How to keep score in Phase 10

In Phase 10, the first player to complete all ten phases wins. At the end of each round, everyone scores the cards left in their hand, and points are bad. They only matter as a tie-break, when two players finish phase 10 in the same round.

At a glance

• Players: 2 to 6

• Who wins: First to complete phase 10

• Tie-break: Lowest score

• Cards: 108, with 8 Wilds and 4 Skips

What each card is worth

The round ends when one player gets rid of all their cards. Everyone else scores the cards still in their hand, whether or not they made their phase.

The player who went out scores 0. Write each player's phase next to their score, because the phase counts for more than the points. It's the opposite of Uno, where the cards left in other hands score for the winner.

The ten phases

A set is cards of the same number in any colours. A run is numbers in a row, in any colours. Wild cards can stand in for any card.

• Phase 1: two sets of 3

• Phase 2: a set of 3 and a run of 4

• Phase 3: a set of 4 and a run of 4

• Phase 4: a run of 7

• Phase 5: a run of 8

• Phase 6: a run of 9

• Phase 7: two sets of 4

• Phase 8: 7 cards of one colour

• Phase 9: a set of 5 and a set of 2

• Phase 10: a set of 5 and a set of 3

Moving through the phases

Lay down your phase during a round and you move on to the next phase in the next round. Miss it and you try the same phase again. Players can be on different phases at the same time.

Completing a phase earns no points. It moves you on, but any cards still in your hand when the round ends count against you.

When the game ends and ties

The first player to complete phase 10 wins when that round ends, whatever their score. A player on phase 9 with fewer points doesn't beat them.

If two or more players complete phase 10 in the same round, the one with the lowest total wins. If they're still tied, those players play phase 10 again to settle it.

For a shorter game, some tables agree to play only some of the phases, such as the even ones.

A scoring example

Four players, three rounds. Each cell shows the points scored and whether that player made their phase.

In round 1 Cleo missed phase 1 and held ten cards: six from 1 to 9 (30), three from 10 to 12 (30) and a Skip (15), so 75.

Dev has made all three of his phases and is on phase 4, so he's in front. Ana, Ben and Cleo are all on phase 3, and Ben leads them on points.

Keep score in Tallynight

Phase 10 is set up for you: rounds, lowest score wins. Type everyone's points for the round on one keypad, and the table keeps the totals and who deals next.

With Tallynight Pro, tick who made their phase each round. The table shows everyone's phase, puts the furthest phase in front with points as the tie-break, and knows when someone has finished phase 10.

• Type everyone's points for the round on one keypad, free

• Each player's phase, tracked round by round (Pro)

• Standings by phase first, then the lowest score (Pro)

• Offers to end the game when someone completes phase 10 (Pro)

• Get Tallynight on the App Store: free, no ads.

• Print a Phase 10 score sheet if you'd rather keep score on paper.

Questions

How do you score Phase 10?

At the end of each round, everyone except the player who went out scores the cards left in their hand: 5 for 1 to 9, 10 for 10 to 12, 15 for a Skip and 25 for a Wild. A low score is good.

How much is a Wild worth in Phase 10?

25 points if it's still in your hand when the round ends. A Skip is 15.

Who wins Phase 10 if two players finish phase 10?

The one with the lower total score. If they're tied on points too, they play phase 10 again to settle it.

Do you get points for completing a phase in Phase 10?

No. Completing a phase moves you on to the next one, but the cards still in your hand count against you.

Does the lowest score win Phase 10?

Only as a tie-break. The first player to complete phase 10 wins, even with more points than someone still on an earlier phase.

What are the 10 phases in Phase 10?

Two sets of 3. A set of 3 and a run of 4. A set of 4 and a run of 4. A run of 7, then 8, then 9. Two sets of 4. 7 cards of one colour. A set of 5 and a set of 2. A set of 5 and a set of 3.

Game names belong to their owners. Tallynight isn't connected with any game publisher.