Last Updated on December 15, 2022 by Hooria Batool
Introduction
The objective of the game is to score points by melding cards in sequences. These are known as books, runs or sets. There are also special hands which exist with their own set of rules for earning bonus points that can be scored at the end of each hand. A deck consists of 104 cards consisting of 2-4 suits numbered 1-15 in four colored groups (red diamonds, yellow circles, green clubs and blue spades). The order is red diamonds, blue spades, yellow circles and green clubs.
Skip Bo:
This is a bet that the next card played will be of suit different from the suit just played. If you win, you score points according to how many cards are in your opponents skips (how many face down cards remain on their side), and if you lose, they score points according to how many cards you have in your skips (how many face down cards remain on your side).
The rules for skip bo are as follows:
The first book must contain three or more cards. Each additional book added to the sequence must at least one card more than the previous book. For example, after a 3-card book has been melded, the next book can only have four cards. However, this rule does not apply to the 15 card which can be played on its own.
There are no restrictions to the number of cards that can be in a book, but for every complete book added to your sequence, you score one point per card in your opponents skips. The final book must contain exactly four cards – this hand may not end in a skip. Melding is over when all face-up cards have been played.
The game ends when there are no face-up cards left or when both players agree to quit. At this point, each player adds up their points according to melded books and sets plus any bonuses they may have earned during play. The winner is determined by whoever has the most points after all hands have bee played to the end.
Bonus points:
If you complete a sequence in suit (for example start with a red diamond and play all cards in sequence, eventually ending up back at the red diamond ), you score 20 bonus points for that hand. This is known as completing the cycle. A book of 15 counts as two sets when scoring – i.e., it scores 30 instead of just 15 for your side and subtracts 30 from your opponent’s tally.
Note:
It doesn’t matter if you complete a run in diamonds or not, so long as it is in run you get 20 bonus regardless and only one player can score this bonus per hand. If both players go out on the same hand, whoever has more books and sets scores a 60 point bonus. If the number is tied, neither player scores the bonus.
Skip Bo round the clock
This game is similar to skip bo with some specific differences: The deal and play are clockwise (the winner of the last round deals). The first hand has no skips (play starts with 1, 2 or 3). Each subsequent hand begins with one more skip than the previous (so 2 for the next hand, then 3 and so on up till 12 skip). Once we get back down to 0 skips the cycle of 12 hands repeats. There is a bonus for completing a Run in suit (20 points). You can score for this bonus if either player completes a run in suit.
Note: If you have an asterisked* card in your hand, it must be played on a melded sequence immediately when it’s your turn to play (Like a normal book)
Skip Bo – 5-Card Majors
5-card majors are a simple variant that eliminates the possibility of consecutive skips by limiting each book/run to 5 cards. The basic rules are exactly the same as in skip bo with these exceptions: Each book or run must contain at least 4 cards and no more than 5 cards at any one time. There is a bonus for completing a Run in suit (20 points). You can score for this bonus if either player completes a run in suit.
Note: If you have an asterisked* card in your hand, it must be played on a melded sequence immediately when it’s your turn to play (Like a normal book)
Skip Bo – 5-Card Majors 2
5 Card Majors Two is simply five card majors with the addition of two jokers . The basic rules are exactly the same as in skip bo and 5 card majors with these exceptions: Each book or run must contain at least 4 cards and no more than 5 cards at any one time (4 cards if it includes a joker). There is a bonus for completing a Run in suit (20 points). You can score for this bonus if either player completes a run in suit.
Note: If you have an asterisked* card in your hand, it must be played on a melded sequence immediately when it’s your turn to play(Like a normal book)
SKIP BO – 3-Card Majors
3-card majors, also known as “classic skip bo” is the same as skip bo with these exceptions : each book or run must contain exactly three cards . There are no restrictions on what suit or suit combination may be used.. Melding is over when all face-up cards have been melded, or when a player has no more face-up cards and no cards in his/her hand. If both players go out on the same hand, whoever has more books and sets scores a 60 point bonus. If the number is tied, neither player scores the bonus.
Note: If you have an asterisked* card in your hand, it must be played on a melded sequence immediately when it’s your turn to play (Like a normal book)
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Skip Bo – 5-Card Majors 3
5 Card Majors Three combines five card majors with three card majors . The basic rules are exactly the same as in skip bo and 5 card majors with these exceptions: Each book or run must contain exactly three cards. There are no restrictions on what suit or suit combination may be used. Melding is over when all face-up cards have been melded, or when a player has no more face-up cards and no cards in his/her hand.
If both players go out on the same hand, whoever has more books and sets scores a 60 point bonus. If the number is tied, neither player scores the bonus.
Note: If you have an asterisked card in your hand, it must be played on a melded sequence immediately when it’s your turn to play(Like a normal book).
Conclusion
There are 2 to 6 players can play Skip-Bo, a fun, easy-to-play card game. The first player wins this game to exhaust their stockpile.
