CRAZY EIGHTS

This is a very simple game, not to be confused with the game of Eights described earlier. Crazy Eights is gambling game.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS

The game can be played by any number from two to eight, but is best for four or more, each player playing for himself.

CARDS

The full pack of 52 cards is used. The ranking of the cards is immaterial, but cards have a point-scoring value, as described below.

Any player picks up the cards, shuffles, and begins dealing them one to each player face up the first poker player to be dealt a Jack becomes first dealer. Subsequently the deal passes clockwise to the left.

Before the deal, each player puts a stake into the centre. The dealer then deals five cards to each player, one at a time to the left, then lays out eight cards face up in the centre of the table, arranged in two rows of four. The remainder of the pack is set aside

THE PLAY

Beginning with the player on the dealer’s left, each player in turn may lay a card from his hand face up on one of the eight cards in the centre. The card must match in rank the card onto which it is played.

A card in the centre may be covered as many times as required, i.e. if two players are dealt an 8, and thee is an 8 in the centre, each player can play his 8 onto it in turn. A player who cannot go says ‘pass’.

Should a player get rid of all his cards, he shouts ‘crazy eights’ and collects the whole pool of stakes. Frequently the game ends with every player being forced to pass while still holding a card or two.

In this case, every player counts the points still held in his hand according to the following scale: Aces 15 points, Kings, Queens, Jacks 10 points, and all other cards their pip value. The pool is then divided between the high player (whose points total is highest ) and the low player (whose points total is lowest).

In the illustration, players A,B,C,D,E and F have each contributed two poker chips to a pool of 12 chips. Player A dealt the hands as shown, and the eight cards in the centre of the table.

Player B plays first and lays his ♦ J on the ♣ J, player C plays his ♠ 8 on ♣ 8 and so on. All players can play to the first round, but player D must pass in the second, players C and A in the third, players B and F in the fourth, and finally player E passes on the fifth round. Player A is left with K, 5, 3 =18 points; B with K, 7 = 17 points; C with K, 9, 5 =24 points; D with 7, 5, 3,3 =18 points ; E with the ♠ 9 only = 9 points ; and F with K, 10 = 20 points. So player C collects six chips for high, and player E six chips for low.