How to play Uno

The objective

Your goal is simple: match colors and numbers, use action cards, and empty your hand first. This guide uses the most common beginner-friendly rules. Families and groups may agree on variations before starting.

What you need

An Uno deck.

How to set up

1. Shuffle and deal seven cards to each player.
2. Place the remaining deck face down and turn over the top card.

How to play: step by step

1. Match the top discard by color, number, or symbol.
2. Use Skip, Reverse, Draw Two, and Wild cards as marked.
3. Draw one card when you cannot play.
4. Call Uno when one card remains. The first player out wins.

Beginner strategies

• Save a Wild card for an emergency.
• Watch which colors opponents avoid.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Forgetting to call Uno.
• Stacking draw cards unless everyone agreed to that house rule.

Frequently asked questions