How to play Skip Bo rules - Easy to read guide (2024)

2 min read

Table of contents

XFacebookCopyFlipboardLineMastodonPinterestSMSTelegramWhatsApp

Easy and fast way to learnSkip Borules and instructions. We cover the essential how to playSkip Bo game rules to get you started quickly.

Recommended Fun for Friends and Family Card Games List

Skip Bo

Players: 2 to 5 | Game duration from: 20 mins | Game Complexity: EASYHow to play Skip-Bo rules in simple steps Skip-Bo rules pdf / rulebook

No products found.

What is Skip Bo about?

A game for 2-6 players. Be 1st player to play all cards in your stock pile by playing cards in numerical order from 1 to 12

Skip-Bo set up

Choose the dealer

  • Shuffle deck, each player draws a card. The person with highest card deals (Skip-Bo cards don’t count)
  • Players take turns to be dealers. Deal moves to the left.

Deal cards to each player and form Draw Pile
Dealer deals the following number of cards to each player to form their card stockpile

  • 2 – 4 players – 30 cards to each player
  • 5 or more players – 20 cards to each player
  • Form Draw Pile – dealer places the remaining cards face down in the center

Setting up Play

  • Each player sets aside 4 Discard Piles in front of their stockpile
  • Set an area for 4 Building Piles that all players will use
  • There are no cards in this area at the start of the game
  • SKIP-BO cards are wild cards (represent any card one chooses)

Building Piles

How to play Skip Bo rules - Easy to read guide (1)
  • During play, up to 4 building piles can be started
  • ONLY a 1 or a SKIP BO card can start a BUILDING pile
  • Pile is built numerically in sequence
  • Once a pile has 12 cards (1 to 12), it is removed, new pile started in its place

Discard Piles

  • Each player may build up to 4 DISCARD piles to the left of his stockpile
  • They can be built up by any number of cards in any order
  • You can only play the top card of the discard pile
How to play Skip Bo rules - Easy to read guide (2)

Skip Bo Rules Explained in Simple Steps

How to play Skip Bo rules - Easy to read guide (3)

Skip Bo card game rules explained in simple steps. Players take turns starting Building Piles (up to 4 each player) and playing their cards onto their building piles in numerical order from 1 to 12. 1st player to play all cards from their stock pile wins.

Start of Gameplay

The player on the dealer’s left starts. On your turn start, draw 5 cards from the DRAW PILE. Start a BUILDING PILE if you have a SKIP-BO card (used as WILD card) or number 1 card on top of your STOCKPILE or in your hand. Play cards from your hand or the top of your stockpile onto the BUILDING PILE if you have cards in sequence. DRAW 5 more cards if you play all 5 cards and continue playing. End your turn if you can’t make a play or choose not to by discarding one card from your hand onto one of your DISCARD PILES

Subsequent Gameplay

How to play Skip Bo rules - Easy to read guide (4)

Draw enough cards to bring your hand to 5 cards. Add to Building Pile by playing top card from Stockpile/Discard pile or your hand. If DRAW PILE is used up, cards from completed Building piles are shuffled and become the new draw pile.

Winning Skip-Bo

The winner is the player who PLAYS all cards from his STOCKPILE.

Scoring Option for Skip-Bo

How to play Skip Bo rules - Easy to read guide (5)

You may wish to play several games and keep score. The winner of the game scores 5 points for each card remaining in their opponent’s STOCKPILE plus 25 points for winning the game. 1st person to reach 500 points wins.

Materials: 144 Game Cards, 18 Skip-Bo cards

Skip-Bo Rules FAQs

How many cards do you start with Skip Bo?

For 2 to 4 players, each player plays with 30 cards. For 5 or more players, each player plays with 20 cards.

What are the rules to play Skip-Bo?

Players take turns starting Building Piles (up to 4 each player) and playing their cards onto their building piles in numerical order from 1 to 12. 1st player to play all cards from their stock pile wins

What happens when you run out of cards in Skip-Bo?

If DRAW PILE is used up, cards from completed Building piles are shuffled and become the new draw pile.

How do you keep score in Skip-Bo?

You may wish to play several games and keep score. The winner of the game scores 5 points for each card remaining in their opponent’s STOCKPILE plus 25 points for winning the game. 1st person to reach 500 points wins.

Recommended Fun for Friends and Family Card Games List

Skip Bo

Card GamesCardsFamilyKnow your tabletop game

The Ultimate Guide to Family Card Games

Card GamesKnow your tabletop game

An Essential Guide to the Different Types of Card Games

How to Play Skip-Bo and Review Videos

5 1 vote

Guide Rating

XFacebookCopyFlipboardLineMastodonPinterestSMSTelegramWhatsApp

Still stuck? How can we help?

How can we help?

UnoKeyforge

Subscribe

Connect with

0 Questions and Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

How to play Skip Bo rules - Easy to read guide (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Prof. Nancy Dach

Last Updated:

Views: 6459

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Prof. Nancy Dach

Birthday: 1993-08-23

Address: 569 Waelchi Ports, South Blainebury, LA 11589

Phone: +9958996486049

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Web surfing, Scuba diving, Mountaineering, Writing, Sailing, Dance, Blacksmithing

Introduction: My name is Prof. Nancy Dach, I am a lively, joyous, courageous, lovely, tender, charming, open person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.