Shedding · Reviewed 2026-10-17

Mao card game: players, deck & rules

A shedding game known for rules players learn while playing. Setup notes and a link to the documented rules.

What to expect

Mao has many house-rule traditions. Ask the host which procedures can be explained before play and how penalties are handled; do not assume a list found online is the one your table uses.

Sources: Pagat: Mao

Before dealing

Players: Varies by group. Deck: One or more standard packs. Check the linked rules for any local changes to the deal or scoring.

Sources: Pagat: Mao