Skip-Bo is a card game for groups of 2 to 6 players, similar to solitaire. The object of the game is to get rid of your cards by trying to prevent other players from doing the same. Skip-Bo is a perfect pastime for the whole family, also suitable for children aged 7 and up. Read on to learn how to play Skip-Bo.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: The Rules
Step 1. Learn the purpose of the game
The Skip-Bo deck contains 144 cards numbered from 1 to 12 and 16 wild cards called “Skip-Bo”. Each player receives 10 to 30 cards, depending on the number of players. Each player's deck of cards is called the basic deck. Skip-Bo consists of playing each card of the basic deck in numerical order. The player who plays all the cards first wins.
Step 2. Learn how to use the various decks
In addition to the basic deck, there are three other types of decks used for three different purposes. Before you start playing, learn what each deck does.
- After all the cards have been dealt, the remaining ones are placed in the center of the game table. This is the fishing deck. Cards from this deck are drawn at the start of each person's turn and are used to create the growing decks.
- At the beginning of the game, players begin to discard their cards starting with growing bunches in the center of the table. There are four growing decks, each starting with a 1 or a Skip-Bo card.
- At the end of each turn, the players discard a card in the discard pile. Each player can have a maximum of four discard piles, with the cards facing up. The cards in the discard piles can be used on subsequent turns to add them to the growing piles.
Step 3. Learn how to win the game
The object of the game is to give away all the cards as quickly as possible, adding them to the growing decks. The first to run out of all the cards in their base deck wins the game.
- You can come up with strategies to use against opponents to prevent them from giving away their cards faster than you. Since you can see other players' cards in their discard piles, you can play your cards so they can't play those cards.
- If you play the cards from the base deck before the cards in the discard pile, you will be able to get rid of your cards faster.
Part 2 of 3: Game Preparation
Step 1. Play on a large table
Since Skip-Bo uses several decks of cards, it is best to play on a large, round table. This way, everyone has enough space for both the base deck and discard decks, and there is also space in the center of the table for the draw deck and growing decks. If you try to play on a small table, there won't be enough room for everyone.
Step 2. Shuffle and deal the cards
Since the deck is large, it is best to divide it into multiple decks to mix it properly. When dealing the cards, do it according to the number of players. If you are 2 to 4, each player will receive 30 cards. If there are 5 to 7 players, each of them will receive 20 cards.
Step 3. Each player must build a basic deck
Each player must place the deck of cards in front of him, with the cards facing down, which will become his base deck.
Step 4. Create a draw deck
Place the remaining cards face down in the center of the table. This is the draw deck.
Part 3 of 3: The Match
Step 1. Begin the first round
The first player begins by turning over the top card of the base deck. The player then takes five cards from the draw pile. Based on what he has drawn, the player can choose between one of the following possibilities:
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If the player has a 1 or Skip-Bo card in hand or on top of the base deck, they can create a growing deck. Each ascending deck is the beginning of a sequence and the deck is "built" by adding other cards in ascending order: a 2, a 3, a 4 and so on. If any cards are missing, they can be replaced with Skip-Bo jokers. The player continues to expand the deck as long as he has cards in sequence; after which, to end his turn, he discards a card and forms a discard pile.
Play Skip Bo Step 8Bullet1 - If the player does not have a 1 or a Skip-Bo card, he must discard a card and form the first discard pile. Up to 4 discard piles can be formed in subsequent turns.
Step 2. It is the second player's turn
The second player turns over the top card of the base deck, takes five cards from the draw deck and continues to play as described above, starting a new growing deck, adding cards to an existing deck, or simply discarding a card.
Step 3. Continue playing one after the other
In subsequent turns, players draw cards so that they always have five in their hand. If a player plays all five cards in one turn, he can draw five more cards the next. If the player has three cards left, he will have to draw two cards on the next turn.
- After the first round, players can add cards from discard piles to the growing piles.
- When a growing deck reaches 12, set it aside and add it to the draw deck when there are no more cards. Instead of this deck, you can start a new growing deck with a 1 or a Skip-Bo card.
Step 4. Keep playing until someone runs out of their base deck
Keep playing in turns until someone runs out of all the cards in the base deck. This player wins the game.
