2 Player Uno Rules & How to Win

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Plus, learn the subtle differences in how the Action cards work

Co-authored by Jon Purkis and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: September 12, 2025 Fact Checked

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Can you play 2-player Uno?

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How to Play

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Other 2 Player Games

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When it comes to playing a fun, competitive card game like Uno, you might think that the more players you have, the better. But is that really true, or can 2 players have just as good a time by themselves as with a big crowd of friends? We say, "Yes!" so keep reading to find out how the rules for Uno are a little bit different when only 2 people are playing.

2 Player Uno Rules: Quick Overview

The Uno rules for 2 players are mostly the same as for a larger party. The main changes are in the Action cards. Reverse cards work the same as Skip cards in the 2-player version. You also automatically get to take another turn if you play a Draw 2 or Wild Draw 4 (after your opponent draws the correct number of cards).

Section 1 of 3:

Can you play 2-player Uno?

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Yes, Uno can be played with as few as 2 players. There aren't many differences between playing Uno with a large party and playing it with only 2 people.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Jon Purkis
Game Expert

Expert Interview} The main change to be aware of is that Reverse cards now work the same as Skip cards. In other words, if you play a Reverse or a Skip card, the other player's turn is skipped, and you automatically get to play again.^{[2]
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Research source}
- Similarly, if you play a Draw 2 or Draw 4 card, you get to take your next turn right after the other person draws the correct number of cards.

Section 2 of 3:

How to Play 2 Player Uno

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Set up the game by dealing 7 cards to each player. First, you and your opponent must each draw a card.^{[3]
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Research source} Whoever draws the highest point value is the dealer, and the other player gets to go first. After dealing the cards, flip the top of the deck over and lay it face up on the table. That's the start of the discard pile.
- A traditional Uno deck comes with 112 cards.^{[4]
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  Research source} Those include:
  - 19 Blue cards
  - 19 Green cards
  - 19 Red cards
  - 19 Yellow cards
  - 8 Skip cards (2 in each of the 4 colors)
  - 8 Reverse cards (2 in each of the 4 colors)
  - 8 Draw 2 cards (2 in each of the 4 colors)
  - 4 Wild cards
  - 4 Wild Draw 4 cards
  - 4 blank cards
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Play by laying down a matching card or an action card from your hand. Whenever it's your turn, try to match the face of the card on the top of the discard pile with a corresponding number or color from your hand. You can also play an Action card to (hopefully) win the game faster, as well as make it more challenging for your opponent.
- The Action cards include the Skip, Reverse, Draw 2, Wild, and Wild Draw 4 cards.^{[5]
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  Research source} Here's what each card does when you play it in the 2-player version of Uno:
  - Skip and Reverse: Skips the other player's turn and lets you play again immediately after you lay it on the discard pile.
  - Draw 2: Requires the other player to draw 2 cards from the deck and then lets you play another turn.
  - Wild: Allows you to change the color being played on the discard pile to any color you choose (for example, if the top card on the discard pile is currently green, you can play a Wild card on your turn and change it to blue).
  - Wild Draw 4: Allows you to change the color being played on the discard pile and requires the other player to draw 4 cards before giving the play back to you. Only play this card when you don't have another card in your hand that matches the color of the card on the top of the discard pile.
Before you lay the next-to-last card in your hand on the discard pile, make sure to say "Uno!" out loud. This is critical to helping you win the game. If you don't and your opponent catches you, you'll have to draw 4 more cards, giving your opponent a chance to snatch your victory out from under you.^{[6]
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Research source}

Section 3 of 3:

Other Games to Play with 2 Players

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Looking for more ways to make your 2-player game night more fun? You've come to the right place! Check out the articles below to discover all kinds of fun games you can play with just one other person, whether it's your friend, a partner, or a sibling:

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Uno Card Game Variations Explained

Hunter Rising

There are a ton of different ways to play UNO that put a new twist on the regular rules. These are some of our favorite UNO variants and how they’re played:

UNO All Wild: Every card is a Wild, but they have special abilities when you play them.
UNO House Rules: Some cards let you make new rules players have to follow when a number is played.
UNO Flip: UNO cards can be flipped over to trigger even more powerful abilities.
UNO Flex: Some cards have a “Flex” side you can activate to change their color before playing them.
UNO Show ‘Em No Mercy: Wild and Draw cards are more powerful, and you’re eliminated if you have 25 cards in your hand.

If you want to try some different rules using the original set of cards, these UNO game variations are perfect to try:

UNO Teams: Play 2-vs-2, and win as a team if one member plays all their cards.
UNO Stacking: Play multiple Draw cards at the same time to make the next player draw more cards.
Speed UNO: Players can play cards from their hands even when it’s not their turn.
Elimination UNO: Instead of drawing if you’re not able to play a card, you’re out of the game.
Open Hand UNO: Keep your hand of cards visible to other players for a more strategic game.