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How to Play Phase 10 With 2 Players

Quick answer

To play Phase 10 with 2 players, use the normal rules: deal 10 cards each, turn one card up for the discard pile and leave the other 87 as the draw pile. Take turns drawing, laying down your phase, hitting and discarding.

The one real difference is the Skip: it gives you two turns in a row, but you can’t skip your opponent twice running.

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The deal for two: 10 cards each, 87 to draw

Your opponent: 10 cards, face down

Draw pile: 87 cards

Discard pile: 1 card

You: 10 cards

A sample shuffle. You hold Green 2, Red 3, Yellow 3, Green 4, Green 4, Red 6, Blue 6, Yellow 6, Green 8, Red 12. The first discard is the Green 10. This hand doesn’t hold Phase 1 yet: you need to draw. Only 21 of 108 cards are out, so the draw pile lasts about 43 draws each.

Everything else is as usual. The player on the dealer’s left goes first, so with two players the non-dealer starts. The deal swaps after every round. Our Phase 10 rules explain each step.

With two players the draw pile hardly ever runs out: 87 cards against 47 in a 6-player game. A fresh hand holds Phase 1 about 2 in 10 times, so most rounds start with a few draws.

Skips with two players: you play twice in a row

  • Discard a Skip and your opponent loses their next turn. You draw again straight away.
  • You can’t skip the same player two turns in a row. With two players, that means no Skip right after a Skip: your opponent gets one normal turn in between.
  • A Skip still counts as your discard and still can’t be picked up from the discard pile.

Each of you has a 33% chance of being dealt at least one Skip. On average about 3.2 of the 4 Skips start in the draw pile, so they turn up all game long.

Tips for a two-player game

  • Watch every pick-up. When your opponent takes a discard, you know a number or color they want. Don’t throw them another one.
  • Save a Skip for the end. When your opponent is down to one or two cards, a Skip buys you a whole extra turn to go out first.
  • Count the Wilds. There are 8. If you have seen several on the table, fewer are left for your opponent.
  • Get rid of high cards (10, 11, 12) when you can’t use them. They cost 10 points each if your opponent goes out.

Shorter games are part of the official rules

  • Play to fewer phases: agree before you start to finish at Phase 5 or Phase 7. All other rules stay the same.
  • Ten rounds: both players move up a phase every round, made or not. After 10 rounds, the lower total score wins.

House rules for two (not in the official rules)

Some tables change a few things for two players. These are house rules, not official ones. Agree on them before the first deal:

  • Play without Skips. Take the 4 Skips out if double turns feel too swingy for two.
  • Reshuffle when the draw pile is empty. The official sheet doesn’t say what to do. Keep the top discard, shuffle the rest and use it as a new draw pile.
  • Best of three. Play three short games to Phase 5 and add up the wins.

Keeping score for two? Print a Phase 10 score sheet or use the free score keeper on your phone.

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Questions people ask

Can you play Phase 10 with 2 players?

Yes. The box says 2 to 6 players, and the official rules are the same for two. Each of you gets 10 cards and you take turns until someone goes out.

How many cards do you deal for 2 players in Phase 10?

10 each, 20 in all. One card starts the discard pile and 87 stay in the draw pile.

What happens when you play a Skip with 2 players?

Your opponent loses their next turn, so you play again right away. You can’t skip them twice in a row, though: they must get one normal turn before the next Skip.

How long does a 2-player game of Phase 10 take?

Usually shorter than a big group game, since there are fewer turns between yours. To cut it down further, play to Phase 5 or Phase 7, which the official rules allow.

Is Phase 10 good for two players?

Yes. It plays quickly, there is less waiting between turns, and you can watch every card your opponent picks up and throws away.