Crazy Eights, also known as
Crates,
Switch,
Swedish Rummy,
Last One, or
Rockaway. Some
British players call it
Black Jack, which is unfortunately confused with the
gambling
game by the same name.
- Crazy Eights is a card game for two or more players.
- A standard 52 card deck is used, though multiple decks
may be shuffled together if there are many players.
- The object (as with all of the Eights Group) is to get rid of the
cards in your hand.
- The dealer deals 5 cards to each player (7 if there are only
two players).
- The undealt deck is placed face down on the table, and the top
card is turned over to start the discard pile.
- Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, continuing
clockwise, each player must either play a legal card face up on
the discard pile, or draw a card from the deck.
- The following plays are legal
- If the top card is not an 8, you may play any card which matches
the top card in either suit or rank.
- An 8 may be played on any card, the player of the suit must
declare a suit to be played next.
- If an 8 is on the top of the pile, any card matching the suit
declared may be played.
The first player to get rid of all his or her cards wins, and
the other players score penalty points for the cards left in the hand.
- 50 for an 8
- 10 for a face card
- value of number cards (Ace is worth 1)
Many variations exist. The most common of these variations are:
- Instead of drawing one card, you must draw until you may make a legal
which must be played immediately.
- When you hold 1 card, you must notify other players of this state
or draw a penalty.
- Restrictions upon 8s being played - they must match just as any
other card.
- Queens skip the next player
- Ace reverses direction of play
- 2 causes the next player to draw two cards or play another 2.
Consecutive 2s add up (three 2s being played cause the next person
to draw six)