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The Official Black UNO Rules

Give peace a chance with these official Black UNO rules.  You are welcome to play using any agreed upon rules, but if a debate breaks out... these are the official Black Everywhere rules!  We have highlighted particularly controversial elements.

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Object of the Game

The first player to play all of the cards in their hand wins the round.  We continue playing until 2nd and 3rd place winners are selected.

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Setup

The player with the soonest upcoming birthday is the dealer.  The dealer shuffles the deck, and each player is dealt 7 cards.  Place the remaining cards facedown to form a pile.  Turn over the top card of the draw pile to begin a discard pile.  If the top card is a Reverse return it to the deck and pick another card.  The game begins clockwise.

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Special Cards

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Draw 2 Card

When you play this card, the next person to play must draw 2 cards and forfeit his/her turn.

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If this card is turned up at the beginning of play, the second player (the player to the left of the dealer) must draw two cards. This card may only be played on a matching color or on another Draw 2 card.  You may not place a Draw 2 card on a Draw 4 card. 

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Reverse Card

This card reverses direction of play. Play to the left now passes to the right, and vice versa.  This card may only be played on a matching color or on another Reverse card.

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Skip Card

The next person in line to play after this card is played loses his/her turn and is "skipped".  If this card is turned up at the beginning of play, the second player (the player to the left of the dealer) is skipped.  This card may only be played on a matching color or on another Skip card.

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Wild Card

When you play this card, you may change the color being played to any color (including the current color) to continue play. You may play a Wild card even if you have another playable card in hand. If this card is turned up at the beginning of play, the dealer chooses the color.  

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Wild Draw 4 Card

This card allows you to call the next color played and requires the next player to pick 4 cards from the DRAW pile and forfeit his/her turn.  If this card is turned up at the beginning of play, the second player (the player to the left of the dealer) must draw four cards.

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You may play this card even if you have another playable card in hand. If turned up at the beginning of play, the second player (the player to the left of the dealer) must draw four cards.

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Game Play

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The player to the left of the dealer plays the second card.  Play passes to the left to start. Match the top card on the discard pile either by number, color or word.

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For example, if the card is a Green 7, you must play a Green card or any color 7. Or, you may play any Wild card or a Wild Draw 4 card. If you don't have anything that matches, you must pick a single card from the draw pile. If you draw a card you can play, play it.

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Otherwise, play moves to the next person. Before playing your next to last card, you must say "UNO". If you don't say UNO and another player catches you with just one card before the next player begins their turn you must pick four more cards from the draw pile.

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If you are not caught before the next player either draws a card from the DRAW pile or draws a card from their hand to play, you do not have to draw the extra cards. Once a player plays their last card, the hand is over and the player wins the game.  (The player is not required to say anything after they play their last card).

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Stacking​

 

Stacking numbers and words is permitted.  For example, if a player has three 7 cards (of any color) they can all be added to the discard pile at the same time as long as the bottom card is playable (abides by the game play rules above).  Cards can ONLY be stacked with other cards with the same words or numbers.  You cannot stack Draw 2 with Draw 4 or Wild with Draw 4 Wild, for example.  You cannot stack colors (a green 7 with a green 9).

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Draw 2

If multiple Draw 2 cards are stacked, the next player must draw the combined sum and forfeit his/her turn UNLESS the player has a Draw 2 to play.  The first player without a Draw 2 card must draw the combined sum of all of the Draw 2 cards in the discard pile and forfeit his/her turn.

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Reverse

If multiple Reverse cards are stacked, the play will reverse the number of times that corresponds to the number of reverse cards.  For example, if the game is moving clockwise and a player stacks three reverse cards, the next player to play will be the player to the right of the individual who stacked the reverse cards.

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Skip

If multiple Skips are stacked, the number of players skipped corresponds to the number of skip cards (3 skip cards = skip three players).

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Draw 4

If multiple Draw 4 cards are stacked, the next player must draw the combined sum and forfeit his/her turn UNLESS the player has a Draw 4 to play.  The first player without a Draw 4 card must draw the combined sum of all of the Draw 4 cards in the discard pile and forfeit his/her turn.

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Black UNO rules were developed by Black Everywhere® for use in our events and do not represent the official rules of the UNO game.  

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