A unique card game where the rules are not explained at the start, and players must figure them out through trial and error as they play.
Mao
3 - 5+ players
5 - 15 minutes
Objective: ??
Setup:
- Discard Jokers
- Each player gets ~6 hidden cards which they can look at
- Place remaining deck face down, start discard pile with top card face up
- Say "the only rule I can tell you is this one"
- The player left of the dealer begins
Objectives:
- Get rid of your cards
- Figure out the rules by deduction
Take your turn, either:
- Discard a matching suit (e.g. 10♦ on 5♦) or matching value card (e.g. 7♣ on 7♦) with the last discarded card
- Call Mao if you only have 1 card left
- Take a card from the draw pile
Giving penalties:
Any player may award a penalty card (given by the dealer) by stating what was done to deserve the penalty, e.g: "failure to match the last played card" or "excessive speech"
Resolving disputes:
- Any player may call Point of Order
- Players must put their cards face down and not touch them
- Rules cannot be discussed
- Any player may call Point of Disorder to end the dispute
Optional starting rules:
- No talking unless another rule requires it
- 8's reverse play
- Aces skip the next player
- Jacks can be played on any card, as any named suit
- Players must say "thank you" to the dealer when receiving a penalty card
Winning the round:
- the winner deals the next game and decides a new rule