Obviously, you are familiar with the popular card game Uno. It is a timeless classic that has made our lives great since 1971. In this game, players have to get rid of all the cards in their hands as fast as possible. One of the major actions that players do during the game is known as Shuffle Hands Uno.
It is also possible that you have come across Shuffle hands while playing any of the many Uno variations. These cards do not appear in all versions of the game. If you are a fan of Uno variations like Uno Flash or Uno Attack, then you might not be familiar with this particular card.
But what does Shuffle hands in a game of Uno mean? And how can you use it to your advantage? Let’s take a closer look.
But First, A Little About UNO:
In case of some strange reason, you have never played UNO; it is a legendary card game – one of the most popular card games across the globe; millions of people love playing the card game. Ideally, anyone who is 7 and above can play this addictive, family-friendly card game that can accommodate between 2 to 10 players.
In order to play this game, every player gets 7 cards from a standard UNO deck while the rest of the cards are kept face-down, forming a draw pile. Then, you will have to reveal the topmost card from this pile of cards to form the discard pile of cards – players match their cards depending on the number or color here.
Typically, gameplay follows a clockwise direction, beginning with the player sitting to the left of the dealer. In order to keep things competitive and interesting, you will find special action cards – Wild Cards (Regular and Draw Four), Draw Two, Skip, and Reverse.
And finally, the most interesting thing – the Shuffle Hands Card- is the topic of our discussion. This card can change the course of the play dramatically if you play strategically.
Shuffle Hands Uno: What Does This Card Mean?
So, what does shuffle hands mean in Uno? There has been plenty of debate over the exact meaning of Shuffle hands Uno, especially amongst older players of the classic card game who might have gotten hit with this card while playing any of the game variations.
Uno has officially tried to clarify the exact meaning of this card to a Twitter player who was unfamiliar with it. Here’s what Uno said: “If the Shuffle Hands card is played as the last card, the person who played it must gather everyone’s card, shuffle, and deal back out, including to themselves.”
This indicates that the player playing this particular card can take every card that all the other players have. Then, this player will shuffle all the cards with them and subsequently deal the same out evenly, just like the dealer did at the beginning of the game.
The shuffle hands rule also states that it is wild. This indicates that whoever plays the card can select the color that the game resumes with.
How Do You Play Shuffle Hands Uno?
So, now that you know what Shuffle Hands in Uno, the next question is, obviously, how do you play the same in a game of Uno?
You can play the Shuffle Hands card similarly to other Wild Cards that you might encounter in the multiple versions of the card game. If you or any other player has the Shuffle Hands Uno in your hand, it can be used at any point of the game regardless of what the last card was on the top of the discard pile.
Once any player plays the Shuffle Hands card, gameplay resumes from the left side of the player who laid those cards down. Playing any version of the classic card game, including the shuffle card, can be a great way to add spice to the game. Anyone with a single card left in their hand can suddenly find their hands full again.
So it does not matter whether you are a fan of traditional Uno or more into spicing things up with different variations of the classic game. You should just as well be prepared if you come across this card.
Read Also: Using The Reverse Card In Uno: The Tricks Nobody Is Telling You About!
The Advantages Of Using The Shuffle Hands Card:
If you have received cards that you cannot use, then the Shuffle Hands Card Uno can prove to be handy. By using this card, you can effectively obtain a new hand that could be better than what you have at your disposal.
At the same time, you can also effectively disrupt another player’s hand. Of course, the very opposite can happen to you. And you could end up with cards that are worse than your existing hand. Just like any other game of cards, you have to be prepared for a balance between the risks and the rewards.
The Uno Games With The Shuffle Hands Card:
The Uno Shuffle Hands card does not really appear in every other version of the classic card game. For instance, Uno Attack does not feature this card. Plus, Shuffle Hands was first introduced in the Uno universe towards the end of 2019. This means the card will not appear in older versions of the game.
But if you do have the recent versions of the Uno game, then the Shuffle Hands Uno card will likely be in your deck.
Can You Win With A Shuffle Hands Card? And Other FAQs!
Now, this is the spot where things turn a little complex. Uno has tweeted about its official guidelines. So, if you follow the proper guidelines, you cannot win if you use the Shuffle Hands card as your last card as per the Shuffle Hands Uno rule.
However, several people think this rule is not fair since it forces you to use the Shuffle Hands card effectively before you can reach your final card. This might not always be helpful. So, it is best that you use this card as you would the Swap Hands card. This indicates that when it is used as the final card, it acts effectively like another wild card.
Is It Possible To End A Game Of Uno With The Shuffle Hands Card?
As per the Shuffle Hands Uno rules, if a player’s last remaining card is a Shuffle Hands card, then you have to treat it just like any Wild Card. This indicates that you can finish the game as long as you have managed to say ‘Uno’ beforehand.
Remember to get the other players to shuffle hands if this occurs.
Is The Shuffle Hands Card Optional?
If you find out that you or any of the other players are not getting along with the Shuffle Hands Uno card, then there is nothing in the Uno rules that mentions you will have to play with them. Just remove all the cards from the game and just play normally as you would in any other situation.
Shuffle Hands UNO For Two Players:
The rules for using the Shuffle Hands card are a little different for a game of Uno between two players. The player who plays the Shuffle Hands card takes the hand of the other player. And then, the two players pick new hands from the deck. This indicates that both players will begin the game with a fresh set of cards.
Shuffle Hands UNO Versus Swap Hands:
Shuffle Hans and Swap Hands are two very different actions in Uno’s game. While Swap Hands is used when two players have to switch hands, Shuffle Hands is used when all the players are ready to discard their cards and pick new ones. When used effectively, both actions become powerful tools.
Shuffle Hands does an even distribution in the game. But with Swap Hands, you can select the opponent with the minimum number of cards. That way, you can just swap your hands with them. In such a case, you will get the lowest number of cards, and your cards will go to the other player.
And It’s A Wrap!
Now that you have a fair idea about using Shuffle Hands Uno, what are your thoughts? If you haven’t played with Shuffle Hands yet, it is time you do so. Moreover, adding fun twists like this one makes the whole game so much more entertaining. Feel free to share your thoughts, experiences, and memories about Uno in the comments below.
Additional Reading:
Barsha Bhattacharya is a senior content writing executive. As a marketing enthusiast and professional for the past 4 years, writing is new to Barsha. And she is loving every bit of it. Her niches are marketing, lifestyle, wellness, travel and entertainment. Apart from writing, Barsha loves to travel, binge-watch, research conspiracy theories, Instagram and overthink.
