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Notes

Although I tried to respect the traditional rules of UNO®, I was forced to change a few things so that the rules could fit to a game against artificial intelligences. I also took the liberty of adding a few cards to complete the game and make it more interesting.

Logically, it is not necessary to shout 'UNO' anymore when you only have one card in hand (artificial intelligences do not hear you).
A REPLAY card was added and its effect is of course to allow the current player to play again immediately.

Game content

120 cards divided like this :

4 cards numbered 0 (zero) (one of each color)
18 blue cards numbered from 1 to 9
18 red cards numbered from 1 to 9
18 yellow cards numbered from 1 to 9
18 green cards numbered from 1 to 9
8 '+2' cards (2 of each color)
8 'REVERSE' cards (2 of each color)
8 'SKIP' cards (2 of each color)
8 'REPLAY' cards (2 of each color)
4 black 'JOKER' cards
4 black '+4' cards
4 black 'UNO' cards (we don't play with these)

Preparation

Carefully mix cards and distribute the same number to every player. Make a pile with the rest of the cards, black faces up: it will constitute THE DECK. Turn the first card of the deck and put its visible face next to the deck to begin THE STOCK. This card will act like a starting point.

Goal of the game

The player who begins the game must cover the upper card of the stock with a card of the same colour or carrying the same number or the same symbol as the first one. For instance, if the upper card of the stock is a red '7' card, the player can play any red card or a '7' card of any colour. He can also play a black card (see the chapter SPECIAL CARDS).

If the player does not have any card that meet these requirements, then he must draw the upper card of the deck. If this card can be played, then he can play it immediately by putting it on the stock; otherwise he skips this turn, and naturally, he keeps this additional card.

The first player who got rid of all his cards is the winner of the game. Then, we establish the scores (see the chapter SCORE) and start a new game.

Conventions

The dealer :

Theoretically, at the beginning of every game, each player must draw a random card. The one who gets the higher card number (special cards doesn't count) is supposed to distribute the cards to each player. In practice, the player who starts the game is selected randomly. The player located immediately at his left begins to play.

The stock :

Turn the first card of the deck and put its visible face next to the deck to begin the stock. This card will act like a starting point. If it is a special card, certain conventions are applicable (see following chapter).

Special cards

Here is the signification of every special cards and their effects.

+2

When this card is played, the following player must draw 2 cards from the deck and skip his turn. This card can only be played on a card of the same colour or on another +2 card.

Reverse

When this card is played, the direction of the game changes. In other words, if game was evolving clockwise, it will then have to evolve counter-clockwise and vice versa until another reverse card is played. This card can only be played on a card of the same colour or on another REVERSE card.

Skip

When this card is played, the next player simply skip his turn. This card can only be played on a card of the same colour or on another SKIP card.

Replay

When this card is played, the current player can immediately replay a card of the same colour or another REPLAY card of any color (or a black card). This card can only be played on a card of the same colour or on another REPLAY card.

Joker

The player who plays this card can choose to change the current colour (he will announce his choice when putting down the card) or to continue with the same colour. If it is the first card of the stock, then the first player must choose the starting color. This card can be played on any other card.

+4

It is a very particular card, it penalizes the next player while having the same effect of the Joker card. When this card is played, not only the following player must draw 4 cards of the deck, but he must also skip his turn. Then, the current player can choose the colour in which the game is going to continue (see paragraph above). If it is the first card of the stock, then the first player must choose the starting color. This card can be played on any other card.

End of the game

If the last played card is a +2 or +4 card, the next player will have to draw 2 or 4 cards from the deck before we establish the scores. If the deck is exhausted before the end of the game, the stock will be re-mixed (except the last card, which will act as the continuity card) and put back in the deck.

Score

The first player who got rid of all his cards win the game and score points according to the cards which all his adversaries still have in hand at this moment. Each card has its own value:

Cards numbered from 0 to 9 : number of the card (0, 1, 2, 3, etc.)
+2 : 20 points
REVERSE : 20 points
SKIP : 20 points
REPLAY : 20 points
JOKER : 50 points
+4 : 50 points