Mau-Mau

Mau-Mau is the German shedding card game: match the suit or rank of the top card, use the power cards to slow everyone else down, and be the first to empty your hand. Play the Mau Mau card game free online against one, two or three computer players, with no download or sign-up, on desktop or on your phone. Just don’t forget to say “Mau”.

How to play

The game uses a 32-card pack: 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace in each suit. Everyone gets 5 cards (you can choose 6 on the start screen), one card is turned up to start the pile, and the rest is the stock.

• On your turn, play one card that matches the suit or rank of the top card. A 9♥ can go on any heart or on any other 9.
• If you can’t play, draw one card. If it fits, you may play it straight away; if not, you keep it and the turn passes.
• When the stock runs out, the pile under the top card is shuffled into a new stock.

The special cards

• 7: the next player draws 2 cards, then takes a normal turn. With the “Stack 7s” rule on (the default), they can answer with a 7 of their own, and the next player has to draw 4, and so on.
• 8: the next player misses a turn.
• Jack: wild. You can play it on anything and wish for a suit, which the next player must follow (or play another Jack).
• Ace: you play another card on it at once. If nothing fits, you draw a card. An Ace can never be your winning card.

If the first upcard is a special card, it works as if the dealer had played it: a 7 makes the first player draw 2, an 8 skips them, and a Jack lets them play anything.

Mau and Mau-Mau

Before you play your second-to-last card, tap Mau. Before your winning card, tap Mau-Mau. Forget the Mau and the next player may catch you, which costs a penalty card. You can still say a late Mau until the next player moves. Forget the Mau-Mau and you don’t go out: you draw a penalty card instead. The computer players forget now and then too, and when they do a Catch button appears for a moment.

Scoring

When someone goes out, everyone else scores penalty points for the cards they still hold: Jack 20, Ace 11, King and Queen 10, and 7 to 10 at face value. If the winning card was a Jack, those points are doubled. After 3, 5 or 10 rounds, the lowest total wins, and a tie plays another round. Your wins, rounds and catches are saved in your browser, and an unfinished game can be continued later.

House rules

Mau-Mau is played many ways, so the House rules button lets you switch 7-stacking off, let players answer an 8 with an 8, ban a Jack on a Jack, or only require Mau-Mau when you go out on a Jack.

Strategy tips

• Save your Jacks. A Jack fits anywhere, so it is your escape card when nothing else matches. Playing it early wastes it, and holding one at the end costs 20 points.
• Wish for your longest suit. After a Jack, name the suit you hold the most of, so your next turns are easy.
• Hold a 7 for defense. With stacking on, a 7 in your hand turns a draw-2 into someone else’s draw-4.
• Hit the player who is nearly out. When the next player is down to one or two cards, a 7 or an 8 is worth playing straight away.
• Plan your Aces. Only play an Ace when you hold a card that can follow it, or you’ll end up drawing.
• Dump high cards when you’re behind. If someone is about to go out, get rid of Aces and Jacks first, since they score the most against you.

FAQ

Is Mau-Mau the same as Crazy Eights?

They are close relatives in the same family. Both are about matching suit or rank and emptying your hand. Crazy Eights uses a full 52-card deck with 8s as the wild card, while Mau-Mau uses 32 cards, a wild Jack, and extra powers for 7s, 8s and Aces. Try our Crazy Eights game to compare.

What happens if I forget to say Mau?

The next player may catch you, and you draw one penalty card. The computer players catch you most of the time, but not always. If you forget Mau-Mau on your last card, you don’t go out and draw a penalty card instead.

Can you finish on an Ace?

No. An Ace always needs another card played after it, so if your last card is an Ace you play it and then have to draw.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. Tap a glowing card to play it, tap the stock to draw, and tap a suit after playing a Jack. On a keyboard, use the arrow keys and Enter, D to draw and M for Mau.

Looking for another card game against the computer? Try Hearts, or read our guide on how to play Crazy Eights.