Thought I would share a fun card game with you guys that my friends and I play a lot.
The game is called Mao (Like meow but if it had an "a")
Wikipedia does have an article but its crap and Im too lazy to change it.
So here is how to play
The Base Rules of Mao
1) There is no talking when any player in the current game says "The name of the game is Mao"
* Saying "The name of the game is Mao" starts and resumes the game. When it is said to start the game, the player saying it flips over the top card on the deck. Whoever flips the card must follow all rules attached to the card.
*Talking may take place when a player says "Point". During which holding your cards is not allowed. The player then must say "The name of the game is Mao" to resume. There is also no holding cards before the game begins.
2) Rules may not be discussed by players. The only rule that you may tell someone is that "This is the only rule I can tell you" (I am technically breaking the rules by writing the rules but you need to know how to play)
* New players must learn as they go
3) Each player recieves 7 cards to start
4) The card being played must be the same suit as the previous card.
*The suit may be changed if the player plays a card with the same value as the previous card. The player must knock on the playing surface for each change of suit.
5) When a spade is played. the player must say "Spade" for each spade played by them.
6) When a Jack, Queen and/or King is played, the player must bow to the card.
* A bow consists of a bow of the head & movement of the arm(s).
7) When a 7 is played the player must say "Have a Nice Day"
When a player has one card left they must say "Mao"
9) You win when you get rid of all your cards. The winner may add one rule or add onto an exsisting rule. They may also remove a rule.
* The added rule may have several parts, but can't be 2 independent rules. Ex: You may have someone stand up on an 8 and say "Tacos are delicious", but you can't have them stand up on an 8 and say "Tacos are delicious" and talk like a pirate until they play another 8.
* You may not alter/add onto/remove base rules.
(trust me it's a bad idea)
* New rules can't discriminate or make the game overly unfair for any player(s)
Ex: You can't make a rule that says "John Doe gets 2 cards everytime he draws" or "Everytime someone breaks a rule I get to play 2 cards no matter what" You can have rules that say "Jane Doe can't enforce rules this round and the person to the right can't next round" If it alternates between people and isn't extemely unfair.
10) Players must be given enough time to follow all the rules for a card. I.E. Dont cut off someone and give them a card when they are in the middle of the rule.
11) If players are taking too long (10 seconds or more) they can be given a card for "Delay of Game".
Other Rules (may be altered)
12) When a rule is broken the player recieves 1 card from the deck.
13) If the "Point Rule" is being abused, then calling point can be penalized for irrelavent conversation/use.
14) If the rule for illegal moves is being abused then players can give 2 cards for illegal moves.
* An illegal move is skipping a player or playing the wrong card or going out of order.
15) The game starts with the player on the winner's right. The dealer's right if it's the first game.
16) If you can't play a card then you draw from the deck.
* You may play the drawn card if it is legal.
Those are the rules for the game. I know it seems like a lot but it is really fun. I will give an example just so you can understand the game better.
p1=Player 1 p2=player 2 is on P1's right p3=Player 3 and is on P2 right and so on
P1 deals 7 cards to the 4 players and sets the deck in the middle
P1,2,3,or 4 says "The name of the game is Mao"
P2 gives a card from the deck to P4 saying "Holding cards"
P1 flipped over a Jack of Spades
He bows and says "Spade"
P2 lays down a jack of diamonds and bows he also knocks
P3 plays a 7 of diamonds and says "Have a nice day"
P4 cant play anything so he draws
He draws a 7 of spades He plays the 7 and says "Have a nice days" and knocks
P3 gives P4 a card and says "Saying days instead of day" or "Incorrect form" P2 gives P4 a card and says "Failure to say spade"
This is how it goes. To give you a full understanding and to help get your own creative rule thought going I will give an example of play after several rules have been made.
P1 deals 7 cards to all the players.
P4 flips the card over and says "The name of the game is Mao"
It is a 5 of clubs.
P2 had made a new rule and gives P4 a card and says "Failure to quote a movie"
Since P2 won P3 plays next. He plays a 2 of clubs and says "I choose you Dialga" P1 gives P3 a card saying "Not one of the original 150"
P4 plays a 8 of clubs and passes P1 a card from his hand saying "I had got you a one way ticket to tuna town" P1 says "wheres tuna town?" and passes the card to P2. P3 gives P4 a card for saying "I had instead of I've"
P2 gives P4 a card saying "Going out of order" since 2's also switch the play order.
It goes on like that
Here are some tips
Try to get people to talk
Make rules based on events, inside jokes, youtube vids, video games, or whatever you like.
Make rules that apply to different cards instead of 5 rules for one card.
Don't make rules that apply for the suits or are very long like singing the alphabet as this become annoying.
Be nice.
Make rules everyone understands.
Be creative!
If you catch someone breaking a rule when they play their last card you can still get them for breaking the rule. Also try to get them for not saying Mao when they had one card left afterwards.
Players who start to purposefully get cards are generally those who dont like it. Those who try to follow the rules do like it.
Have fun!
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