Edition: The Phase 10 card game from Mattel with 108 cards. Last checked October 25, 2026
Phase 10 Rules: How to Play and All 10 Phases
Phase 10 is a card game where you complete 10 phases in order, such as two sets of three or a run of seven. Here are all the phases and the rules that cause the most arguments.
- Players
- 2 to 6
- Age
- 7 and up
- Playing time
- 45 to 90 minutes
How to win: Be the first to complete Phase 10. If several players complete it in the same hand, the one with the fewest points wins.
Who is right?
The classic arguments at the table when you play Phase 10.
Can you add cards to other players' phases before you lay down your own?
No.
You may only hit once your own phase is on the table, and only on your own turn.
No common house rule changes this, but some families go easy on the youngest players.
Who gets skipped when you play a Skip card?
It depends on the edition.
Different printings of the rulebook say different things. In some the next player is skipped, in others you choose who. The same player cannot be skipped twice in a row.
Check your own rulebook, or agree before starting whether you choose.
Can you lay down more than your phase, like a set of 4 instead of 3?
Yes.
A phase is a minimum. If you have 4 of a kind when the phase asks for 3, you may lay down all 4.
Some families require exactly the number the phase calls for, with the rest added afterward.
Can you pick up a Wild card from the discard pile?
Yes.
A Wild card on the discard pile can be taken. Only Skip cards cannot be picked up from the discard pile.
Some ban taking Wild cards from the discard pile to make the game harder.
Can a run wrap around from 12 to 1?
No.
A run goes from 1 up to 12 and cannot continue around.
No common house rule allows it.
What you need
- A Phase 10 deck with 96 number cards in 4 colors, 8 Wild cards and 4 Skip cards
- Paper and pencil
Setup
- 1Shuffle and deal 10 cards to each player.
- 2Place the rest as the draw pile and turn the top card over to start the discard pile.
- 3Everyone starts on Phase 1.
How to play
- 1Draw the top card from either the draw pile or the discard pile.
- 2If you have your whole phase in your hand, you may lay it down on the table.
- 3Once your phase is down, you may hit, meaning add cards to your own and other players' phases, for example one more card on a run.
- 4End your turn by discarding one card.
- 5The hand ends when one player has gotten rid of all their cards.
- 6Everyone who laid down their phase moves on to the next phase. The others try the same phase again.
- 7Everyone scores points for the cards left in their hand. Low scores are good.
- 8The deal passes one seat to the left and a new hand begins.
The 10 phases
A set is cards with the same number. A run is numbers in order, and color does not matter.
- Phase 1: 2 sets of 3
- Phase 2: 1 set of 3 and 1 run of 4
- Phase 3: 1 set of 4 and 1 run of 4
- Phase 4: 1 run of 7
- Phase 5: 1 run of 8
- Phase 6: 1 run of 9
- Phase 7: 2 sets of 4
- Phase 8: 7 cards of one color
- Phase 9: 1 set of 5 and 1 set of 2
- Phase 10: 1 set of 5 and 1 set of 3
Points for cards left in hand
- Cards 1 to 9: 5 points
- Cards 10 to 12: 10 points
- Skip cards: 15 points
- Wild cards: 25 points
Wild and Skip
A Wild card can stand in for any number or any color. A phase must still include at least one regular number card. A Skip card is played by discarding it, and a player loses their next turn. Skip cards cannot be used in a phase and cannot be picked up from the discard pile.
House rules
Pick the rules you want to play with tonight. Everyone at the table has to agree.
Our Phase 10 rules for tonight
Everything else follows the official rules.
Frequently asked questions
How many cards do you get in Phase 10?
Each player gets 10 cards at the start of every hand.
Who wins if several players complete Phase 10 in the same hand?
The one with the lowest total score wins.
Do colors have to match in a run?
No. Only in Phase 8 must the cards be the same color. In runs and sets, color does not matter.
Source: Mattel's Phase 10 rulebook, explained in our own words. The rules are written in our own words. Ask the referee if you are unsure.