How to play Mau-Mau

Mau-Mau is Germany's best-loved shedding game, a close cousin of Crazy Eights played with a 32-card deck (7 to Ace). Match the top card by suit or rank, use the special cards wisely and be the first to empty your hand.

The deal

Each player gets five cards. One card is turned up to start the pile; the rest form the stock.

Playing

Play a card of the same suit or the same rank as the top card. If you can't, or don't want to, draw one card — you may play it straight away if it fits.

Special cards

A 7 makes the next player draw two, unless they answer with another 7 (which passes four on, and so on). An 8 skips the next player. A Jack is wild: play it on anything except another Jack and wish for a suit.

Say Mau!

When you're about to play your second-to-last card, press 'Say Mau!'. Forget, and you draw a penalty card. Playing your last card is 'Mau-Mau'.

Scoring

When someone goes out, everyone else scores penalty points for cards left: Jack 20, Ace 11, 10/9/8/7 face value, King 4, Queen 3. When anyone reaches 100, the lowest total wins.

Tips from the table

Keep a Jack for the end — it fits on almost anything and lets you choose your last suit.
Save 7s and 8s for when the next player is close to going out.
Jacks are worth 20 penalty points, so don't hold too many when someone is down to one card.

More free card games

Same table, no loading screens — pick your next hand.