How to Play Uno with 2 Players: A Comprehensive Guide

Basana Saha

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Are you a fan of the classic card game Uno but can never seem to gather enough players to join in on the fun? 

Don’t worry, you can still enjoy Uno even with just two players! In this comprehensive guide, we will show you how to play Uno to accommodate a two-player game, provide strategies for playing, and introduce some variations of Uno that are perfect for two players.

How to Play uno with two players

Objective of the Game

The objective of the game is to score 500 points in the game. So, once one of the two players reaches that they win the game.

Things to Know Before Playing the Game

How many cards does each player get in UNO with 2 players?

Each player gets 7 cards at the start of the game.

Age Range For playing the Game

Anyone 7+ can play the game as per the Official Mattel instructions.

Setting Up UNO for Two Players

The first step is to gather all the necessary materials. You’ll need an Uno deck of cards, which contains 108 cards, and a flat surface to play on. 

Dealing the Cards

When playing Uno with 2 players, each player should be dealt 7 cards at the start of the game. The remaining cards should be placed in a draw pile in the center of the playing area.

Creating a Draw Pile and Discard Pile

To create a draw pile, place the remaining Uno cards face down in a stack. This will be used throughout the game for players to draw from.

To create a discard pile, place the top card from the draw pile face up next to the draw pile.

Special Cards

Uno has several special cards that add an extra layer of strategy and fun to the game. Let’s take a look at each one and its rules for two players:

Draw 2 Card

When a player plays a Draw 2 Card, the opponent must draw 2 cards from the draw pile as a penalty. The opponent’s turn is then skipped.

Reverse Card

When a player plays a Reverse Card, the direction of play is reversed. This is not applicable in a two-player game, so the Reverse Card can be removed from the deck or used as a wild card.

Skip Card

When a player plays a Skip Card, the opponent’s turn is skipped. In a two-player game, this means that the player who played the Skip Card gets to play again.

Wild Card

When a player plays a Wild Card, they get to choose the color that the game will continue with. The player can choose any color they want, regardless of the color of the previously played card.

Wild Draw 4 Card

When a player plays a Wild Draw 4 Card, they get to choose the color, and the opponent must draw 4 cards from the draw pile as a penalty. 

However, in a two-player game, this card can only be played if the player has no other playable cards.

Gameplay

The player other than the dealer goes first. They must play a card that matches either the color or the number of the card on top of the discard pile.

If they do not have a playable card, they must draw a card from the draw pile. If the drawn card can be played, the player may play it. Otherwise, their turn ends, and play passes to the opponent.

Players can also play special cards to add a twist to the game. The rules for each special card are described above.

The game continues until one player has no cards left in their hand. The other player then scores the value of the cards left in their hand, and the winner is the first player to reach 500 points.

Scoring in the Game

Here is the UNO Scoring with respect to the different cards in the game as per the table below:

Cards Face Value
Number Cards (From 0 to 9) Face Value
Wild Card 50 points
Draw 2 Card 20 Points
Draw 4 Card 50 Points
Reverse Card 20 Points
Skip Card 20 Points
Blank Card ?
Reference: Official Instruction Sheet from Mattel

Suppose, one player plays the last card and calls out UNO, then the number of cards in the opponent’s hand is calculated for the score as per the table above. Then this score is for the Winner of the turn.

Next, the score is calculated cumulatively till it reaches 500 points. The first player to reach 500 points becomes the winner of the game.

Conclusion

Let’s conclude the post!

Uno is a timeless classic that’s perfect for two players. With its simple rules, fast gameplay, and exciting special cards, Uno is sure to keep you entertained for hours. 

So gather a friend, set up the deck, and let the games begin!

I hope you enjoyed reading the post.

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Basana Saha