Uno (card game)

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U.N
Baraja de UNO.JPG
Game data
author Merle Robbins
publishing company Self-published (1971),
International Games ,
Spear's Games ,
Borras Plana ,
Amigo (1986),
Mattel (1992),
Sababa Toys ,
etc. a.
Publishing year 1971
Art Card game
Teammates 2 to 10
Duration 30 minutes
Age from age 6

Uno ( Italian and Spanish for one ) is an American card game whose primary aim is to lay down your cards as quickly as possible, comparable to Mau-Mau , with a special hand being played.

history

The game was developed on the basis of a traditional game idea in 1969 by Merle Robbins (* 1911/12; † January 14, 1984) - an owner of a hair salon in Milford - with the help of his wife Marie, his son Ray and his wife Kathy. At first it was only played in one's own family. With a starting capital of 8,000 US dollars , the first 5000 games were produced in 1971 and sold out quickly . He then sold the rights to the game to a friend who owned a funeral home for $ 50,000 plus 10 cents per game sold in 1972. For this purpose, the company International Games was founded, which UN marketed internationally.

From 1986 to 1992 the game was distributed by Amigo in Germany . In Scandinavia it was published by Spear-Spiele , a Spanish version was published by Borras Plana . In 1992 International Games was taken over by Mattel . Since then, the game has been distributed by Mattel in Germany.

Game objective

In several rounds you have to reach 500 points. The goal of the round is to be the first to discard all cards. Points are awarded for those tickets that could not take the players and still keep on hand (s. Points key ).

Rules of the game

Basic rules

At the beginning of a round, each player is dealt seven cards, the rest are placed on a face-down pile in the middle. The top card of this pile is turned over and forms the discard pile. The player to the left of the dealer is the starting player and starts the game. He tries to discard one of his cards, which must have the same number or color as the top card of the discard pile. Special rules apply to the black action cards. If you do not have a suitable card in hand or do not want to place it for tactical reasons, you have to draw a card from the stack and immediately discard it if it fits. Whoever puts down his penultimate card must first shout “Uno!”. The winner of a round is whoever discarded his last card first.

UNO action cards standard

"Action cards" are those playing cards that do not come under the normal number cards (0–9).

  • Draw Two ("Plus 2") - The next player must take two cards and may not play any card. If this card is on display at the beginning, the player to the left of the dealer must draw two cards.
  • Return - If there are more than two players, the direction of play is changed. If this card is on display at the beginning, the dealer starts the game and the round continues counter-clockwise.
  • Suspend - The next player is skipped and not allowed to play a card. If this card is on display at the beginning, the player to the left of the actual starting player starts the game.
  • Color choice - the player who plays this card tells the next player which color he must play. It is also possible (for tactical reasons) to choose the color that is already on display. If this card is on display at the beginning, the starting player decides which color he wants to play.
  • Draw four color choice ("Plus 4") - The next player must take four cards and may not play any card. The card may only be placed if the player who has it cannot use the color of the card on the discard pile with another card in his hand; if he has a card with the same number as on the card on display, he may still place the plus 4 . The player who places the Plus 4 card may also choose the color to be played. This card cannot be displayed at the beginning of the game, a new starting card must be drawn instead.

UN Extreme

  • Action card:
  • Expose:
  • Change of direction:
  • Color choice card:
  • Press twice: The next player must press the card machine twice and pass. When the game begins, the player on the left must press the button and sit out.
  • Discard all colors: The player lying down may discard all colors and put the symbol on top. In the case of a starting card, the left player may press a color or other symbols, if he does not have to press once.
  • Swap card (old version): The player who discards the swap card may have to swap the card. With the start card, a new one is revealed. The last swap card has to press twice and swap, even if nothing comes out.
  • Color choice card to all (old version): When this card plays, all players have to play, except must press the card thrower once. With the start card, a new one is revealed.
  • Color choice card? (Old version): The next player has to press the card thrower until something comes out. In the case of the starting card, the player on the left must press the card thrower for as long.
  • Color selection card with 2 × with arrows (new version): With this card, one color can be pressed and another player must press twice. With the start card, a new one is revealed.

Punish

In the following cases, two penalty cards are generally to be drawn at UN :

  • Forget “Uno!” : A player forgets to call out “Uno!” In good time . This penalty is only due if he is caught in time, namely before the next player has started his turn.
  • Make suggestions : A player makes suggestions to other players, e.g. B. What to play.
  • Wrong lay : A player plays a card that should not be played in the current situation, or he plays a card without it being his turn. The card placed in each case must be withdrawn - in addition to drawing the penalty cards.

The following penalties apply in connection with the (unlawful) laying of the Plus-4 card:

  • Challenge Plus 4 rightly : A player places the Plus 4 card even though he is not allowed to place it (see action cards ). If the player who has to pick up the four cards challenges the player who placed the action card beforehand, he must show him his cards; if he does not do this or if it becomes apparent that he was actually not forced to play the plus 4 , he must pick up the four cards himself.
  • Incorrectly challenging Plus 4 : If the player who previously placed the Plus 4 card can prove that he played it lawfully, the player who challenged him incorrectly must receive two additional penalty cards, i.e. a total of six cards , record, tape.

Points key

The number cards have the value printed on them; the colored action cards count 20, and the black 50 points.

variants

These variants make the game more interesting or faster and can be combined as desired.

Official variants

  • Accumulate : If the player disadvantaged by a played Plus-2 card can also place a Plus 2 himself, it is added up and the following player must pick up four cards; the third would have to take six cards, and so on. However, this rule does not apply to the plus 4 cards and it is not possible to combine both cards. According to the manufacturer's explicit clarification, it is neither allowed to place a plus 4 on another plus 4 , nor to play a plus 4 on a plus 2 (or vice versa).
  • Double : If you have two cards in your hand that are identical in color and number, you can discard both at once. This also applies to the Plus 2 cards , but not to the Plus 4 cards. The cards do not have to be discarded one after the other; however, such a regulation could be introduced before the start of the game in order to give the following player the opportunity to be faster.
  • Seven-O : If a zero is played, all players - including the lead player - must pass their own hand on to the next player in the direction of play. So the outcome remains exciting until the end. If someone puts a zero as the last card, he still has to pick up the cards of the player next to him, so he did not win the game.
  • Jump-In (intermittent throwing or blitz): Except for 0, all cards are included in the game at least twice. If a color card has been placed and you have exactly the same card in hand (same color and same value), you can simply put it on top of it, regardless of whether it was your turn or not. The game then continues from this point, the players in between are skipped. In the case of action cards, this action cancels the function of the first card.
  • Partner : The partners sit opposite. A round is over when one of the partners runs out of cards. The points of the remaining players are counted for the partners.
  • Penalty points : Each player counts the card values ​​of his cards remaining at the end of a round as penalty points. Whoever reaches 500 points first ends the game and has lost.

Other variants

  • Fast double : The two identical cards can be discarded at the same time.
  • Jump-In Black : The black action cards can also be inserted here.
  • Jump-In Action : The function of the first card is not canceled (see accumulation ).
  • Draw infinitely : If you don't have a playable card, you have to take cards from the stack until you can discard one.
  • Action Uno : An additional function can be defined for certain numerical values: If, for example, a three is played, all players must stand up or put down cards and clap their hands or hit the pile of cards in the middle with one hand (attention: risk of injury!) Or similar The person who takes the action last or does not react at all draws a penalty card. Likewise, actions are only possible for the playing teammate, which he must remember, while everyone else is careful and insists on the penalty cards immediately if he forgets.
  • Back-coach : If a +2 placed a same color back card from the next player card, the Leger gets +2 card the action back and must, if he offer a retort not play or another +2 card can hang up, even draw the two cards from the deck. This variant can also be carried out with +4 , but the return card must correspond to the desired color.
  • Let me! : If the next player places a blackout of the same color on a +2 card, the next player receives the two penalty cards. Forwarding and the combination with the return carriage are of course possible.
  • Stupid questions : Questions are prohibited throughout the game. However, if someone asks a question, whether in the context of the game or not, he must draw a card. Since he is often not aware of this, another player can give him a card. The only legitimate question is to know why you are getting a card. This variant also enables players who have already discarded all cards to be back in the game.
  • Sleep : It is also possible that you have to draw a card if you no longer know when it is your turn and if a card falls off the table. The last variant is particularly interesting when you play with "intermediate throwing".
  • Continue playing : The round is not over when the first player runs out of cards. This is only eliminated as first place from this round. The game continues until all further placements have been determined.
  • Bruno, Kuno, Uno : When discarding the fourth from the last card, the player has to say Bruno . With this he announces that he only has three cards in his hands. When discarding the third from last card he must say Kuno and with the penultimate card Uno . If he forgets, he has to pick up two cards. If the player only has one (or two) cards left in his hand and has to pick up new cards, he must report his new card status again (2 cards left: Kuno ; 3 more cards: Bruno ).
  • End without a 0 : A round may not end with a 0 . The rule makes sense at Seven-O to prevent a card swap at the end.
  • Complementary Uno : If a card (e.g. 8) determined before the game is played, all colors are treated complementarily. This means that a color must be placed on its complementary color (yellow can be placed on blue, green can be placed on red and vice versa. However, the same is no longer allowed in the complementary mode!). If the said card is placed again, the colors are played "normally" (switching principle).
  • Fetch in : If the first player has no more cards, the round is not over. The game continues until it is this “player who has dropped out” again. If this player has to draw new cards through (+2 or +4), he must take them and the game continues. So it can first be left out by "suspending". The order can also be changed again by "Jump In". Or that person is unlucky and has to swap the “cards” with a 0. The winner is the one who has another turn after the last card discarded and does not have to take any more cards.
  • Clean UN : Anyone who utters a swear word or a curse must draw a card.
  • Silent UN : Whoever says anything has to draw a card.

Power Uno

Power-Uno is a much faster version of the normal Uno and should also be played faster. You need 2 decks of cards from which you only take the cards 0, 2, 7, the special cards and the black cards and play with them. 3 or more players are suitable. Each player receives 3 cards at the beginning of the game, otherwise the way of playing is the same as in the Uno. The following rules apply:

  • Cards of the same value and suit can be placed together. (Return cards dissolve, 2+ cards double, etc.)
  • 7 : If a 7 is played, all players must put their hands on it. The last one has to take a penalty card. If there are only two players, the player who put the card must first put their hand on the pile, then touch their forehead, and then put them back on the pile with the discarded cards. His opponent just has to put his hand in the middle. If a player puts down two or more 7s at once, his hand must normally be placed in the middle for the first time, for the second and all further 7 the player has time to put his hand in the middle until he a second (or nth) turn comes. So he can put his hand in the middle at some point in the middle of the game.
  • Blue 2 : When a blue 2 is played, all cards in hand are passed to the player on the right. (If two or more blue 2 are played, the pass is accumulated.)
  • 0 : If a 0 is played, the player must swap his hand cards with another player. If the " jump-in " rule is used (another player throws a 0 on the stack) or if two 0 cards are played at the same time, the card swap function is canceled.
  • Black cards : the black cards can always be played, even if you could play in the given suit.
  • Jump-In : see above, but the function of the previously discarded card (e.g. 2+) is not canceled, but accumulated (exception: suspend the special card: the number of cards that the last player threw in corresponds to the number Players who have to sit out).

The game is over as soon as there is only one player left. The winner is whoever placed his cards first. If a player places a 0 or a blue 2 as the last card, he must draw a penalty card and then exchange or pass it on. As an extended version, points can be introduced. Each player who has put down all his cards receives one point and must immediately pick up three new cards and continue playing with them.

expenditure

Uno Extreme

UN Extreme

With Uno Extreme you don't have to draw a card if you can't play, but instead press a button on the slot machine. The player then throws a random amount of cards, which the player then has to pick up.

UN Flash

Uno Flash is a variant of the classic, which is particularly about speed. Each player has a button on the round game device in the middle; the device lets the buttons light up randomly (the same player can also turn on several times in a row). Whose button is lit, depending on the setting, has a few seconds to make his move, after which he must press the button. In addition, a special card with a depicted hand triggers a competition in which each player has to press his button as quickly as possible. Those who are too slow have to take penalty cards; otherwise this output follows the usual rules.

UN Junior

In addition to numbers, the cards in the Uno Junior edition also contain pictures of animals, so that they are also suitable for younger children who cannot yet read numbers. At Uno Junior the number of cards is reduced to 56. There are cards in four colors with values ​​from 1 to 9, with the one occurring twice in each color. Only four types of action cards are played: “Draw 1”, “Draw 2”, skip and choose color. Instead of seven cards, only five cards are dealt. There are also two levels of play: level 1 is suitable for younger children and is played openly without the action cards; level 2 is where children can use the card slot and action cards are allowed.

UN Flip!

At Uno Flip! the playing cards are printed on both sides with different numbers and symbols; there is a “dark” and a “light side”, each with different colors and action cards, such as B. the draw 5 card. If a "flip card" is played, all cards in hand as well as the card and discard piles must be turned over.

Other expenses

  • Uno H 2 O , with which waterproof playing cards made of transparent plastic foil allow you to play in the water.
  • Uno Dice , in which dice are played instead of playing cards.
  • Topic and brand-related UN issues such as B. to High School Musical or Harry Potter , which may contain rule variations.

Uno is also available as a video game for PC , Nintendo DSI , PlayStation 4 and Xbox One .

Uno-like games

A traditional game similar to the UN, called Mau-Mau , is played with a French or German hand of 32 cards. In Switzerland, 36 cards are used for the “Tschau Sepp”. Since Uno u. a. Based on such old game ideas, the game mechanism is not protected, but can also be found in other card games.

  • ASS produced its own version in Germany, which was sold by Damm in 1985 as Vriompeis in Scandinavia .
  • Amigo has been producing the Solo card game since 1993 , which also includes some additional card functions. Amigo had Uno in sales until 1992, after which Mattel took over sales.
  • A variant of Uno was sold by ASS Altenburger under the name Assano - with analogous rules (but graphically differently designed cards) .

Similarity of names

The UN should not be confused with the board game The UN Game, named after the United Nations (UNO) - an exciting tug-of-war between the presidential chair, economic power, development aid and public opinion! by Waldemar Lentz, which was published in 1971 by the IWA slide rule factory .

Web links

Commons : UNO  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Merle Robbins died. In: The New York Times . January 16, 1984. Retrieved October 22, 2016 .
  2. Ap: Merle Robbins . In: The New York Times . January 16, 1984, ISSN  0362-4331 ( nytimes.com ).
  3. Uno (Amigo, 1986) in the Luding games database
  4. game box of Spear's Games in the games database BoardGameGeek (English)
  5. game box of Borras Plana in the game database BoardGameGeek (English)
  6. Uno (Mattel, 1992) in the Luding games database
  7. a b c d e f Mattel (Ed.): UNO card game - game instructions . 2017.
  8. a b UN regulations. spielanleitung.org, accessed on September 2, 2018 .
  9. "Uno" manufacturer explains: +2 and +4 must not be combined. In: The Standard . May 10, 2019, accessed May 12, 2019 .
  10. UN - Flash - board games report. Retrieved April 14, 2019 .
  11. UNO Flip! at BoardGameGeek. Retrieved April 14, 2019 .
  12. UNO - Soon also for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. In: ps4info. Retrieved July 20, 2016 .
  13. Vriompeis at Brikker & Brett (English)