Uno is a card game that has brought friends and families together for decades…or ripped them apart, depending on the rules you play by!
Uno was developed in 1971 by Merle Robbins of Ohio out of his barbershop. The family game quickly caught on, and he manufactured several decks and later sold Uno to a funeral parlor (weird?) for a whopping $50,000 plus a $.10 royalty per game sold. Uno later became branded by Mattel.
The idea behind this game is to be the first person to discard all his or her cards – but don’t forget to yell “UNO!” when one card remains in your (or someone else’s) hand. Once the final card in a hand is discarded, the remaining cards in the other players’ hands are tallied up and points are awarded to the winner of that round. The first to 500 points wears the Uno crown. At least until a new game is started.
Seems easy, right? Not so much. There are these little draw cards valued at 2 and 4 that force your opponent to draw additional cards from the draw pile. This is a strategic play that can award you more points at the end of the game.
Well, it appears using a Draw 4 and immediately stacking a Draw 2 card has caused a ruffle, so much so that Uno has stepped in to clarify the rules. It is now official: “double stacking” is cheating!
Sure we’ve all tried it. I mean, this was how we were taught. No one reads the “official” rules booklet, rather the game rules were passed down from your brother, aunt or another family member. Stacking made the game more fun!
Uno’s clarification caused an uproar on Twitter, where users combatted the makers of the game. What do they know?
Apparently, a lot. They did make the game after all.
Some Twitter users tried “going around” the rules by questioning Uno:
While other Uno enthusiasts denied the makers of the game altogether.
And what Twitter debate is complete without commentators chiming in about the insanity?
My advice? Play by house rules – if you can keep this sneaky move hidden from your Uno mates. They may ban you from the game indefinitely if they find out you’re a cheater.
