How to Play Skip-Bo

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RULES:
The object of the game is to be the first player to play all the cards in your stock pile. Shuffle the deck. In a 2-4 player game deal 30 cards to each player, in a 5-6 player game deal 20. For a shorter game, deal each player 10 cards instead. These cards are your stock, and remain facedown except for the first card, which is flipped face up and put on top of the stock. The remaining cards are set in the center of the table and become the draw deck.

There are 4 available building piles that all players use in the center of the table. The building piles must be started with a 1, then ascend sequentially to 12. A skip-bo card is a wild and may be used as any number. When a building pile reaches 12 it is set aside and reshuffled with all other completed building piles into the draw deck when the draw deck runs out of cards.

Each player has 4 available discard piles. At the end of your turn you discard 1 card to any of the 4 spots. Sequential order does not matter in your discard, and you may discard cards however you like amongst your 4 discard piles.

The youngest player goes first. At the start of each of your turns draw until you have 5 cards in your hand. You may play cards from your hand… stock… or personal discard piles each turn. Anytime you play all 5 cards from your hand, immediately draw 5 more. At the end of your turn, when you can’t or choose not to play, you discard 1 card from your hand to any one of your discard piles. If this results in you now having 0 cards in your hand, you do not draw 5 more but end your turn.

The first player to play all the cards in their stock pile wins… Or you may wish to play several games and keep score. The winner of each round receives 25 points for winning, plus 5 additional points for every card in every opponent’s stock pile. The first player to reach 500 points wins.

Alternately you can play with partners. Partners are allowed to play cards from both player’s stock and discard piles, however they may not discuss moves. When you are playing your partner must keep quiet. The first team to play all the cards in both partner’s stock piles wins.

[letsjustlaugh]

Youngest player goes first is all i learned from this.

[jenlindsey]

Played this for the first time in well over a decade the other night, glad we were playing correctly because instructions were not very clear and it took us a while

[daniellerees]

Most confusing game to learn EVER. I've read instructions 3 times and watched this video and I still have no idea what to do.

[CrazyJ]

I still can't figure out how to play the game. Maybe I'm just too dumb.

[darkzak]

This was marvelously short and to the point. The rules that come with the game are 'sketchy'

[michelleshelly]

Great instructions!! I played this game years ago. This put everything back in my head. Thanks!!

[morganloveshim]

This is a perfect explanation! Kudos sir! I’m sure all the votes down are from people who don’t get it but you can’t be responsible for people’s cognitive levels! Thanks for the refresher!

[deedeenvegas]

Totally confused but thanks for the super detailed information

[nicolaszanon]

Bro is really happy to explain this game

[LeotheTiger]

Based on a game you can play with two traditional playing card decks known as "Spite & Malice, " where aces are low (1), queens are high (12), and kings are wild cards (Skip Bo).

[amandaseguin]

This is THE ACTUAL way to play skip bo, but whenever I go on youtube and look up how to play skip bo, they ave over 5 different ways of playing... But this is the way I play it

[ClaireStuckeyMoxie]

Awesome job! This was super helpful in reminding us how to play after being a little rusty. Thanks so much 😊

[MrMattyMoses]

Thank you so much for this! Second time I've came back and used this video 💚

[johnp]

I played Skippy (as we called it) for about 2 solid years of college (the 80's) with 3 other dudes but I'll be damned if I remember playing it like this. Actually I don't remember the rules we the used but we did have fun. This seems like a lot of extra as my kids would say.

[deboleson]

what is the point of four discard piles if the order of the cards don't matter

[zachscarton]

Thank you this was war more helpful then the games directions

[miketyson]

I am a Hands-On learner not, really a visual learner. I have to play the game, as it goes for me to know how to play while someone demonstrates.🤣

[richg]

So if the youngest player doesn't have a 1 or Skip-Bo to start with then they just discard like any other time in the game when you cannot make a play.
We play a variation called the RV version (learned at an RV park): 2 rows start with a #1 card and count upwards, 2 rows start with a #12 card and count downwards. Makes it a bit more challenging to keep track of.

[Lions-Den-Homegym]

Thank you, I think I’m gonna crush this game now !!

[DotterSvea]

I remember I used to be brilliant at this game when I was a child.



Now I don't get it at all 😐