Solitaire Uno
How to play Solitaire Uno
Choosing the cards
To play solitaire Uno, you can get by with the standard Uno deck. Alternatively, any of the variant decks should also serve.
Setting up the play space
After a quick shuffle, a single player may begin by revealing the top card of the draw pile. This is where the game starts to differ. You are allowed to choose which pile the first card goes to (as well the third, fifth, and so on), and the second card goes to the opposite pile (and the fourth, sixth, and so on). By drawing in this back-and-forth manner, you will create two hands of seven cards. Place these hands face up so you can see them both.
Draw a card for the start of the game. Then, take turns alternating hands and playing from each, following all rules you would normally follow for Uno. when one hand runs out of cards, the game ends, and the second hand's cards are tallied for points.
Scoring
The goal of the game is to empty one hand while the other has as few points as possible.
Points are calculated as follows:
Numbered cards score the value on the card itself: an 8 scores 8 points, etc.
All other cards (wild, draw 4, draw 2, skip, reverse) are worth 10 points.
Set yourself a "par score" before beginning the game. If you can get under this score, you win!
Why Uno?
Uno is a classic in the play therapy space. I have seen plenty of clinicians use the game as both an engagement tool, where the game is played while talking is the intervention, and as the intervention itself, where the game, or changes to the game's rules, serve as a method for delivering therapy skills.
Who does this game work best for?
This game is an excellent activity to be paired with children who are hyper-competitive, especially if they have a habit of blaming others for issues that rise during play. By coaching them through a solitaire game, you can help them work into a more cooperative mindset by exploring the game with you, as the only thing that matters is the par score.
Another good alternative is playing the game cooperatively with them. You can split the two hands between you and take turns communicating to make choices about which cards should be played, and ultimately who should empty their hand, and when. If your partner empties their hand well in advance, as their competitive nature may do, you will be stuck with a large number of points, failing to get under Par and losing the game.
Helpful tips to make this work
- Make it clear to them that there were no winners in this game if the score goes too high.
- Model good communication skills by asking them what colors they have, or what they think you should play, and follow suit.
- Follow through on any claims you make in order to build trust with your partner.
- Try to balance the number of cards each hand or player has, to avoid emptying one hand too early.