Numero-Uno (Uno)

Member Name: abbadabbado

Product:	Uno
Date:	11/01/08 (125 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: keeps attention

Disadvantages: I can't think of any

I have worked with children for the last few years, and have realised over the time, the one game none of the kids will tire of is Uno.

Uno is a basic card game using the same principle as the game Whot did back in my day. The pack consists of four different colours, red, green, blue and yellow, each containing a number, nought through to nine.
The rules state you play in a clockwise direction and have to match the last persons card with either the same number, or colour as was dealt. The idea of the game is to be the first to get rid of all your cards to be declared the winner. Sounds simple enough doesn't it but it wouldn't be very challenging without a few wild cards thrown in now would it.

First off you have a x2 card. These come in all the colours and if one is laid on the middle pile, the next person to play has to pick up two cards from the stockpile, unless they can match it with another one either the same colour or with a different colour. If this happens, the next person will have to pick up four cards unless they also have one, and so on.

The next wild card is a funny looking card with all colours on and a +4 symbol. If this card is dealt, then the player who dealt the card gets to choose a different colour to be played, as well as the poor next person having to pick up four cards from the stock pile.

There is also a wild card similar to the above +4 card but without the power of having to make the next person to pick up four. It' s handy if you can't go however as you get to change the colour being played.

There are many variations of rules played with Uno cards, but the most common is with seven cards being dealt at the beginning of the game. We also include the rule of having to shout "Uno" when you only have one card left, otherwise you have to pick up two cards from the pile if anyone notices.

It's always worth getting the ground rules sorted before you play especially with a new bunch of people as if someone has played before with different people, the ability to cheat if you insist you play with a different set of rules is too easy.

Uno is made by Mattel, and you can find various versions of Uno popping up in the shops. I have seen character sets such as with Disney themes etc. All these cost more than the original pack which can be found in most toy shops at around the 4.99gbp mark.

Seeing as it's basic functions are similar to a game of snap, Uno can be played by small groups or large ones. The pack recommends from aged 7+, but we have children as young as five who can play this very comprehensively. I have also noticed that as soon as a child has grasped the idea of the game it's not something that is forgotten.

Even myself as an adult loves this game, and we regularly play at home as well as when I play at work with the children. When we have a large group of us playing, we tend to get two packs of cards and put them together so there is enough for everyone. That's part of the beauty of this game, if you lose a couple of cards it doesn't ruin the set as there is no set pattern to which cards have to come out during play and which ones don't which there could be in a game using a standard pack of cards.

You may be able to imagine the scene with 20 children, all using the cards at random times over the days and weeks. These Uno cards are made of what appears to be slightly tougher stuff than your average cheap pack of cards. In our play scheme they have been frisbee'd and flicked, etc. etc. etc. Even though a lot of them are now dog eared, they don't tear very easily at all, much to one child's frustration.
Overall they are well worth the money, and will last for ages in the attention span stakes. The pack is also small enough to be taken around when you are in need of that deperate boredom buster.

Please note this review is also posted on Ciao where I am a member

Summary: a great card game for all ages