Q&A for How to Play Mao

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.

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.

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.

Usually, if you win a round by getting rid of all your cards first, you can either add a rule or change a rule. For instance, you could add that you have to clap once after you play a club (adding a rule) or you could change a rule, like, instead of saying "have a nice day" after playing a 7, you could say "have a nice night."

Usually 5-8, although it's completely up to you. The game tends to be shorter when less cards are given; however, a game of Mao is still very long, especially when teaching new players.

Part of the fun is trying to figure out what the rules are.

Typically, point of order is used to clarify any questions, but be careful not to directly say any of the rules. If someone doesn't understand why they or another player was penalized, they can call a point of order and ask. Players are supposed to be silent during the game, and can only speak during point of order.

As stated in the article, some groups prefer to have multiple players who know the rules, so it is fair. However, if there isn't, there really isn't any way the dealer would want to penalize themselves. All players must draw cards when they cannot play something and play continues.

The Mao is able to make up whatever rules they want, as long as they are consistent throughout an entire game.

Take cards from the middle pile that everybody is contributing to, shuffle them, and place them upside down as the new middle pile. Leave the card that was on top though so the game can continue being played.

No, 8s reverse the order of which cards are played in. When playing a 2, the game moves on (unless the Mao chooses to make up an extra rule).

Typically Have A Nice Day happens when a 7 is played. The person who played the seven says: "Have a nice day." The next person either draws a card or plays another 7 and says "Have a very nice day." This continues adding one "very" every time time a 7 is played until someone is forced to draw. This unlucky player must draw an amount of cards equal to the number of "very's" plus one (i.e., "Have a Very Very Very nice day" means the player would have to draw 4 cards).

Say nothing, the other people around you must know. And if for example, you lay an ace and initially everyone was playing clockwise, then the person to your left plays instead to your right, you would give that person a penalty for an incorrect play, and the person to your right a penalty for taking too long (as the moment you laid down the ace was technically when their turn began).

In order to start a game, you can just say "Mao". That lets everyone know they can pick up their cards and the game can begin.