If you’re a fan of NZ card games, you probably know and have played the classical UNO at one point in your life. However, have you heard of the NZ UNO Flip? This variation of UNO is very much like the classic game but with certain differences that set it apart, which is the light and dark version of itself. This comes along with special and action cards.
When you play classic UNO in New Zealand, you’re only paying attention to one side of the card, while the other is just there. With UNO flip, you play with both sides of the card. In this post, you’ll learn all you can about UNO flip rules and how to play this game as New Zealanders.
Strategies & Tips to Note to Play UNO
Before we get started with this game, you have to get familiar with some of its rules and tactics. Even if you’re an experienced player of the classic UNO in New Zealand, learning some UNO flip rules will help you play the game better.
- The light side of the card contains the regular blue, red, yellow, and green cards. In UNO flip rules, the action cards are Draw One and Wild Draw Two.
- The dark side of the card contains pink, teal, purple, and orange chapters. The action cards are Draw Five, Wild Draw Color Cards, and Flip Cards.
- At a given time, make sure that all the cards are facing the same side. This could either be the light or dark side. However, gameplay must begin on the light side.
- The dealer shuffles the cards, and everyone gets 7 cards each, with the light side facing the player and the dark side facing everyone else.
- The rest of the deck is kept light side down, so other players cannot see the value of these cards. This is the draw pile from which other players can take during gameplay.
The classic UNO has 108 cards, but the UNO flip has 112 cards. 2–10 New Zealanders can play, and the objective is the same. At the end of the game, make sure you get rid of your cards while scoring above 500+ points.
Game contents
- The deck consists of 112 cards
- Light Side (white border)
- 18 blue, green, red and yellow cards – 1 to 9
- 8 Draw One cards
- 8 Reverse cards
- 8 Skip cards
- 8 Flip cards
- 4 Wild cards
- 4 Wild Draw Two cards
- Dark Side (black border)
- 18 Pink, Teal, Orange and Purple cards – 1 to 9
- 8 Draw Five cards
- 8 Reverse cards
- 8 Skip Everyone cards
- 8 Flip
- 4 Wild cards
- 4 Wild Draw Colour cards
How Setup
- Make sure that all the cards of one side are facing the same way.
- Each player draws a card and then reveals the Light Side; the player that draws the highest number is the dealer. All action cards are ‘zero’.
- The dealer shuffles the deck and deals each player 7 cards. All players should hold the cards with the Light Side facing themselves and the Dark Side facing their opponents.
- Place the remainder of the deck with the Light Side facedown to form a draw pile.
- The top card of the draw pile is turned over to begin a discard pile.
How to Play
- The person to the left of the dealer is the first to play.
- On your turn, you must match a card from your hand to the card on the top of the discard pile by number, colour or by symbol.
- If a player does not have a card that matches the one on the discard pile or a wild card, they must take a card from the draw pile.
- When adding cards to your hand make sure that they are facing the same direction as the other cards.
- If the card you picked up can be played, you are free to put it down in that same turn. If not, it’s the next players’ turn to play.
- You may also choose not to play a playable card from your hand. In this case, you must draw a card from the draw pile. If playable, that card can be put down in that same turn, however you may not play any other card from your hand after the draw.
What are Action Cards
Light Side
Draw One Card
The next player must draw one card while missing their turn. This may only be played on a matching colour or on another Draw One card.
Reverse Card
The direction of play reverses. This card may only be played on a matching colour or on another Reverse card. If this card is turned up at the beginning of play, the dealer goes first, then play moves to the right instead of the left.
Skip Card
The next player loses their turn. This card may only be played on a matching colour or on another Skip card. If a Skip card is turned up at the beginning of play, the player to the left of the dealer is “skipped”.
Wild Card
You get to choose the colour that continues play. You may play a Wild card on your turn even if you have another playable card in your hand. If a Wild card is turned up at the beginning of play, the person to the left of the dealer chooses the colour that continues play.
Wild Draw 2 Card
You get to choose the colour that continues play plus the next player must draw two cards from the draw pile and lose their turn. You may only play this card when you do not have another card in your hand that matches the colour on the discard pile (it is acceptable to play this card if you have matching number or action cards).
Flip Card
Everything flips from the light side to the dark side. Once the Flip card has been played, flip over the discard pile, then the draw pile, then everyone’s hands must flip to the other side. This new side will remain in play until another Flip card is played, changing it again. This card may only be played on a matching colour or on another Flip card.
Dark Side
Draw Five Card
The next player must draw five cards while missing their turn. This card may only be played on a matching colour or on another Draw Five card.
Reverse Card
The direction of play reverses. This card may only be played on a matching colour or on another Reverse card.
Skip Everyone Card
All players lose their turn. Play then returns to whoever played the card. This card may only be played on a matching colour or on another Skip Everyone card.
Wild Card
You get to choose the colour that continues play. You may play a Wild card on your turn even if you have another playable card in your hand.
Wild Draw Colour Card
The next player must draw until they get a colour of your choosing and lose their turn. However, you may only play this card when you do not have another card in your hand that matches the colour on the discard pile (but it is acceptable to play this card if you have matching number or Action Cards).
Flip Card
Everything flips from the Dark Side to the Light Side. Once the Flip card has been played, flip over the Discard Pile (the card just played will now be on the bottom), then the Draw Pile, then everyone’s hands must flip to the other side. This new side will remain in play until another Flip card is played, changing it again. This card may only be played on a matching colour or on another Flip card.
How to go out of the game
When you play your next-to-last card, you must yell “UNO” to indicate that you have only one card left. If you don’t yell “UNO” before the next player begins their turn, you must draw two cards.
Once a player has no cards left, the round is over. Points are scored and play starts over again. If the last card played in a round is a action card, the next player must accordingly. If no player is out of cards by the time the draw pile is depleted, the discard pile is reshuffled and play continues.
How to score
The first player to get rid of their cards in a round receives points for all of the cards left in their opponents’ hands:
- All number cards (1-9) …………………………………… Face Value
- Draw One ……………………………………………………… 10 Points
- Draw Five……………………………………………………… 20 Points
- Reverse………………………………………………………… 20 Points
- Skip……………………………………………………………… 20 Points
- Skip Everyone ……………………………………………… 30 Points
- Flip ……………………………………………………………… 20 Points
- Wild……………………………………………………………… 40 Points
- Wild Draw Two ……………………………………………… 50 Points
- Wild Draw Colour……………………………………………… 60 Points
Once the score for the round has been tallied, if no player has reached 500 points, reshuffle the cards and begin a new round. Remember to score points based on which side the game ended on.
How to win the game
The winner of the game is the first player to reach 500 points.
How to alternatively score or win
Another way to score points is to tally the points each player is left with at the end of each round. This time, when one player reaches 500 points, the player with the lowest points is the winner.
Other Uno Games
There are some other games that can be played with UNO cards like Snap, Match and Card Market.
Uno Flip summary
If you’ve played the regular UNO card game, then UNO FLIP shouldn’t be hard. The only big difference is that there are two sides to the cards: a light side and a dark side.
