Phase 10 Rules & Scoring
Game Rules and Basics
What is the objective of the game?
The goal is to be the first player to complete all 10 specific phases in order. If multiple people finish Phase 10 in the same round, the player with the lowest total penalty score wins.
How many cards are dealt?
Each player is dealt exactly 10 cards at the start of a round. The remaining cards form the draw pile, and the top card is turned over to start the discard pile.
What happens if I don't complete my phase?
You must remain on your current phase and try to complete it again in the next round. You cannot advance to the next phase until your current one is successfully laid down.
Gameplay and Hitting
Can I complete more than one phase in a single round?
No. You can only complete exactly one phase per round, even if you have the necessary cards in your hand to complete the next one.
When can I play cards on other people's phases ('Hitting')?
You can only 'hit' or add cards to other players' completed phases AFTER you have successfully laid down your own phase for that round.
How do Wild and Skip cards work?
Wild cards can be used in place of any number or color to complete a phase. Skip cards are discarded at the end of your turn to force the next player to lose their turn.
Scoring and Penalties
How does a round end?
A round ends immediately when one player 'goes out' by getting rid of all the cards in their hand. All other players then count the cards remaining in their hands as penalty points.
What are the penalty point values?
Cards 1-9 are 5 points each. Cards 10-12 are 10 points. Skip cards are 15 points. Wild cards are a massive 25 points each.