
- Each player squares up their Stock pile in front of them and turns the top card face-up so everyone can see it.
- Place the rest of the cards face-down in the centre as the shared Draw pile.
- Leave space in the middle for up to four Building piles and space in front of each player for up to four discard piles (these start empty).
- The player to the dealer’s left goes first; play passes to the left.
For a faster game, some households deal smaller Stock piles (for example 10 to 15 cards each). That is an accepted shortcut rather than the standard rule, so agree on it before you start.
How do you play a turn in Skip-Bo?
A turn in Skip-Bo moves through drawing, playing and discarding, in that order. The key point is that you are always trying to shift cards off the top of your Stock pile, because emptying it is how you win.
Drawing your hand
At the start of your turn, draw from the central Draw pile until you are holding five cards. On your very first turn that means drawing five; on later turns you top up to five because you keep the cards you did not play.
Starting and building the Building piles
The Building piles are shared and sit in the centre. A new pile can only be started with a 1 or a wild Skip-Bo card used as a 1. After that, each pile is built strictly upward in order: 2 on the 1, then 3, then 4, all the way to 12. There can be up to four Building piles going at once. When a pile reaches 12, it is complete — it is removed from the table and set aside, freeing that space for a new pile to be started.
Where your cards come from
During your turn you may add cards to any Building pile from three places:
- The top of your Stock pile (always your priority — this is your win condition).
- Cards in your hand.
- The top card of any of your discard piles.
Whenever you play the face-up card from the top of your Stock pile, turn the next Stock card face-up so there is always one showing.
Using the wild Skip-Bo card
A Skip-Bo card is wild and can be played as any number at any time. Use it to start a pile as a 1 or to fill a gap in a sequence you otherwise cannot continue — for example, playing a Skip-Bo as a 7 when you have no 7 to hand. Because wild cards are limited to 18 in the whole deck, they are worth saving for moments that free up a Stock card.
The bonus hand
If you manage to play all five cards from your hand during a single turn, you immediately draw five new cards and keep playing. There is no limit to how many times this can happen, so a well-planned turn can run very long.
Discard piles and ending your turn
Your turn ends when you place one card from your hand onto one of your four personal discard piles. Discard piles have no sequencing rules — you may stack cards in any order, and you decide which of your (up to four) piles each card goes on. Only the top card of each discard pile is available to play later, so stacking thoughtfully matters: burying a useful low card under high ones can trap it.
You must discard to end your turn, even if you would rather keep every card. Play then passes to the next person.
When the Draw pile runs out
If the central Draw pile empties during play, take the cards from the completed Building piles that were set aside, shuffle them, and form a fresh Draw pile. The game then continues as normal.
How do you win Skip-Bo?
You win a game of Skip-Bo by being the first player to play every card from your Stock pile. The moment your Stock pile is gone, the game ends immediately — even in the middle of your turn — and you are the winner.
How is Skip-Bo scored across several games?
A single game needs no scoring: first empty Stock pile wins. If you want a longer match over several games, Skip-Bo uses a points system. The winner of each game scores 25 points for winning plus 5 points for every card still left in the opponents’ Stock piles. The first player to reach 500 points across games wins the overall match.
Skip-Bo vs UNO vs DOS
Skip-Bo, UNO and DOS are all Mattel card games, but they play very differently. UNO is about matching colour or number and using action cards; DOS is about matching numbers across two centre piles; Skip-Bo is pure numerical sequencing with no colours at all. The table below sums up the differences.
Skip-Bo vs UNO vs DOS
| Feature | Skip-Bo | UNO | DOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Players | 2 to 6 | 2 to 10 | 2 to 4 |
| Recommended age | 7+ | 7+ | 7+ |
| Deck size | 162 cards | 108 cards (112 in newer sets) | 136 cards |
| Core goal | Empty your Stock pile first | Be first to discard all cards | Be first to empty your hand |
| Key mechanic | Build piles 1 to 12 in order | Match colour, number or symbol | Match two centre piles by number |
| Special card | Wild Skip-Bo card | Action and Wild cards | Wild DOS cards |
| How you win | First Stock pile emptied | First to 500 points | First to 200 points |
What are the variants of Skip-Bo?
Skip-Bo plays well straight out of the box, but there are a few recognised variations and spin-offs.
- Skip-Bo Junior: a simplified version aimed at younger children. It uses a smaller deck and lower numbers, which makes the sequencing easier for early counters — much like how UNO Junior streamlines classic UNO for little ones.
- Faster deals: dealing smaller Stock piles (around 10 to 15 cards each) shortens the game without changing any rules.
- Digital Skip-Bo: Mattel offers official Skip-Bo apps for iOS and Android (published by Mattel163), which follow the same core rules and add online and solo play.
What are common Skip-Bo mistakes?
Most beginner errors come from ignoring the Stock pile or mismanaging the discard piles. Avoid these and you will win more often.
- Forgetting the Stock pile is the goal. Playing hand cards feels productive, but a turn that does not move your top Stock card rarely helps you win.
- Dumping wild Skip-Bo cards early. With only 18 in the deck, a wasted wild is a missed chance to unload a stubborn Stock card later.
- Stacking discard piles carelessly. Piling high numbers on top of a card you will soon need locks it away, because only the top card is playable.
- Helping opponents with free 12s. Completing a Building pile that lets the next player immediately drop their Stock card hands them progress.
- Not planning the bonus hand. Playing cards in the wrong order can stop you from emptying your hand and drawing a fresh five.
What are good Skip-Bo strategy tips?
Winning at Skip-Bo is about sequencing your plays so the top of your Stock pile keeps moving.
- Prioritise the Stock pile above everything. Before any other play, check whether the Building piles can take your face-up Stock card.
- Use one discard pile for each number range. Keeping low cards on one pile and high cards on another keeps more top cards available.
- Hold wilds for your Stock card. Save a Skip-Bo card to bridge the exact gap that releases the card you need to shed.
- Watch opponents’ Stock cards. Avoid building a pile to a number that lets the next player instantly unload their top Stock card.
- Chase the bonus hand. Order your plays to empty your hand and draw five fresh cards, extending your turn.
If you enjoy thinking through card games like this, many of the same instincts carry over to UNO — see our broader tips in the UNO versions and editions hub and compare with other Mattel titles.
A short history of Skip-Bo
Skip-Bo was created by Minnie Hazel “Skip” Bowman of Brownfield, Texas, who developed the commercial version in 1967. The game is a packaged take on the older card game Spite and Malice, itself descended from solitaire-style games. International Games bought Skip-Bo in 1980, and Mattel acquired International Games in 1992, bringing Skip-Bo into the same stable as UNO. For more on that lineage, see our history of UNO.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many cards are in a Skip-Bo deck?
A Skip-Bo deck has 162 cards: twelve copies each of the numbers 1 through 12 (144 cards in total) plus 18 wild Skip-Bo cards that can represent any number.
How many players can play Skip-Bo?
Skip-Bo is for 2 to 6 players and is recommended for ages 7 and up. With 2 to 4 players each person gets a 30-card Stock pile; with 5 or 6 players each gets 20 cards.
What does the wild Skip-Bo card do?
A Skip-Bo card is wild and can be played as any number. You can use it to start a Building pile as a 1 or to continue a pile when you do not have the next number in sequence.
Is Skip-Bo made by the same company as UNO?
Yes. Skip-Bo is published by Mattel, the same company that makes UNO and DOS. Mattel gained the game when it acquired International Games in 1992.
How do you win Skip-Bo?
You win by being the first player to play every card from your personal Stock pile onto the shared Building piles. The game ends the instant a player’s Stock pile is empty.
