Phase 10
What Is Phase 10?
Phase 10 is a card game where every player is working toward a different goal at the same time. The game has 10 phases — specific combinations of sets and runs you must complete in order. In each round, you try to complete your current phase. Complete it and you advance to the next phase. Fail and you stay on the same phase while others move ahead. The first player to complete all 10 phases wins.
What You Need
- The Phase 10 deck — 108 cards. The deck has four colored suits (Red, Blue, Green, Yellow) numbered 1 through 12, plus 8 Skip cards and 4 Wild cards.
- Two to six players
The 10 Phases — In Order
- Two sets of 3 (two groups of three matching numbers)
- One set of 3 plus one run of 4
- One set of 4 plus one run of 4
- One run of 7
- One run of 8
- One run of 9
- Two sets of 4
- Seven cards of one color
- One set of 5 plus one set of 2
- One set of 5 plus one set of 3
Understanding Sets and Runs
A set is a group of cards all with the same number. Example: three 7s, or four 11s. Color does not matter for sets.
A run is a group of cards in consecutive numerical order. Example: 4, 5, 6, 7 makes a run of 4. For runs, color does not matter — you can mix colors.
Wild cards can represent any number in any set or run. Skip cards cannot be used in phases — they are played to force another player to skip their next turn.
Setting Up the Game
- Every player starts on Phase 1.
- Shuffle all 108 cards and deal 10 cards to each player face-down.
- Place remaining cards face-down as the stock pile.
- Flip the top card face-up to start the discard pile.
How to Play — Step by Step
The player to the left of the dealer goes first. Play moves clockwise.
- Draw: Take the top card from either the stock pile or the discard pile. Add it to your hand.
- Complete your phase (optional): If you have all the cards needed for your current phase, you may lay them down face-up in front of you. This is the most important move in the game — called hitting your phase. You must lay down your entire phase in one turn, not piece by piece.
- Lay off (optional, only after hitting your phase): Once your phase is on the table, you may add extra cards from your hand onto your own phase cards or any other player’s phase cards. This helps empty your hand faster.
- Discard: Play one card face-up onto the discard pile to end your turn. If you want to play a Skip, discard it onto the pile and name another player — that player loses their next turn.
Ending the Round
The round ends when any player plays their last card — discarding it or laying it off. All players who completed their phase during this round advance to the next phase. Players who did not complete their phase stay on the same phase next round.
Scoring
After each round, every player counts the penalty points of cards still in their hand:
- Number cards 1–9: 5 points each
- Number cards 10–12: 10 points each
- Skip cards: 15 points each
- Wild cards: 25 points each
Lower is better. Track cumulative penalty points across all rounds.
Winning
The first player to complete Phase 10 and go out in that same round wins. If two players complete Phase 10 in the same round, the one with the lower penalty point total wins.
Tips for New Players
- Focus entirely on your current phase — don’t collect cards for future phases at the expense of completing your current one.
- Wild cards are precious — save them for the numbers or colors you can’t find naturally.
- Use Skip cards strategically against whoever is closest to completing their phase.