Braille Uno

How to Play

For 2 to 10 players
Ages 7 and up

Getting Started

First, deal each player seven cards. The remaining cards should be placed face-down, to form the “draw” pile. Then, turn over the top card of the draw pile to begin the “discard” pile, the pile players will place their cards on top of. The person sitting to the left of the dealer gets to go first.

Playing the Game

The object of Uno is to get rid of all your cards before anyone else does. There are many different cards you can use to make others pick up cards, but they can be used against you as well.

Each player has to match the card in the discard pile either by number, colour or word. For example, if the top card on the discard pile is a red 7, a player must throw down a red card or any colour 7. The player can also throw down a Wild Card. If the player doesn’t have anything to match, he must pick a card from the draw pile. If he can play what is drawn, he will do so. Otherwise, the play moves to the next person. You do not have to continue picking up until you come across a card you can play.

What is a Wild card? This type of card lets you change the colour of play. For example, if there is a blue 3 on top of the pile and you have more yellow cards you want to play, you could lay down a Wild card. Announce that you are changing the colour to yellow, and the next player must play cards of that colour. Alternatively, change the colour again with another Wild card.

What is a Skip card? Quite simply, this card will skip the person next to you, and let the following player have their turn right away.

What is a Reverse card? When this card is played, the order of play is reversed. Instead of the player on your left playing after you, it will pass to the one on your right. In other words, if play is proceeding clockwise, this card will change it to counter-clockwise.

Cards labeled Draw 2 or Plus 2 are pickup cards. The player next to you will have to pick up two cards if you play one of these.

Lastly, you will come across cards called Wild Draw 4. This means that, if played, the player gets to change the colour, and the player next to him has to pick up four cards.

When you have one card left, you must yell “UNO”. If you do not, and get caught by another player, you must pick up two cards from the draw pile. Once a player has no cards left, the hand is over. Points are scored and you start over again.

Scoring

If you win the game, you give yourself points according to the number and type of cards left in opponents’ hands. Here’s a list for you:

Number cards: Face value
Non-wild word cards: 20 points
Wild cards: 50 points

The first player to reach 500 points wins the game.

Note: Uno can be varied however you choose, but everyone must agree before playing.

Speed Uno

Note: Two Uno Decks are required (add a deck per four players). Four to five players minimum is recommended.

Starting Play: Every player is dealt 10 cards to begin play. The person to the left of the dealer is the first player, and the beginning rotation is clockwise. The first player must play before anyone else can play any cards.

General Play: Play follows traditional Uno rules, except for these notable exceptions.

• Drawing cards: A person doesn’t skip their turn when they draw cards. A person must match the colour of the preceding card or play a WILD card. If the person isn’t able to play, they must draw cards until they can. Once a person begins drawing cards, no Speed Rules apply. The first person to go out wins that hand.
• Going out: If a player fails to say “UNO” when he has only one card left (and he is caught), he must draw five cards. A player may not go out of the game with a Wild Draw Four card.
• Exact Match: A player who has an exact matching card may play out of turn if he plays before the person who should normally go next. For example, if a Green 7 is laid down, any person with a Green 7 may play next. This may occur as many times as there are exact cards. After each play, the person who would normally follow the person who played by the Exact Match rule gets to play next, according to normal rules unless another person with an exact match beats them to the play.If the play appears to be a tie, the person whose card is on the bottom is considered first. When all cards are finished being played, play begins from the last person to play as normal. In other words, if rotation was clockwise previously, it will continue clockwise after the last person to play. This play is the same for all special cards (Reverse, Skip, etc.) with applicable rules, except Draw card. (See Double-Double).Example: Play is in clockwise direction. If player 1 plays a Green 7, and player 3 also has a Green 7, then she can play out of turn by the Exact Match rule. After player 3 plays, player 4 may play by traditional Uno rules, or any other player may play another Green 7 if he has one. The first player to lay down the card gets the play. Whichever player gets the play, play will continue to the left of him (clockwise direction).
• Double-Double: When a player plays the Exact Match rule with a card that indicates a Draw action for the next player, the play differs from traditional rules. As long as people continue to play by the Exact Match rule, the draw total continues to grow. When there are no more Exact Matches, the next player must draw the total number of Draws indicated. For example, if a Yellow Draw Two is played, and the Exact Match rule is invoked three times, then the next player must draw eight (four times Draw Two).
• Dropping: This rule is an extension of the Exact Match rule. Since a player may play an exact card, it is possible for a player to lay down more than one card at once during normal play. For instance, the colour in play is Green, and the next player has three Green 6’s. This player may play all three cards at once.
• Round-n-Round. When a 0 is played, all players must pass their hands in the direction of play. For example, if play is going in a clockwise direction, then everyone’s hand would be passed to the player on their left. Also, a player must say “UNO” if they are handed a hand with only one card. Failure to do so will result in that player drawing five cards.
• Scoring is the same as traditional Uno. See regular rules for details.