Crazy Eights
The classic card shedding game for 4 players. Match suit or rank to discard cards — eights are wild! Also known as Olsen Olsen and Swedish Rummy.
Objective
Be the first player to get rid of all your cards. Play cards that match the suit or rank of the discard pile, or use an 8 as a wild card to change the suit.
Also Known As
Crazy Eights goes by many names around the world: Olsen Olsen (Scandinavia), Swedish Rummy, Mau Mau (Germany), Tschau Sepp (Switzerland), Pesten (Netherlands), and simply Eights. The rules are nearly identical across all variants.
Setup
Crazy Eights uses a standard 52-card deck with 4 players:
- Each player is dealt 5 cards
- One card is placed face-up to start the discard pile
- The remaining cards form the stock pile (draw pile)
How to Play
On your turn, you must play a card from your hand onto the discard pile. A card can be played if it matches:
- The suit of the current discard pile card, OR
- The rank of the current discard pile card, OR
- The card is an 8 (wild — always playable)
Example: If the discard pile shows the 7 of Hearts, you can play any Heart, any 7, or any 8.
Eights Are Wild
When you play an 8, you choose the suit that the next player must follow. This makes 8s extremely powerful — they can get you out of tough spots and control the flow of the game.
Drawing Cards
If you cannot play any card from your hand, you must draw from the stock pile. You may draw up to 3 cards. If you draw a playable card, you may play it immediately. If after 3 draws you still have no playable card (or the stock is empty), your turn passes.
Special Starting Card
If the starting discard card is an 8, the first player may play any card from their hand.
Winning
The first player to play all their cards wins the game. If the stock pile runs out and no player can make a move, the player with the fewest cards remaining wins.
Turn Order
Play proceeds clockwise: You (South) → West → North → East → You → ...
Strategy Tips
Save your 8s. Eights are your most powerful cards — they can be played at any time and let you choose the suit. Don't waste them early when you have other options.
Control the suit. When you play a card, you set the active suit. Try to change the suit to one where you hold several cards, giving you more plays in future turns.
Watch your opponents. Pay attention to how many cards each opponent holds. When someone is down to 1-2 cards, avoid changing to a suit that might help them win.
Shed high cards early. If you're unlikely to win, getting rid of high-ranked cards reduces your risk in a stalemate (lowest card count wins).
Don't draw unnecessarily. Drawing adds cards to your hand. Only draw when you truly have no playable card — check your hand carefully first.
Match rank strategically. Playing a card that matches rank (instead of suit) lets you shift to a new suit of your choosing — especially powerful when you want to change direction.
Plan your endgame. When you're down to 2-3 cards, think about what suit you'll need to finish. Set up the right suit before playing your second-to-last card.
Mouse / Trackpad
- Click a card in your hand to play it (must be a valid play)
- Click the stock pile to draw a card when you cannot play
- After playing an 8, click a suit button to choose the new active suit
- Cards that cannot be played appear dimmed
Touch
- Tap a card to play it
- Tap the stock pile to draw
- Tap a suit button to choose suit after playing an 8
Keyboard Shortcuts
- N — Start a new game
- ? — Show keyboard shortcuts
Is the shuffle fair?
Yes. Every deal uses a deterministic pseudo-random shuffle based on a seed value. The same seed always produces the exact same deal.
What happens when the stock runs out?
If the stock pile is empty and you cannot play, you pass your turn. If no player can make a move and the stock is empty, the game ends and the player with the fewest remaining cards wins.
Why is it called "Crazy Eights"?
The name comes from the wild 8s — they're "crazy" because they can be played on anything and change the suit at will. The game became hugely popular in the mid-20th century and inspired the commercial game UNO.
What is Olsen Olsen?
Olsen Olsen is the Scandinavian (especially Icelandic) name for Crazy Eights. The rules are essentially the same — match suit or rank, 8s are wild.
How many cards do you draw?
You may draw up to 3 cards from the stock pile on your turn. If you draw a playable card, you can play it immediately. After 3 draws with no play, your turn passes.
Is my data stored or shared?
No. All stats and preferences are stored locally in your browser. Nothing is sent to any server.
About Crazy Eights
Match suit or rank to shed your cards first — eights are wild. A fast, fun card game for four players (also known as Olsen Olsen and Swedish Rummy). The direct ancestor of UNO, with three AI opponents and automatic scoring.