Cheating like a cheetah cheats a gazelle

Uno, the game that brings the family together and invariably sends one family member away sad and mad.

Saturday’s version of the classic game included more attempts at skullduggery than were seen in the late 1800’s in River Gulch Wyoming.  Let’s get to the details.

You may note these cards are similar, but, not completely the same.  If you are stuck (pick, pick, pick…keep it, keep it, keep it…by the way, we are disappointed to note that Uno in Mom’s house has reverted to a one-card pick policy) with it at the end, the card on the left is 20 points, while, the card on the right is zero.  So, one hand ends, Joe claims 6 for his 3, 2, 1, and a skip, and AT THE SAME TIME begins a discussion of how the flow of cards got reversed and how he thinks HE’s been cheated.  This strategy, drawing attention to one big event while trying to float a smaller cheat through, is tried and true in poker games near and far, but, was completely unsuccessful here.  I’ll proudly wear my title as Uno Police in the face of all of this deceit.

Some may tell you that Mom was trying to play here 5 on the 5 underneath, but, let’s not be fooled by her devious attempt at playing a red 5 on a yellow 2.  Accusations, made by Christopher, of people cheating “like cheetahs cheat a gazelle” flew across the room before the game ended. 

The game ended, like all good Uno games end, with one player, Matthew, leaving the table after having more than a few points bestowed on him.  Cocky cries of “game on!” are soon followed by the Peyton Manning face as a total score for the hand of over 100 points is discovered.

At least no one ran away going “Wooooooooooo!”