Shedding · Reviewed 2026-10-18
Mau-Mau card game: players, deck & rules
Match rank or suit, use sevens and eights, and announce Mau before playing your second-last card.
Version used: Palace of Cards 32-card Mau-Mau; single-round play
- Players
- 2 to 4
- Deck
- 32 cards: 7 through A in each suit
- Learning
- Easy
Be first to empty your hand.
Need a term explained? Suit, rank, trick, trump and meld.
Deal a five-card hand
- Deal five cards each, leave a face-down stock and turn one card face up for the discard. The player left of dealer starts; continue clockwise.
Play or draw
- Play a card matching the discard’s rank or suit. A jack may be played on any non-jack and names the next suit; a jack on a jack is forbidden.
- If unable to play, draw one card; play it immediately if legal, otherwise end your turn.
Sevens, eights and the last card
A seven makes the next player either stack a seven or draw the accumulated two cards per seven and miss their play. An eight skips the next player. Say “Mau” before playing your second-last card; missing it costs two cards. Say “Mau-Mau” with your last card.
End this version
The first empty hand wins, except a final seven: finish resolving its chain until someone draws the penalty. This guide uses single-round wins without assigning leftover-card points. The detailed platform reference also explains scoring for multiple rounds.
Worked example
The discard is 9♥ and your hand is 9♣, 7♦, K♠. You can play 9♣ because rank matches. On a later turn a seven reaches you with a two-card penalty; another seven passes four cards to the next player. If you have none, draw the penalty and miss that play.
Choose this when everyone wants the rules explained
Keep a reminder for 7, 8 and J beside the stock. If stock empties, keep the top discard and shuffle the others for a new stock. Before dealing, agree whether an opening action card has an effect; the linked base rules do not settle that case. Do not add a reverse card just because another shedding game uses one.
Rule sources and version notes
Rules checked on 2026-10-18. The named version above is the one taught here. Examples and learning suggestions are written for this guide.