You're sitting at the kitchen table, cards splayed out like a messy fan, and your competitive cousin is three phases ahead of you. It's frustrating. You’ve been stuck on those two sets of three for what feels like an eternity, but you finally have the cards to finish Phase 5. A thought crosses your mind: can I just jump ahead? Can you skip anyone in Phase 10 or maybe skip a phase yourself to catch up?
Honestly, the short answer is a flat no. But the nuance of how "skipping" actually works in this game—both for you and your opponents—is where most people get the rules totally sideways.
Phase 10 is a game of sequential grinding. It was invented by Kenneth Johnson in 1982, and the core DNA of the game is rooted in a specific, rigid progression. If you haven't completed Phase 4, you aren't allowed to even think about Phase 5. It doesn't matter if you're holding a perfect run of eight in your hand; if you're currently tasked with two sets of three, those eight cards are just dead weight until you clear your current hurdle.
The Brutal Reality of Skipping Phases
Let’s talk about your own progress first. A common misconception among casual players is that if you have a spectacular hand, you should be able to "jump" a phase. You can't. The rules state that a player must complete all ten phases in order. 1, 2, 3... you get the drift.
If you are on Phase 2 (one set of three and one run of three) and you somehow manage to lay down those cards and go out in the same turn, you move to Phase 3 in the next hand. You never get to skip a phase just because you're playing well. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. This is exactly why the game can feel so punishing. You might see someone cruise through the first five phases while you’re rotting away on the first one. That’s the game. It’s "rummy with a cruel streak."
Think about the math of it. The deck has 108 cards. There are twenty-four of each color (red, blue, yellow, green) numbered one through twelve, plus those eight wild cards and four skip cards. The scarcity of specific numbers is what creates the bottleneck. If the game allowed you to skip phases, the tension would evaporate. The struggle is the point.
Using the Skip Card: How to Actually Skip Someone
Now, if you’re asking can you skip anyone in Phase 10 in terms of making them lose their turn, then yes, absolutely. That’s where the "Skip Card" comes into play.
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The Skip card is the ultimate friendship-ruiner. When you draw one, you can play it during your turn by discarding it. You then choose any player you want to lose their next turn.
- You cannot "save" a skip card in your hand to use later if you want to go out; it must be played.
- When you play it, it sits in front of the skipped player.
- That player is skipped immediately when their turn would have naturally occurred.
- Once their turn is bypassed, the card goes into the discard pile.
Here is a weird nuance most people miss: you can't be skipped twice in a row in the same round by the same card, but you can be skipped by different players. If Player A skips you, and then Player B also decides they hate you and plays a skip card, you’re sitting there for a long time. Also, if you draw a skip card as the very first card from the draw pile at the start of the hand, the dealer gets to choose who loses their first turn.
The Strategy of the Skip: Who Should You Target?
Don't just skip the person to your left because it’s easy. That’s amateur hour.
You need to look at the board. Is someone one card away from finishing a particularly nasty phase, like Phase 7 (two sets of four)? Skip them. Are they about to go out and catch you with 40 points in your hand? Skip them.
The strategy changes depending on where you are in the 10-phase cycle. In the early stages, skipping is about slowing down the leaders. In the late stages, it’s about survival. Remember that wild cards are worth 25 points and skip cards are worth 15. If you’re holding a skip card and you think someone else is about to go out, play that card immediately. Even if it doesn't strategically help you finish your phase, it gets those 15 penalty points out of your hand.
House Rules and the "Catch-Up" Myth
I've seen some families play with "house rules" where they allow people to skip ahead if they’re trailing by more than three phases. While that might keep your younger sibling from crying, it isn't Phase 10. It’s a different game at that point.
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The official Mattel instructions are very clear: players only advance if they complete the phase in the current hand. If you don't complete it, you stay on that same phase for the next hand. This creates a "rubber band" effect where the leaders might get stuck on a hard phase—like Phase 8 (seven cards of one color)—giving the laggards time to catch up.
Actually, Phase 8 is statistically one of the hardest. Because you're looking for seven cards of the same color and there are only 24 of each color in a 108-card deck, the odds are tighter. This is often where the "great reset" happens, and players who were trailing on Phase 5 or 6 suddenly find themselves neck-and-neck with the leader.
Common Misunderstandings About Turns
Sometimes people think "skipping" refers to the order of play. Phase 10 always moves to the left (clockwise). You can't skip the order of play unless a Skip card is involved.
Another thing: you can't skip the "drawing" phase of your turn. You must draw a card, either from the deck or the discard pile, and you must discard a card to end your turn (unless you’re laying down your phase and going out). You can't just skip your turn because you don't like your hand. You have to engage with the deck.
Tactical Insights for Dominating the Table
If you want to stop wondering can you skip anyone in Phase 10 and start actually winning, focus on your discard pile. The person to your right is the one who feeds you. The person to your left is the one you are feeding.
- Watch the Discards: If the person you can skip is picking up everything you throw down, they are likely close to finishing. That is your cue to use a Skip card if you have one.
- Hold Your Wilds: Don't play your phase the second you have it if you have a lot of high-point cards left in your hand. Wait a turn or two to see if you can shed the 10s, 11s, and 12s. But don't wait too long, or someone will skip you and then go out, leaving you with a hand full of garbage.
- The Skip as Defense: If you have a Skip card and you know you can't finish your phase this round, use it on the person most likely to "Go Out." It buys the whole table one more rotation to try and dump points.
The game is as much about psychological warfare as it is about set collection. Using a Skip card isn't just a mechanical move; it's a statement. It tells the table who you perceive as the biggest threat.
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Real-World Scenarios
Imagine you’re on Phase 9 (one set of five and one set of two). You need seven cards total. You have a Skip card. Player A is on Phase 10. Player B is on Phase 6.
Logically, you skip Player A. You have to. If they finish Phase 10 and go out, the game is over. Even if Player B is your "enemy" in the game, the math dictates that you must stall the person closest to the finish line.
But what if Player A is stuck and needs a specific card you just saw them try to grab from the discard? You skip them to prevent them from getting another draw. It's a game of inches.
Final Practical Steps for Your Next Game
To make sure your next session doesn't devolve into an argument about the rules, keep these steps in mind.
- Clarify the Skip Rule: Before the first dealer is even chosen, remind everyone that Skip cards are played immediately on your turn and affect the next player's turn.
- Track Phases Visually: Use a dedicated score sheet or a mobile app to track who is on what phase. This makes it obvious who the priority target for a Skip card should be.
- Manage Your Hand: If you are dealt a Skip card, treat it like a live grenade. It’s 15 points you don't want to be holding when the round ends. Use it early if you think the round will be fast.
- No Jumping Ahead: Reinforce that no matter how good a hand is, everyone moves through the phases 1 through 10. No shortcuts, no skips, no exceptions.
If you find yourself consistently stuck while others move ahead, look at your discarding habits. You might be giving away the very cards your opponents need to finish their phases, essentially helping them "skip" past the struggle while you stay stuck. Stop feeding the leader, save your Skip cards for the clutch moments, and remember that Phase 8 is the great equalizer.
Stay focused on the sequence. Phase 10 is a test of patience as much as luck. By following the rigid progression and using your Skip cards with actual intent rather than just spite, you'll find the game moves from a frustrating exercise in luck to a calculated battle of attrition.