The Draw Two is one of UNO’s four action cards, and it changes a game the moment it lands on the discard pile: the next player picks up two cards and loses their turn. This guide explains how the Draw Two works under the official Mattel rules — how to play it legally, whether you can “stack” it, what happens in two-player games, how it behaves as an opening or final card, and how its 20-point value affects scoring. A quick note on wording: the card is commonly called “Draw Two” or “+2,” and both refer to the same card.
Key Points
- Effect: the next player draws 2 cards and is skipped (“draw and skip”).
- In the deck: 8 Draw Two cards — two of each colour — in the standard 108-card deck.
- Legal play: match by colour, by the Draw Two symbol, or on a Wild once a matching colour is chosen.
- Point value: 20 points when counted in an opponent’s hand at scoring.
- Stacking: not allowed under official rules — penalties do not add up.
What the Draw Two Card Does
When a player places a Draw Two on the discard pile, the penalty applies to the next person in the current direction of play. That player must draw exactly two cards from the face-down draw pile and add them to their hand, and they are then skipped — they cannot play a card on that turn, even if one of the two cards they just drew would otherwise be a legal match. This is the “draw and skip” sequence, and it is the single most misunderstood part of the card: drawing the two cards ends the turn, so there is no “draw then play.”
| Action phase | Who acts | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Placement | Active player | Plays the Draw Two on a legal match |
| Reception | Next player | Draws 2 cards from the draw pile |
| Skip | Next player | Turn ends immediately; no card is played |
| Resumption | Following player | Continues, matching the Draw Two’s colour |
Turn Rotation Example
In a four-player game moving clockwise (Player A to B to C to D), if Player A plays a Draw Two, Player B is the target: B draws two cards and is skipped. Player C then takes the next turn and must match the colour of the Draw Two that A played, play a card with the Draw Two symbol, or play a Wild. Because the Draw Two forces a skip, it also compresses the table — useful when you want to jump past a particular opponent. If you want the wider picture of how turns and tempo interact, our guide to the Skip card and turn management covers the same mechanics for the pure skip.
How to Play a Draw Two Legally
A Draw Two can be played whenever it matches the top card of the discard pile by colour or by symbol. That gives you three legal situations, plus one common illegal one.
- Colour match: play it on any card of the same colour — a Green Draw Two on any green number or action card, for example.
- Symbol match: play it on another Draw Two of any colour, which also lets you switch the active colour.
- On a Wild: you can play a Draw Two after a Wild (or Wild Draw Four) once a colour has been chosen, as long as that colour matches your card.
- Not legal: you cannot play a Draw Two on a card that shares neither its colour nor the Draw Two symbol.
Using the Symbol Match to Change Colour
Matching one Draw Two on another is a clean way to steer the game. If the current colour is red and a Red Draw Two is on top, playing a Yellow Draw Two both attacks the next player and shifts the active colour to yellow. This makes the Draw Two a genuine “bridge” card — it changes the colour like a Wild would, while still handing out a penalty.
Can You Stack Draw Two Cards?
The most common house-rule confusion around the Draw Two is “stacking” — the idea that if Player A plays a Draw Two, Player B can play their own Draw Two to pass the penalty along so the next player draws four. Under the official Mattel rules this is not allowed. When a Draw Two is played, the very next player must draw the two cards and miss their turn; they cannot answer it with another Draw Two, a Reverse, or any other card. Mattel confirmed this directly in a 2019 statement, and the official rulebook makes no mention of stacking as a legal move.
Stacking is still one of the most popular unofficial variations, so it is worth agreeing on it before you deal. If your table enjoys the house version, that is fine — just know it is a variation rather than the tournament rule. For a deeper look at both sides, see our dedicated explainer on whether stacking is allowed in official UNO.
Why the No-Stacking Rule Exists
Without stacking, a Draw Two is a manageable two-card setback. With stacking, several Draw Twos in a row can force one player to pick up ten or more cards in a single turn, which can end their round on the spot. Keeping penalties to their printed value is what keeps the official game paced and predictable.
Draw Two Rules in Two-Player Games
In a head-to-head match the Draw Two is far stronger. With only one opponent, playing a Draw Two forces them to pick up two cards and lose their turn — and because they are skipped, play returns straight to you. That lets you follow the Draw Two with another card immediately, so you both grow your opponent’s hand and shrink your own. It behaves exactly like the Skip card does in two-player UNO, where a skip simply hands the turn back to the player who used it. If you play a lot of one-on-one games, our roundup of card games for two players is worth a look.
Chaining Before a Win
A practical use is to hold a Draw Two for your second-to-last move. Playing it makes your opponent draw and lose their turn, and because the turn comes back to you, you can then play your final card for the win before they get another chance to respond.
When a Draw Two Starts the Game
If the first card turned up from the draw pile to begin the discard pile is a Draw Two, the penalty falls on the player who would have gone first — the person to the dealer’s left. That player must draw two cards and is skipped, and play then continues with the next player in the rotation. It is a genuine opening disadvantage: one player begins with nine cards instead of seven and loses the first chance to set the colour.
- The dealer turns over the top card to start the discard pile.
- The first player (dealer’s left) draws 2 cards and is skipped.
- The next player takes the first ordinary turn, matching the Draw Two’s colour.
Playing a Draw Two as Your Final Card
You are allowed to win a round by playing a Draw Two as your last card. When you do, the next player must still draw the two cards before scores are counted — the round does not freeze the instant your hand hits zero. This matters for scoring, because those two extra cards (which could be high-value Wilds or action cards) are added to that player’s hand total and therefore to your winning score for the round. If you have a choice of final card, a Draw Two adds at least two cards to an opponent’s pile, which usually earns you more than finishing on a plain number card.
Point Value and Scoring
Under the official scoring system the Draw Two is worth 20 points — the same as a Skip or Reverse, and more than any number card. At the end of a round the winner scores the total value of every card left in the other players’ hands, and games are usually played to 500 points. Because action cards carry a heavy 20-point tag, being caught holding a Draw Two when someone else goes out is a real cost, so it is generally better to play these cards than to hoard them. Our full breakdown of how scoring works in UNO walks through the point values card by card.
The table below compares the Draw Two with the game’s other penalty and skip cards so you can see where it sits.
Comparison
| Card | Effect on next player | In 108-card deck | Point value | Changes colour? | Stackable (official)? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draw Two | Draws 2 and is skipped | 8 | 20 | Only via colour/symbol match | No |
| Wild Draw Four | Draws 4 and is skipped; you choose the colour | 4 | 50 | Yes | No |
| Skip | Misses a turn (no draw) | 8 | 20 | No | No |
Strategy Tips for Using the Draw Two
Because the Draw Two both attacks a hand and skips a turn, timing matters as much as having a legal match. A few practical guidelines:
- Target the leader. If the player to your left is close to going out, a Draw Two forces two cards on them and denies their turn — a direct way to slow a likely winner.
- Mind the skip. The card only affects the next player in turn order. If the real threat is sitting across the table, skipping the player between you may not help and can even remove someone who could have blocked the leader.
- Use it to change colour. When you are stuck on an awkward colour, matching another Draw Two by symbol lets you switch to a colour you actually hold.
- Don’t hoard. At 20 points each, unplayed Draw Twos are a liability if the round ends suddenly.
For a broader tour of related mechanics and card interactions, the official UNO Wikipedia page gives useful background, and modern editions such as UNO All Wild rework the Draw Two into new forms.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can you stack Draw Two cards in UNO?
No. Under the official Mattel rules the next player must draw two and miss their turn; they cannot play another Draw Two to pass the penalty on. Stacking is a popular house rule, not part of the official game.
Can you play a card after being hit with a Draw Two?
No. The Draw Two forces you to draw two cards and ends your turn immediately, even if one of the cards you just drew would have been a legal match.
How many points is a Draw Two worth?
A Draw Two is worth 20 points when the cards left in players’ hands are totalled at the end of a round.
What happens if a Draw Two is the first card turned up?
The player to the dealer’s left must draw two cards and is skipped, then play continues with the next player, who matches the Draw Two’s colour.
Does the Draw Two skip your opponent in a two-player game?
Yes. Your opponent draws two cards and loses their turn, so play returns to you and you take another turn straight away.
