Crazy Eights

Crazy Eights is a shedding card game for 2 to 4 players, and this page lets you play it online against 1 to 3 computer opponents in your browser. You play one card that matches the suit or rank of the top discard, or play an 8 to change the suit, until you get rid of your whole hand first.

The game uses one standard 52-card deck with no jokers. You can choose how many computers you play against, how draws work, and whether a match runs to 100 points, 200 points, or a single hand. Scores and settings are kept on your device, so you can close the page and return to the same match.

There is no account to create and nothing to install. The computer players take their turns automatically, and the status line tells you what each one did.

How to play crazy eights online

1. Open the toolbar and choose Players: 1, 2, or 3 computers. Changing it starts a new match straight away.
2. Choose a Draw rule: Draw until playable (the default) or Draw one, then pass.
3. Choose a Match length: Play to 100 (the default), Play to 200, or Single hand.
4. Choose Computer speed: normal (the default) or fast.
5. Look at your hand, which is sorted by suit. Playable cards are bright; dimmed cards do not match the top discard.
6. Click or tap a playable card to play it. Dragging is not needed.
7. If you have no playable card, click or tap the Stock to draw. The Stock is only allowed when you have nothing to play.
8. When you play an 8, choose spades, hearts, clubs, or diamonds from the buttons that appear under your hand, or press Cancel.
9. Read the status line after each computer move. Press Hint to see the card the computers would play, shown with a gold outline for 5 seconds.
10. Press Rules for a short rules panel, and New game to start a fresh match at once.

Keyboard players can use the arrow keys to move over the hand, Enter or Space to play, D to draw, P to pass, H for a hint, N for a new game, and F for fullscreen. Click the table first to give it focus. There is no Undo, so check your card before you click.

What are the crazy eights rules?

Each player is dealt 7 cards with two players, or 5 cards with three or four players. The rest of the deck becomes the face-down stock. The top stock card is turned over to start the discard pile. If it is an 8, it goes to the bottom of the stock and another card is turned, so the starting card is never an 8.

On your turn, you play one card with the same suit as the suit to match, or the same rank as the top discard. Play always goes in the same direction: you first, then Computer 1, 2 and 3 in order. The first hand starts with you, and the starting seat moves one place on each new hand.

How do you win a hand of crazy eights?

You win a hand by being the first player to play all your cards. Then you score the value of the cards still left in every other player’s hand. Each 8 is worth 50, each king, queen, and jack is worth 10, each ace is worth 1, and every other card is worth its pip value, with the 10 worth 10.

For example, with three players, suppose you go out. One opponent still holds 8♠, K♣, A♦, and 7♥, which is 50 + 10 + 1 + 7 = 68 points. Another holds Q♠, 10♥, and 3♣, which is 10 + 10 + 3 = 23 points. You score 68 + 23 = 91 points.

What does an 8 do in crazy eights?

An 8 can be played on any card at any time, and you name the suit that must be played next. That suit can be the 8’s own suit. Only 8s are special in this version, because there are no draw-two, skip, or reverse cards.

Here is an example. The top card is 5♠ and you hold 8♣, 9♥, and 3♠. Your legal plays are 8♣ and 3♠, because 9♥ matches neither the suit nor the rank. If you play 8♣ and choose diamonds, only a diamond or another 8 can be played next, so a computer holding 4♦ can play it but a 6♥ cannot.

When can you draw in crazy eights?

You may draw only when you have no playable card. You cannot draw instead of playing a card you could play. With Draw until playable, you keep drawing until you get a card you can play, and you must play that card. If the stock runs out first, your turn passes with the cards you drew.

With Draw one, then pass, you draw a single card. If it is playable, you may play it or press Pass. If it is not, your turn ends at once.

When the stock is empty, the discard pile except its top card is shuffled to form a new stock. If nobody can play or draw, the hand is blocked, and the player whose cards are worth the fewest points wins the hand.

How are matches decided in crazy eights?

With Play to 100 or Play to 200, the match ends after the hand in which someone reaches the target score, and the highest score wins. If two or more players are tied at the top, another hand is played. With Single hand, the first player out wins and the game ends.

What are crazy eights strategy and tips?

An 8 still in your hand costs 50 points if someone else goes out, but it is also the one card that always plays. The computer players keep their 8s until nothing else matches, and they may play one early only when the next player is down to one card. Holding an 8 for a stuck moment is usually worth it; just do not end up holding several when an opponent is about to go out.

When you choose a suit for an 8, pick the suit you hold the most of. That keeps more of your remaining cards playable. Kings, queens, jacks and 10s count 10 each against you if an opponent goes out first, so playing them early reduces the damage. If your next opponent has only one or two cards, watch which suits they could still answer, because the computers do the same when the next player is almost out.

Use Hint when you are unsure. It shows what the computer logic would play, which is a useful way to learn the game.

Frequently asked questions

Is crazy eights free, and do I need to sign up?

Yes, it is free, and there is no sign-up. The game has no accounts, so you can start a match right away. Your settings, stats, and current match are stored only in your browser on this device.

Can I play crazy eights on a phone?

Yes. The page fits a 320 px wide phone without sideways scrolling. When your hand gets large, it is split into two or more rows so every card stays visible.

Is my crazy eights game saved?

Yes. After every move, the whole match is saved in your browser, including the hands, stock, discard pile, scores, and seed. Reloading the page returns you to the same position. The saved data stays on this device and is not sent anywhere.

Can I undo a move in crazy eights?

No. There is no Undo, so check the card before you click or press Enter.

How many players can play crazy eights here?

You can play against 1, 2, or 3 computer players, which makes 2, 3, or 4 players in total. You cannot play with more than four players or with two decks.

Why can’t I draw a card?

You can draw only when you have no playable card. If the Stock is dimmed or the status line says you have a playable card, play one of your matching cards instead.

Can I replay the same deal?

Yes. Adding ?seed=123 to the address makes the whole match reproducible, including every deal, shuffle, and computer move. The address shows the current match seed.

More games

• Go Fish: try this when you want another card game for a small group.
• Gin Rummy: pick this for a two-player game where you build sets and runs instead of matching the top card.
• Hearts: use this when you want a trick-taking game with a points-based score.
• Spades: choose this for a trick-taking game played in partnerships.
• Euchre: play this for a trick-taking game that uses a shorter deck.
• Klondike Solitaire: use this when you want to play a card game on your own.