UNO is a game known for its quick twists and playful competition, and few cards stir up as much excitement as the Skip card. With a single play, one person loses their turn, which can throw off strategies and fuel plenty of laughter (and sometimes mock frustration) around the table. While it may seem straightforward, this card carries more weight than people often realise. Used wisely, it can shift the course of a game and give players the edge they need to claim victory.
How Skip Card Works
The Skip card is one of the four main action cards in UNO, alongside Draw Two, Reverse, and Wild. When you place one of them on the pile, the very next player in sequence loses their turn. The game then continues with the following person instead.
The card comes in all four colours – red, blue, green, and yellow. That means it has to match either the colour of the top card on the pile or another Skip card of any colour for it to be played. While it doesn’t make anyone draw additional cards, its ability to deny a player their move can be just as disruptive.
Strategic Uses of Skip Card
Many players drop a Skip card the moment they can, but patience can make it much more effective, such as blocking an opponent on the brink of winning. If the next player has only one card left, skipping them can buy everyone else precious time to catch up. Passing control to a weaker opponent is also an option. Sometimes skipping a strong player pushes the turn toward someone who seems less threatening, balancing out the table. In short, the card doesn’t just hurt the person skipped, it can also redirect the game in ways that reward strategic patience.
Timing Tips
Timing is everything with action cards. With a Skip card, it’s best to think two turns ahead. Will this card save me from being blocked? Is the person I’m skipping likely holding a draw card that could hurt me later? Do I gain the next colour advantage by changing the pace with this card?
A well-timed card can neutralise threats and control the tempo of play. An impulsive one, however, may waste its potential, especially if someone else flips the game on you immediately after.
Multiplayer Games
This card has even more impact when more players are involved. In a 2-player match, a Skip card is downright important – it immediately hands you another turn. In larger groups, however, it sets off a ripple effect. Skipping one person can give the next player a crucial extra chance or completely disrupt alliances or informal group strategies.
This makes the card far more unpredictable in multiplayer settings. Managing who you skip matters more than ever, since it could unintentionally strengthen a rival.
Combos
UNO becomes especially entertaining when these cards are combined with other action cards. One classic example is pairing a Skip with a Reverse. Instead of continuing rotation, the Skip denies one player their turn, and then the Reverse flips the order, leaving the skipped person stuck without a chance to recover.
Another effective pairing is the Skip and Draw Two. In this case, one opponent is skipped entirely, while the following player is punished with extra cards, knocking out two threats in quick succession. There’s also the dramatic Double Skip, which occurs when more than one Skip card lands in sequence. When players lay down Skips of the same colour one after another, several people can be locked out at once, all while someone else enjoys uninterrupted control.
House Rules for Skip Card
While UNO has official rules, many groups add their own twists, especially when it comes to these cards. One popular variation is stacking Skips, where instead of skipping just one player, consecutive Skips can pile up, forcing multiple people to miss their turns in succession. Some households also play with a chain reaction rule, where if a Skip is played and the next person happens to have a Skip of the same colour, they can drop it immediately, magnifying the effect and pushing the skipped streak further along the table.
Custom Designs
Another fun aspect of UNO is that Skip cards come in a variety of designs and special editions. Themed decks like UNO Flip! or UNO Attack!; collaborations with movies, cartoons, or sports teams; and other editions have shown the countless ways in which the Skip card has been reimagined. Some versions even add special powers beyond the normal skip function, giving it extra spice. Collectors and casual players alike often enjoy trying these themed decks to keep the game surprising.
FAQs
2-3 sentences each
What does a Skip card do in UNO?
A Skip card makes the next player in line lose their turn. In a two-player game, it effectively hands you an immediate extra turn.
How many Skip cards are in a standard UNO deck?
There are eight Skip cards in a traditional UNO set: two in each colour (red, yellow, blue, and green).
Can you stack Skip cards to skip multiple players
Official rules don’t allow stacking Skips. However, many groups adopt it as a house rule, where consecutive Skip cards can cause multiple players to miss turns.
