Skip-Bo Rules

How to Play Skip-Bo Card Game

Skip-Bo is a fast-paced card game for 2–6 players that combines luck and strategy. It’s based on sequential card building, where players race to play all the cards in their personal stockpile before their opponents.

Designed by the makers of UNO, it’s family-friendly, competitive, and easy to learn.

Preparations

• Players: 2–6 (or teams of 2 in group play)
• Deck: 162 cards total
  • Numbers 1 through 12
  • 18 wild cards marked “Skip-Bo”

Setup:

1. Shuffle the deck thoroughly.
2. Deal each player a stockpile:
   • 30 cards per player in a 2–4 player game
   • 20 cards each in a 5–6 player game
3. Players place their stockpile face-down and flip only the top card face-up.
4. Place the rest of the cards in the center as a draw pile.
5. Leave space for up to 4 building piles and each player’s personal discard piles.

Gameplay

Players take turns in clockwise order.

On Your Turn:

1. Draw cards until you have five cards in hand.
2. Use your hand, your face-up stockpile card, or any of your up to 4 personal discard piles to play onto the center building piles.
3. Building piles must:
   • Start with 1 (or Skip-Bo)
   • Be stacked in order up to 12
4. You may play as many cards as you want during your turn.
5. End your turn by discarding one card from your hand into one of your personal discard piles (up to 4 allowed).

Skip-Bo Cards:

• Act as wilds and can be played as any number.
• Can start or continue a building pile.

When a building pile reaches 12, it’s cleared from the table and a new pile can start.

Winning the Game

• The first player to play all the cards from their stockpile wins.
• In team play, both teammates must clear their stockpiles for the team to win.

Strategies and Tips

Boost your chances of winning Skip-Bo with these tips:

• Play your stockpile when you can
  Always prioritize your stockpile card—it’s the direct path to victory.

• Save wilds for tricky moments
  Don’t burn Skip-Bo cards too early. Use them to bridge gaps when stuck.

• Discard smart
  Stack same-number cards in your discard piles to reuse them efficiently.

• Block opponents
  Watch what your opponents need and avoid helping them progress.

Overview of the Game Rules

• Build center piles in sequence from 1 to 12
• Use cards from hand, stockpile, and discard
• Skip-Bo cards are wild and can substitute any number
• End each turn by discarding one card into your personal pile
• Refill your hand to five cards at the start of each turn
• First to empty their stockpile wins