There are a lot of games in the world that are popular in different parts of the world. The thing that unites all of them is that they bring us a lot of happy times and memories. A lot of people connect with games from their childhood and the hours that they spent with friends and family playing. Playing multiplayer games enhances different social skills like teamwork and strategic thinking, but you also learn what it means to lose and how to deal with it. However, if you win, then your confidence gets strengthened. One very popular and famous card game that is from the centre of Europe is called “Mau Mau.” It has thrilled generations of players of every age and convinced them of its simplicity as a good pastime. Additionally, it is a fast-paced game with thrilling and unexpected twists that will never get boring.
The origins
About the origins of Mau Mau, there is only a little knowledge. However, it is known that the rules of the game were created in the 1930s. Moreover, it is possible that the name of the game originates from the Cantonese language, in which Mau Mau can be translated as “nothing, nothing”. This is an allusion to the aim of the game, which is to get rid of all the cards in your hand so that you are left with nothing. It also has a lot of similarities to the card games “Crazy Eights” and “UNO”.
The rules
To play the game, you should be at least six years old. The minimum number of players is two, and the maximum is ten. Of course, it could also be played with more than ten players, but then it would be recommended to use two card decks, so there are enough cards for everyone, and through the variety of cards, it will be more varied. So, you need at least one Skat card deck (the French-suited deck is commonly used), which means 32 cards. The rank of cards goes from the lowest card, the number 7, to the highest, the ace. Some cards have special abilities that can give the game a sudden turn, so you should never be too sure about your potential win.
Every round, the players’ aim is to empty their hands first in order to win the round. The game winner is the player who wins the most rounds.
Before the game starts, you and the other players should choose a dealer who shuffles the cards and gives out six cards each. The cards that remain get positioned upside down as a pile on the table. Then, the top card of this pile gets positioned face-up on the table. This is the starting card. The person who sits on the right of the dealer starts the game, and after him or her, it goes on in a clockwise direction. If the first card is a jack, then the player can wish for a colour (clubs, spades, hearts, and diamonds are called “colours”). So, the players put a card down, one after another. It is only possible to lay cards down that have the same colour or value. For instance, if one player puts a 10 of hearts on the table, then the next player may only lay either a 10 or a heart on top of it. If he does not have either, he has to draw a new card from the draw pile. If he is now able to make his move, he can take it off, but if not, he has to sit out and wait for his next turn. However, there are, as mentioned earlier, some special cards. If the player before you lays down a 7, you have to draw two cards from the pile; unless you also have a 7, then the player after you has to draw 4 cards, and so on. You can also suspend the player whose turn it is after you by laying an 8. You can lay a jack regardless of what the person before you laid, and then choose whatever colour you like, and the player after you has to lay it. All other cards get treated normally.
Before you lay down your last card, it is obligatory to say “Mau” so the other players know that you are about to win. After that announcement, every player is allowed to make more moves in order to try to prevent your win. If you forget to say “Mau”, then you receive one penalty card. Then, when you managed to put down your final card, you say “Mau Mau” and therefore win the round.
Of course, there are many different ways to play this game, but this is one of the most common ones. The most important thing is that you enjoy your time and have fun!
Sources:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mau-Mau_(Kartenspiel)#Geschichte_und_Weiterentwicklungen
https://www.spielregeln.de/en/mau-mau.html
https://gamerules.com/rules/mau-mau/