Tell me more ×
Board & Card Games Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for people who like playing board games, designing board games or modifying the rules of existing board games. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 5 down vote favorite

This afternoon my wife tried to play a green 8 on top of a red 2 in Uno.

Obviously a mistake on her part and I could find nothing in the rules to suggest that there was a penalty so we allowed her to withdraw the green 8 and play another card.

The rules do state that a Wild Draw 4 play can be challenged, but no other misplays are called out that I saw.

Is anyone aware of this situation being covered, perhaps in a previous ruleset, or maybe I'm just overlooking it (It's been known to happen!)

share|improve this question
You sound faintly disappointed... ;) – ire_and_curses♦ Sep 23 '12 at 19:37

2 Answers

up vote 7 down vote accepted

The penalty for misplaying a card, is that now your opponents know you have that card in your hand. Besides that though, the official rules (2003) state the penalty (among other listed penalties):

If a player plays a wrong card and it is noticed by any other player, he/she must take the card back and take two extra cards from the DRAW pile. Play continues with the next player in turn.

It appears as if the penalty section was removed from the 2008 printing.

share|improve this answer
1  
Since this game is a fun family game, and is so easy, we have penalties for: asking if it is your turn to play, playing a wrong card, and also taking to much time just staring at the board (prob you don't know who turn it is)... – gbianchi Sep 23 '12 at 22:18
Exactly what I was looking for! Something in the back of my mind was thinking that there was an explicit penalty. Thanks – Pat Ludwig♦ Sep 23 '12 at 23:07
@PatLudwig: We also have similar penalties, we always draw 2 for a penalty with all the different friends I've played against. In fact we introduce new rules (silent 7's - speak while a 7 is face up, slap down 9's - last person to slap their hand on top of the 9, saying either 'sorry' or a person's name. We tend to introduce them slowly as you get into the game and add anything extra we can think off!) – Ian Sep 24 '12 at 11:41
I love that the rules say and it is noticed by any other player - half the fun of Uno is cheating :) – Tacroy Oct 1 '12 at 17:59
up vote -2 down vote

With the exception of games that involve a time limit, I am not aware of any game that levies a penalty for a move that is on its face illegal. That seems unnecessarily hostile. In, say, Settlers of Catan, would you attempt to penalize a player that attempts to build two settlements separated by only one road? Of course not; you would just remind them of the rule.

If there is time pressure, as in tournament Chess, the situation is of course different, because players are responsible for making legal moves in the allotted time. In an ordinary long-time-control tournament, the move is retracted and the player must make a legal move with the same piece. In blitz tournaments, an illegal move is a win for the opponent if it's caught.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.