How to Play VETO

Veto is for 2-4 players. If you have more players, add another deck to deal out more fun!

The Deal – Shuffle the deck and distribute the cards in any number of piles to form draw piles. Each player selects cards from any pile to create Ground piles. The number of Ground piles, ranging from 1-4, may be decided at the beginning of the game. These piles shall remain face down and must have 4 cards in each. Each player then selects 4 cards to create their hand, which a player will look at and play from first. Combine remaining undrawn cards into one pile, face down, and form the draw pile.

Game play – To decide what player starts the game, each player turns over a top card from one of their Ground piles. In case of a tie for the highest value, turn over the top card of another Ground pile until the highest card is revealed. The player that turned the highest valued card will start by discarding any card from their hand (not from the Ground piles) to create a discard pile. Do not draw a card from the draw pile. Ground piles cannot be played from until a player’s hand cards have all been played. Play will continue clockwise. The next player must play a card equal to/higher than the last played card, or a wild card, following the instructions on any action cards. If the player does not have a valid card to play, they must pick up the entire discard pile and add the cards to their hand. If a player matches the last played card, the previous player must draw 3 cards from the draw pile, unless they can play a VETO card to stop the pick-up. Once a player has played all the cards from their hand, they may begin to play from the Ground piles. When the top card of a Ground pile is played, do not turn over the next card. These cards remain face down and are played blind. If the card is played and is not a valid play, the player must pick up the discard pile to create hand cards.

Winning – A game may end when either one player is the first to play all their cards or until there is only one loser - the last player with cards remaining. 

Important rules:

• A player can play multiple cards of the same value but may choose to only play one of them at a time.

• If the next player plays the same card as you, draw 3 cards.

• Playing a VETO card negates the need to draw 3 cards. If played as a 3, a player can play multiple VETO cards. If played as a VETO, only 1 can be played.

• A VETO card is the only card that you do not have to draw 3 if the next player plays the same card.

• If 3 consecutive players play the same card, the players to the left and right of the last player both draw 3 cards.

• If any of the players that must draw play a VETO, then no one draws.

• If 4 or more of the same cards are played in a row, clear all cards from the discard pile and no one draws. If a VETO is played in between the 4 cards, the pile is still removed.

• All cards in a player’s hand must be played before accessing the Ground piles.

• The Ground piles can be played from in any order. You must play the card on top before playing the cards under. Only the first turned card is visible. All face down cards remain this way.

• You must play a card to the discard pile before collecting the cards to your hand. (Example - A 9 is on the discard pile and I have no cards in my hand. All my Ground cards are below 9. I play a card to the pile first then collect the pile.)

• Action cards - Action cards must be a valid play for the action to change the rule of the game. Example: If high cards win and you have a 2-action card, you cannot play it on a 9.

• Action card Show the highest card in your hand does not apply to you if you only have Ground cards and none in your hand. The player who plays this card must show a card as well if any cards are left in hand. If multiple players show the same valued card, then they must each show their next highest card. Wilds count as a “zero”. In the event of a tie, the discard pile is divided by dealing it clockwise, away from the player who played the action card.

• Action - If two cards are played together the action must be on the top for the action to change the rule. (Example: a 4 and a 4 Low Cards is played. If the player does not want the game to switch to Low Cards win, then play the 4 on top of the action.)

• Wild - Wild cards do not have a value and can be played at any time. If the next player plays the same wild, you must draw 3 cards.

• Lower/Higher wild card: If a second Lower/Higher card is played by a following player, the previous player draws 3 and the direction of the Lower/Higher is reversed. (Example: high cards win and player 1 plays the Lower/Higher card. Player 2 must play lower than an 8 but plays another Lower/Higher card. Player 1 must pick up 3 and now the cards must be played as higher than 8, lower than 8.  If low cards win, the cards are played as higher than 8/ lower than 8 and a second Lower/Higher switches to lower than 8, higher than 8.)

• If you had to pick up the discard pile, you must play all cards in your hand before returning to the Ground piles.

• If the draw pile is low, reshuffle the used cards that were removed to make a new draw pile.