How to Play Mao

Co-authored by Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: March 18, 2024 Tested

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The game of Mao is equally fun as it is frustrating. Similar to Uno, the object of Mao is to get rid of all your cards first. Unfortunately, this game revolves around a set of unspoken rules that each player must deduce during the game, or else risk picking up extra cards as penalties. There is no official set of established “rules” for the game, but there are a few common ones that most players follow.^{[1]
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Research source} Do your best to stay on your toes so you can come out unscathed in this secretive card game.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Reviewing Basic Gameplay

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1
Choose 1 player to deal 3 cards to each player. Shuffle a regular deck of playing cards, allowing 1 player to evenly distribute 3 cards face-down to each player.^{[2]
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Research source} Don’t touch any of your cards until the dealer officially states that the round has started, or else you’ll be charged with a penalty.
- You can deal 7 cards per player if you’d like to make the game a little easier.
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Place the remaining cards face-down and flip over the top card from the pile. Keep the rest of the cards in the center of the table so all the players can draw from the pile throughout the game. Take the top card and flip it over next to the deck so you can start gameplay.^{[3]
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- If you run out of cards in the draw pile, shuffle the discarded cards and place them in the center of the play area. Once again, flip over the top card and place it face-up.
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The game of Mao follows a lot of strict rules, including when gameplay can actually start. Wait for the dealer to say “the name of the game is Mao,” and then the player to the left can start the game.^{[4]
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Play a card from your hand that matches the suit or rank of the center card. Look through your hand and see if any of your cards match the face-up card in the center of the table. Pick out a card that matches either the suit or face/number on the card that’s face-up. Place your designated card in the pile so that gameplay can continue.^{[5]
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- For instance, if the center card is a red 10 of hearts, you can put down a card that’s part of the heart suit, or another 10 card.
- You can place a Joker card on top of any face card, but not on top of any numerical cards. The gameplay will follow the suit of the card that’s under the Joker.
Look through your deck and see if you have any numerical or suit matches in your hand. If you don’t have any playable cards, pick up an additional card from the center pile and add it to your hand. This will count as your play for the turn.^{[6]
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Keep going around the circle of players in a consistent, clockwise direction unless the gameplay changes. Keep in mind that there are certain rules that may cause a player to lose their turn, or that may cause the order of play to be reversed.^{[7]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Memorizing Unspoken Rules

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Decide on a set of rules to follow before starting the game. Keep in mind that the rules of Mao differ between different players, and there’s no singular, official version of the game. If no one is familiar with the game, let 1 player review the rules before the game starts. If needed, players can call a point of order to clarify anything confusing.^{[8]
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- If you’re playing with an experienced Mao player, you can follow the rules that they’re familiar with.
Keep a close eye on the different cards as they’re put down. In most games, an ace signifies that the next player’s turn will be skipped. If the next player doesn’t abide by this rule, you can charge them with a penalty for continuing to play.^{[9]
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Take an extra turn if you put down a 2. Place down a second card if you play a 2. However, the second card has to match the suit or numerical/face value of the previous card.
- For instance, if a player puts down a 2 but doesn’t have any other playable cards, then their turn ends.
- Face value refers to a Jack, Queen, or King.
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Pick up a card if the previous player puts down a 7. Note that a 7 card in Mao is similar to the “plus 2” cards in Uno. If you fail to draw a card, then other players have the right to penalize you.
- The only exception to this rule is if you have a 7 in your hand. You can play this 7, and the penalty will be transferred to the next player, who then has to pick up 2 cards.
- The player who puts down the 7 should say “have a nice day” before ending their turn. If you put down a second 7, you should say “have a very nice day” to the next player.
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Play in the opposite direction if someone puts down an 8. Note that the 8 card is equivalent to the Uno reverse card. If gameplay is going clockwise when an 8 is put down, switch so the game is played counterclockwise.
- If a player doesn’t reverse after an 8 is put down, then they qualify for a penalty.
Compare the Jack card to a wild card in Uno. The player who puts down the Jack can declare a new suit for gameplay, and then the game continues as usual. If the original player doesn’t declare a suit, another player can call out a new suit instead.^{[10]
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Say the name of the card with the suit, like “Queen of Spades” or “3 of spades.” If you don’t list out the full name of the card, you can be penalized.^{[11]
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Say “one card” if you only have a single card left in your hand. Similar to Uno, you have to declare when you have a single card left in your deck. If you don’t say “one card” out loud before your turn ends, then another player can declare a penalty.
- Keep an eye on how many cards each player has left in their hand. If it looks like they’re getting low, they may be saying “one card” soon.
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Discard identical cards at any point in the game. Participate in “two-it,” a rule that allows you to put an identical card down on the pile, even if it’s not your turn. Don‘t use a “two-it” to get rid of your last card, or else you’ll qualify for a 5-card penalty.
- For example, if a player puts down a 9 of clubs, you can also put down a 9 of clubs, even if it’s not your turn.
- Keep in mind that if you’re only playing with 1 deck, you won’t have any identical cards.
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Thank any player who penalizes you. In the name of sportsmanship, the game of Mao requires that all players thank one another once they’re given penalties. Let the penalizing player in question know that you graciously accept their penalty. If you don’t, you’ll have to pick up an additional card.
- For instance, you can say “Thank you for the penalty” or something similar.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Dealing with Penalties

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1
State “penalty for” if another player breaks the rules. Keep a close eye on the other players to make sure they aren’t breaking any of the unspoken rules. If you notice a rule being broken, interrupt the game by saying “penalty for” and then list the penalty that the player did. Don’t state the rule that was broken—just let the other player know that their move was illegal.
- For instance, if someone puts down an 8, the gameplay needs to reverse immediately. If the next player continues to play in the same direction, you can say “penalty for putting down a card.” This helps keep the rules anonymous to new players while enforcing the parameters of the game.
Grab a new card and add it to your hand anytime you’re called out for breaking a rule. Keep in mind that 1 card is the standard penalty, but certain penalties can require you to draw more cards.
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Place your cards down if someone says “point of order.” Call a point of order as a sort of “time-out” for the game. At this point, all players need to put their cards face-down in the play area. No one is allowed to touch their cards until the “end point of order” is stated by the original player.
- If you touch your cards during a point of order, you need to draw a card as a penalty.
- Any player can call a point of order, which will pause the game and temporarily suspend the rules. Use a point of order if you need to clarify part of the game to another player, or if you need to take a break for some reason.^{[12]
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State “Mao” or “Mao Mao” when playing the final card in your hand. When you’re putting down the last numerical card, Joker, Ace, King, or Queen in your hand, say “Mao” as you get rid of your last card. If you’re getting rid of a Jack as your final card, say “Mao Mao” instead. If you forget to say “Mao” or “Mao Mao,” you’ll be charged with a penalty and have to draw a new card.
- If you say “Mao” or “Mao Mao” when it’s not your turn, you have to pick up 5 cards.
Avoid putting another Jack on top of a Jack, if you can. Though Jacks represent wild cards, you’ll invoke a 3-card penalty if you play 2 Jacks in a row.
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Pick up an extra card if you curse during the game. Do your best to keep things clean, even if you’re feeling frustrated. While it’s perfectly normal to feel irritated during a game of Mao, express your annoyance in a clean way. If you curse at any point, you need to pick up an extra card.^{[13]
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- This is a preset rule, not an unspoken one. Remind all players to keep it clean before the game starts!
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Take a card if you discuss or explain the game rules. Don’t ask about any of the rules or try to help another player out, no matter how frustrating the game may seem. If you do this, you’ll have to add an extra card to your hand.^{[14]
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- Mao may be a frustrating game at first, but it’ll get easier as you play more games!
- If you really need to explain the game, call a point of order before doing so.

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How many rules do we start with?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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You can start with as many rules as you’d like! There’s no official handbook to Mao, so you can make up new rules for your game, if you’d like.

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Can I change the game play depending on how I see fit?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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If you want, yes! There’s not hard and fast set of rules for Mao, and individual players can customize the game to their own preferences.

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When you answer our question about the game, don't you technically tell us a rule of the game?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Yes, but it’s impossible for players to understand or enjoy the game if at least 1 person doesn’t have a comfortable understanding of how the game works. If multiple players are confused about the game, you can always call a point of order in the middle of the round.

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You may want to use multiple decks if you’re playing with a lot of people.^{[15]
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There is no official set of rules to the game of Mao. You can create your own at any time, as long as the other players are okay with you making new rules for the game.^{[16]
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If you’d like, encourage the dealer to make up new rules during the game to make things extra tricky.^{[17]
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