Mau-Mau (card game)

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Mau-Mau is a card game for two or more players, in which the aim is to discard your cards as quickly as possible. The names and rules are slightly different from region to region. The game is particularly popular in Germany , Austria , South Tyrol and Brazil . There is no fixed maximum number of players; it depends mainly on the number of playing cards and the number of starting cards and usually varies between five and ten.

Name and leaf variants

Name of the card game region Sheet / deck of cards
Mau Mau Germany and Austria French or German
hang up Germany French
Goodbye Sepp Switzerland Swiss leaf (east of the Brünig-Napf-Reuss line )
French leaf (west of the Brünig-Napf-Reuss line)
Nine Austria and Bavaria Bavarian sheet
Le huit américain France French sheet
Pumba Spain unknown
Macao Poland French sheet
Prší Czech Republic German
Mau Mau Brazil Anglo-American or French
Ocho Loco (s) Peru Bridge blade
Plagues Netherlands French sheet of 55 cards
Agonia Greece Anglo-American Journal
Mau Mau South-Tirol South Tyrolean watt maps

Mau-Mau is usually played with a French or German card game of 32 (German Skat sheet) or 36 cards (Tschau Sepp, Switzerland), but in principle it can be played with any other hand with up to 52 cards ( Bridge sheet ).

regulate

The basic rules

Mau-Mau is a placement game. The winner is whoever was able to play all of his cards first. The prize is announced with the exclamation “Mau” or “Mau Mau”, in Switzerland “Tschau Sepp!”. The other players usually finish the game. The points of the remaining cards can also be counted (e.g. in Switzerland), whereby the card values ​​are based on other card games. At the beginning each player receives the same number of cards (often five or six), which he takes face down - as a card slot - in his hand. The remaining cards are placed face down as a stack ( talon ). The top card of the talon is placed face up next to it.

In turn, each player now places one of his cards face up on the adjacent card - if this is possible. This is possible if the card to be discarded is the same in value or color as the top card. The spades so either another spade or a different 10 may be placed 10th If a player cannot or does not want to discard a card, he must draw a card from the talon. Depending on the rule, he may then discard this card if it meets the specified conditions, or he has to wait until it is his turn again. If the talon is used up at some point, the discarded cards, except for the topmost visible one, are laid out again as a talon. Often they are mixed beforehand.

Further rules

Since the basic rules allow relatively few options for playing style and strategy, Mau-Mau is always played with additional rules based on this. However, there are large regional differences, so the following rules and hand values ​​are only given as examples:

function frequent leaf value Style of play often advanced style of play
Two-pull 7th The next person must draw 2 cards If this player can place a 7 himself, the next player must pick up 4 cards. If this player also places a 7, there are six cards for his successor, etc.
Expose 8th Next person suspends Rarely: Instead of skipping, another skipping may be made and the next player skipping.
Wishes / all-rounders Jack Wish card color Can be put on any other color. Often it is forbidden to play jack on jack (“jack on jack stinks”). In some regions the jack only has the function of making a wish, but is tied to his color when played.

In addition, there are often other rules. The most common is that after playing the penultimate card, the player concerned has to warn the other players - for example by saying a simple "Mau" or "last card!" If the player forgets to report and another player notices this before the next player places his card, he must draw one or two cards as a penalty and has not won the game. It is also often determined that the function of the first open card has no effect at the start of the game or, if so desired, depends on the dealer or the bottom card in the talon.

Every now and then, additional functions are determined for remaining card values, especially when playing with more than 32 cards. Here in particular, the regional differences are greatest. Some of them are listed below.

function exemplary sheet value Style of play Explanation
change of direction 9 Changes the direction of play - meaningless with two players or like sitting out Not included in the old Mau-Mau rules, probably taken over from the "offshoot" Uno (back).
stopper 8th Cancels the function of “2 Drag” Sometimes it is determined that the color must match the last one laid.
Multi-layer / color changer 10 Can be placed on any non-functional card Then continue to play with the card suit. Especially in regions with the division of omnivores and desires of importance.

This card game is one of the card games that are modified quite often with additional rules and commandments, although not all of the above are used. The rules are also influenced by similar games, especially Uno , and take game elements from them. Since the functional maps are also very different from region to region, it is always advisable to agree on the applicable rules beforehand.

variants

In addition to the standard rules described above and frequently played expansions, Mau-Mau also knows numerous variants. In addition to the definition of further special functions and the tightening of existing rules, individual cards (e.g. the queen of spades) are also often equipped with special functions. Some rules also affect the course of the game - such as notices of silence, penalty cards if you missed a change of direction, etc. Here, too, it is advisable to clarify the exact rules with other players before starting the game.

History and further developments

A clear first mention and a history of the Mau Mau game is not yet known or recorded. According to tradition, the rules of the game date from the 1930s.

In the course of time, numerous Mau-Mau developments have emerged that use their own special cards. The best known further developments are Uno (from Mattel ), Mio (from Piatnik ), Assano from ASS Altenburger , SOLO from Amigo and the - no longer available - MAD card game from Parker . In 2013, Ravensburger launched Mau-Mau Extreme , which introduced a buzzer as the most important deviation from the basic rules .

literature

  • Udo Müller: Skat and other card games . Buch-und-Zeit-Verlagsgesellschaft, Cologne 1980, ISBN 3-8166-9018-1 .
  • Spielkartenfabrik Altenburg (Ed.): Extended game rules book from Altenburg . Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik Verlag, Leipzig 1983, p. 127 ff .

Web links

Wiktionary: Mau-Mau  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. Ravensburger, Mau Mau Extreme, game instructions, copyright notice 2013