Mau-Mau

About the game

Mau-Mau is the shedding game every German family plays, here with 32 cards against one to three computer players. Match the suit or the rank of the top card, make the next player draw two with a seven, skip them with an eight and wish for a suit with a jack. Down to one card? Say "Mau!" – and play your last card for "Mau-Mau!".

Rules

A Skat deck of 32 cards (7 to Ace). Every player gets five cards; the next card of the stock starts the discard pile. You start the first round, then the deal moves on.

On your turn, play one card that matches the top card of the discard pile in suit or in rank. If you cannot or do not want to play, draw one card from the stock; if it fits, you may play it straight away, otherwise the turn passes. An empty stock is refilled from the discard pile.

Seven: the next player draws two cards, unless they play a seven too. Then the player after them has to draw four, and so on, up to eight cards. Drawing ends the turn.

Eight: the next player sits out. With two players you play again.

Jack: goes on any card except another jack, and its player wishes for the suit that has to come next. If the round opens with a jack, any card may be played on it; an opening seven or eight counts as if it had just been played.

With one card left, a player says "Mau!". With the option "with a button" you have to press Mau! yourself before you play your second to last card, or you draw a penalty card. Whoever plays their last card calls "Mau-Mau!" and wins the round.

The others count the cards they still hold as penalty points: Ace 11, King 4, Queen 3, Jack 20, the others their face value. Play one round, or three or five: after the last one, the fewest points win.

How to play

1. Tap a card that matches the top card's suit or rank.
2. 7: the next player draws two. 8: the next player sits out. Jack: wish for a suit.
3. Nothing fits? Tap the stock to draw a card.
4. Get rid of all your cards first: Mau-Mau!

Languages

EN · DE

Works on

Phone, tablet, computer

Players

2–4