Mau Mau Rules: How to Play the German Card Game
Mau Mau is the German member of the Crazy Eights family. Players get 5 or 6 cards and play one card that matches the top card by suit or by rank. A 7 makes the next player draw 2 (they can pass it on with another 7), an 8 makes them skip a turn, and the Jack is wild: you wish for a suit. Say "Mau!" when you're down to one card, and the first to empty their hand wins.
1. The basics
- Cards: a 32-card German or French deck is traditional; a full 52-card deck works the same way. GameLake uses 52 cards.
- The deal: 5 or 6 cards each (GameLake deals 6). The rest is the draw pile; its top card starts the discard pile.
- Your turn: play one card of the same suit or the same rank as the top card. If you can't, draw one card; if it fits you may play it, otherwise play passes on.
2. The special cards
The special cards in standard Mau Mau. Many families add their own, such as the Ace for a skip or the 9 to reverse.
| Card | What it does |
|---|---|
| 7 | The next player draws 2. They may answer with another 7, and then the next one draws 4, and so on. |
| 8 | The next player misses their turn ("aussetzen"). |
| Jack (Bube) | Wild: play it on any card except another Jack and wish for a suit. |
3. "Mau" and "Mau Mau"
When you have one card left, say "Mau!". Forget it and you draw a penalty card (GameLake: 2 cards). In some families the winner also says "Mau Mau!" with the last card, and finishing on a Jack is worth extra points.
4. Scoring a longer game
To play several rounds, the others add up the cards left in their hands (picture cards 10 or their own count, Jacks often 20) and the lowest total after an agreed number of rounds wins. In GameLake's version each round is a single game: first out wins.
5. Tips to win at Mau Mau
- Keep a 7 for defence. When a 7 comes your way, you pass the penalty on instead of drawing.
- Wish for your longest suit with the Jack, and save the Jack for when you're stuck.
- Use the 8 on a player who is about to go out. A missed turn can be the difference.
- Say "Mau" every time. It's the easiest penalty to avoid.
Mau Mau is one of the rule sets in GameLake's Crazy Eights: pick Mau Mau under the table and play Hops, or friends online. The wider family is explained in the Crazy Eights rules.
Frequently asked questions
How many cards do you get in Mau Mau?
Usually 5 or 6 each. GameLake deals 6.
What does the 7 do in Mau Mau?
The next player draws 2 cards, unless they play another 7; then the player after them draws 4, and so on.
What does the Jack do in Mau Mau?
It's wild: you may play it on any card except another Jack and wish for the suit the next player has to play.
What happens if you forget to say Mau?
You draw a penalty card. On GameLake you draw 2.
Is Mau Mau the same as Crazy Eights?
They're the same family: in Crazy Eights the 8 is wild, in Mau Mau the Jack is wild, and the 7 and 8 have their own powers.