The deal and the basic turn
Each of the four players gets five cards from the shuffled 32-card deck. One card is flipped face up to start the discard pile; the rest go face down as the stock. The player left of the dealer begins.
On your turn, play one card that matches the top of the pile by suit or rank — a 9♥ accepts any heart or any 9. If you cannot play, or simply do not want to, you may draw one card from the stock ("buying"); you may then play any legal card, including the one you just drew, or pass. One buy per turn.
The three special cards
| Card | Effect |
|---|---|
| 7 | The next player draws two cards and their turn ends — unless they answer with their own 7, raising the penalty to four. Each further 7 adds two more. |
| 8 | The next player is skipped ("aussetzen"). Play continues with the player after them. |
| Jack | Plays on any card and wishes a suit — only that suit (or another Jack) may follow. Site rule: a Jack may also land on a Jack. |
A live 7 penalty locks the table: the player facing it can ONLY play a 7 or draw the whole accumulated penalty. Jacks, matching suits — nothing else answers a 7.
The flipped starter card applies to the first player: a starter 7 arms a two-card penalty, a starter 8 skips the first player, and a starter Jack wishes nothing — the first play is free.
Saying Mau — and Mau Mau
In the living-room game you must announce "Mau" as you play your second-to-last card and "Mau Mau" with your last; forgetting costs penalty cards. Online, the announcements are automatic — the game calls the finish for you and no penalty exists.
Scoring
| Card | Points against you |
|---|---|
| Jack | 20 |
| Ace | 11 |
| King / Queen | 10 |
| 10 / 9 / 8 / 7 | Face value |
When someone sheds their last card the hand ends instantly and every other player adds up what they hold. Going out with a Jack doubles everyone else's penalty for the hand. The hand's winner deals next.
Penalties accumulate across hands. When any player's total passes 100, the game is over and the player with the lowest total wins; a tie for lowest keeps the game running for another hand.
Frequently asked questions
Can you draw a card even when you could play?
Yes. The once-per-turn buy is always available (except under a live 7 penalty). Drawing on purpose to dodge breaking up a strong ending is a real tactic.
Does an 8 cancel a 7 penalty?
No. In these rules only a 7 answers a 7. The 8's skip and the 7's draw-two never interact — a common house-rule confusion.
How many cards do you draw from stacked 7s?
Two per 7 in the chain. One 7 costs two cards, a second raises it to four, a third to six — whoever finally cannot answer draws the whole pile and loses their turn.
What happens if the game blocks completely?
With an empty stock, a one-card discard pile and four passes in a row, the hand ends with no winner: every player scores their own remaining cards and the next hand is dealt.
Why does the jack score 20 points?
Because it is the best card in the game — the wisher that always plays. The 20-point sting is the price of holding your skeleton key too long.
Is Mau-Mau played with 52 cards anywhere?
Some families play with a full deck (and then usually deal more cards), but the classic German game uses the 32-card Skat deck: nothing below the 7. That is the version implemented here.
Who deals the next hand?
The winner of the previous hand. After a blocked hand with no winner, the deal simply rotates left.
Related rulebooks
- Crazy Eights rules - match suit or rank - 8s are wild
- Switch rules - draw twos, black jacks and wild aces
- Skat rules - the german classic - bid, declare, defend
Last reviewed 2026-08-12 · play Mau-Mau online free