How To Play Phase 10
Phase 10 Game Rules (PDF Instructions)
2 - 6
8+
90 MIN
$6
Phase 10 is similar to Rummy but has a fun and challenging twist. In Phase 10, there are ten phases each player must complete in order to become the winner. Each phase is different and more challenging. If you can complete your phase during each round you can move on to the next. If you don't, your stuck on that phase until you do. Phase 10 is a great portable card game that doesn't take long to learn how to play. Each round is ended by another player so things can get heated up as players end rounds you aren't done with.
To play Phase 10, each player is dealt 10 cards, and the remaining cards are placed face down in the center of the table to form a draw pile. The top card of the draw pile is turned over to start the discard pile.
The objective of the game is to be the first player to complete all 10 phases. Each phase is a combination of sets or runs, and the requirements for each phase are different. For example, Phase 1 requires two sets of three cards, while Phase 4 requires a run of seven cards.
On their turn, players draw one card from either the draw pile or the discard pile and then discard one card from their hand. Players can also choose to lay down the current phase they are working on if they have met the requirements.
The game continues until a player completes their 10th phase and then discards their remaining cards. The other players then have one more turn to try to complete their own phases.
Points are awarded at the end of each hand based on the number of cards remaining in each player's hand. The player with the lowest score after all 10 hands are completed is declared the winner.
Phase 10 is a fun and challenging game that can be played with 2-6 players. It requires strategy and luck and is suitable for players of all ages.
The game Phase 10 should come with the following components. These are based off of the original game and don't include components from any expansion packs or different editions.To play Phase 10, each player is dealt 10 cards, and the remaining cards are placed face down in the center of the table to form a draw pile. The top card of the draw pile is turned over to start the discard pile.
The objective of the game is to be the first player to complete all 10 phases. Each phase is a combination of sets or runs, and the requirements for each phase are different. For example, Phase 1 requires two sets of three cards, while Phase 4 requires a run of seven cards.
On their turn, players draw one card from either the draw pile or the discard pile and then discard one card from their hand. Players can also choose to lay down the current phase they are working on if they have met the requirements.
The game continues until a player completes their 10th phase and then discards their remaining cards. The other players then have one more turn to try to complete their own phases.
Points are awarded at the end of each hand based on the number of cards remaining in each player's hand. The player with the lowest score after all 10 hands are completed is declared the winner.
Phase 10 is a fun and challenging game that can be played with 2-6 players. It requires strategy and luck and is suitable for players of all ages.
- Reference Cards
- One Deck Of 108 Cards
- Official Phase 10 Game Rules And Instructions
To be the first player to complete all 10 Phases. In case of a tie, the player with the lowest score is the winner.
Perparation: Each player is dealt 10 cards, and the remaining cards are placed face down in the center of the table to form a draw pile. The top card of the draw pile is turned over to start the discard pile.
Game Play: On their turn, players draw one card from either the draw pile or the discard pile and then discard one card from their hand. Players can also choose to lay down the current phase they are working on if they have met the requirements.
The game continues until a player completes their 10th phase and then discards their remaining cards. The other players then have one more turn to try to complete their own phases.
Points are awarded at the end of each hand based on the number of cards remaining in each player's hand. The player with the lowest score after all 10 hands are completed is declared the winner.
Skip cards can be played at any time to skip a player's turn, and wild cards can be used to represent any number.
Please keep in mind that the official Phase 10 rules and instructions could be different depending on the game version you have. The rules below are some of the exact directions that came in the original packaging and will teach you how to play Phase 10. Download these original PDF game rules or print them for later use.
Game Play: On their turn, players draw one card from either the draw pile or the discard pile and then discard one card from their hand. Players can also choose to lay down the current phase they are working on if they have met the requirements.
The game continues until a player completes their 10th phase and then discards their remaining cards. The other players then have one more turn to try to complete their own phases.
Points are awarded at the end of each hand based on the number of cards remaining in each player's hand. The player with the lowest score after all 10 hands are completed is declared the winner.
Skip cards can be played at any time to skip a player's turn, and wild cards can be used to represent any number.
Please keep in mind that the official Phase 10 rules and instructions could be different depending on the game version you have. The rules below are some of the exact directions that came in the original packaging and will teach you how to play Phase 10. Download these original PDF game rules or print them for later use.
Share with us your comments, funny stories, tips, advice, strategies, creative ways to play, questions about how to play, problems with the directions or anything you want about Phase 10. All submissions will be reviewed within 24 hours.
Allen Smith says:
When you lay down your tenth phase is the game over or is it still required that you “go out”
11-10-2021
When you lay down your tenth phase is the game over or is it still required that you “go out”
Lily says:
I’m here to help answer questions if you need help I just know the rules because I have played the game multiple times a run has to go in order like 1 2 3 4 or 9 10 11 12 you use the numbers just like in math. The round means the same as a hand and there isn’t a limit on how many times someone can be skipped. Someone can pick up the wild card from the discard pile. You have to have 10 cards when it’s not your turn 11 when you have picked up a card. You have to discard to go out. You have to discard every turn. You shuffle the cards for the second hand. You can lay down the same card you picked up. I’m sorry but I don’t know what the rules are for hitting, if a card is upside down, and does everyone get a turn after someone goes out.
09-21-2021
I’m here to help answer questions if you need help I just know the rules because I have played the game multiple times a run has to go in order like 1 2 3 4 or 9 10 11 12 you use the numbers just like in math. The round means the same as a hand and there isn’t a limit on how many times someone can be skipped. Someone can pick up the wild card from the discard pile. You have to have 10 cards when it’s not your turn 11 when you have picked up a card. You have to discard to go out. You have to discard every turn. You shuffle the cards for the second hand. You can lay down the same card you picked up. I’m sorry but I don’t know what the rules are for hitting, if a card is upside down, and does everyone get a turn after someone goes out.
Travis says:
Question, If a player hits a run of another player by adding a 6 to the run does the player with the run get to add a 7 to the run after being hit to discard or go out? Also, can other players keep adding to the run that was hit to further the run to discard or go out.
07-11-2021
Question, If a player hits a run of another player by adding a 6 to the run does the player with the run get to add a 7 to the run after being hit to discard or go out? Also, can other players keep adding to the run that was hit to further the run to discard or go out.
Cj says:
So let's say Im about to lay down my phase and I'm trying to get rid of the remainder of my cards to go out. ...can I pick up from the discard pile and lay down the same card I picked up from the discard pile?
01-08-2020
So let's say Im about to lay down my phase and I'm trying to get rid of the remainder of my cards to go out. ...can I pick up from the discard pile and lay down the same card I picked up from the discard pile?
Marty says:
no one is answering my question....after someone lays down their phase does everyone get a final chance to lay down or are they stuck with what they have?
01-16-2019
no one is answering my question....after someone lays down their phase does everyone get a final chance to lay down or are they stuck with what they have?
Nada says:
Are phases of the fisrt hand shuffled for the second?
06-28-2018
Are phases of the fisrt hand shuffled for the second?
Grace says:
Do you have to discard every turn and can you make sets and runs on the side?
06-18-2018
Do you have to discard every turn and can you make sets and runs on the side?
Bri says:
Honestly this game is very simple. You keep ten cards in hand at all times until you lay down your phase. One person can be skipped each round, meaning they can be skipped one time until each player has gone aside from them. Skips can't be used in a phase - sets, runs, or 7 of 1 color. Once you lay down your phase, you must still draw from the discard pile and discard one card, unless it plays on someone else's phase that they have layed down. Honestly the rules aren't that complicated if you actually read them instead of skimming them.
01-19-2018
Honestly this game is very simple. You keep ten cards in hand at all times until you lay down your phase. One person can be skipped each round, meaning they can be skipped one time until each player has gone aside from them. Skips can't be used in a phase - sets, runs, or 7 of 1 color. Once you lay down your phase, you must still draw from the discard pile and discard one card, unless it plays on someone else's phase that they have layed down. Honestly the rules aren't that complicated if you actually read them instead of skimming them.
Vince says:
Must a person discard when they go out to win?
12-26-2017
Must a person discard when they go out to win?
Cookie says:
Can you hit a wild card with an original card when hitting?
11-25-2017
Can you hit a wild card with an original card when hitting?
Jeremy says:
These instructions are terrible... I have many of the questions above, and no one is answering them. Mattel, you suck.
11-19-2017
These instructions are terrible... I have many of the questions above, and no one is answering them. Mattel, you suck.
David Evans says:
If a card is upside down in draw pile accidently from shuffle, can it be picked up and played or do you burn it.
07-02-2017
If a card is upside down in draw pile accidently from shuffle, can it be picked up and played or do you burn it.
Marlene says:
Hi. I purchased a Phase 10 20th anniversary game maybe 5 to ten years ago. We opened it and started reading the instructions which have been somewhat confusing as to how the ten dice and cards are mixed together. We went on site to see if that game set might have developed clearer definitions of the dice card mix. However, you do not list 20th but a 25th anniversary set. Can you help our team of card players? Marlene
04-02-2017
Hi. I purchased a Phase 10 20th anniversary game maybe 5 to ten years ago. We opened it and started reading the instructions which have been somewhat confusing as to how the ten dice and cards are mixed together. We went on site to see if that game set might have developed clearer definitions of the dice card mix. However, you do not list 20th but a 25th anniversary set. Can you help our team of card players? Marlene
Ray says:
I have a quick question, Ok so on a set of 3 , are you allowed to use two skip and a wild card ?
03-17-2017
I have a quick question, Ok so on a set of 3 , are you allowed to use two skip and a wild card ?
Susie says:
Do you keep 10 cards in your hand at all time, if not how do you complete the phases
02-23-2017
Do you keep 10 cards in your hand at all time, if not how do you complete the phases
Johny says:
Fun game if you want something to play but still be able to talk to your friends. We played this for a couples night. Rules are pretty self explanatory and learning how to play is very easy.
08-13-2015
Fun game if you want something to play but still be able to talk to your friends. We played this for a couples night. Rules are pretty self explanatory and learning how to play is very easy.
Hope says:
Say a person discards a wild card into the discard pile, can the next person pick it up?
07-27-2015
Say a person discards a wild card into the discard pile, can the next person pick it up?
scott says:
How do you play out of the draw pile and what do you do when the skip card is laying on top of the cards you want to pick up
01-15-2014
How do you play out of the draw pile and what do you do when the skip card is laying on top of the cards you want to pick up
Maryann says:
after a player achieves his phase can he add other items? Example: 2 sets of 3 - then could he add another set of 3 in the same hand?
01-09-2014
after a player achieves his phase can he add other items? Example: 2 sets of 3 - then could he add another set of 3 in the same hand?
Jenny says:
We play this game a lot and have come up with different phases that aren't in the game rules. Some or more difficult and some are easier depending on who we are playing with. We also alter the rules a little more when we're playing with kids involved.
10-14-2013
We play this game a lot and have come up with different phases that aren't in the game rules. Some or more difficult and some are easier depending on who we are playing with. We also alter the rules a little more when we're playing with kids involved.
jason says:
we were going to play and some people have played it so that after you layed down your set you did not pick a card on your turn until you go out. Is this rule right?
04-23-2011
we were going to play and some people have played it so that after you layed down your set you did not pick a card on your turn until you go out. Is this rule right?
Dee says:
I'm somewhat puzzled I have been playing Phase 10 for about 6 years snd just the other day it was brought to my attention on the "skip" rules all this time I had the impression that any one person could be skipped only once during a"hand", but it was brought up that the rule reads during a "round" . Isnt that going to make the game longer and is that the "rule" during a "round" ALready it takes 6 hours or longer to complete the game.
12-27-2010
I'm somewhat puzzled I have been playing Phase 10 for about 6 years snd just the other day it was brought to my attention on the "skip" rules all this time I had the impression that any one person could be skipped only once during a"hand", but it was brought up that the rule reads during a "round" . Isnt that going to make the game longer and is that the "rule" during a "round" ALready it takes 6 hours or longer to complete the game.
Dee says:
Why is it the game usually come with four(4) phase set cards, and the last games I purchased came with only two (2)?
12-27-2010
Why is it the game usually come with four(4) phase set cards, and the last games I purchased came with only two (2)?
helen says:
if you have to make a run of four can you use 11, 12, 1, 2
12-25-2010
if you have to make a run of four can you use 11, 12, 1, 2
sue says:
we were going to play and some people have played it so that after you layed down your set you did not pick a card on your turn until you go out. Is this rule right?
08-08-2010
we were going to play and some people have played it so that after you layed down your set you did not pick a card on your turn until you go out. Is this rule right?
molly says:
it is the best game ever if u have more then 2 people because u can skip some one eles instead of only 1 other person
06-15-2010
it is the best game ever if u have more then 2 people because u can skip some one eles instead of only 1 other person
Annette says:
I love this game I learned to play it at my friends house. Bought some for my family and friends (tin can version) but it came without a score pad and I don't remember how to keep score from playing it once at my friends house, so a little disappointed at that.
03-14-2009
I love this game I learned to play it at my friends house. Bought some for my family and friends (tin can version) but it came without a score pad and I don't remember how to keep score from playing it once at my friends house, so a little disappointed at that.
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