Yes. An eight can be played on any card at any time, even when you hold a matching card. You then name the suit the next player must match.
Eights are the only wild cards. You can play one whatever is showing on the discard pile, and you are never forced to play it: if you have another legal card, you can choose that instead.
What happens after you play an eight
- You choose a suit: spades, hearts, diamonds or clubs. You can name the suit of the eight itself or any other.
- The next player must match that suit, or play an eight of their own.
- The rank of an eight never forces a match, because every eight is already wild.
Example: the top card is the 7 of hearts. You play the 8 of clubs and call diamonds. Your opponent needs a diamond or an eight; a 7 or a heart is no longer enough.
Because an eight can rescue a hand that would otherwise have to draw, most players keep one back. The Crazy Eights strategy guide explains when to spend it. If you cannot play at all, see what to do when you can’t play.