How to Buy Mau Mau: A Comprehensive Guide

Your Guide to buying the best Mau Mau

Overview

Mau Mau is an exciting card game that can be enjoyed by both adults and children alike. This buying guide will provide information on the game, what to look for when purchasing Mau Mau cards, and tips on how to play the game. With this guide, you will be able to select the best Mau Mau set for your needs and get started with the game in no time.

Key features

  1. Number of Players: Mau Mau is typically played with 2-4 players, but can be enjoyed with up to 6 players.
  2. Number of Decks: The game requires two decks of cards, with one joker per deck.
  3. Objective: The goal of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all of your cards.
  4. Types of Cards: There are 16 card types (ace through seven in each of the four suits) and two jokers.
  5. Rules: Players must match the card in the discard pile by suit or rank. If they cannot, they must draw a card from the stock pile. Some special rules may vary between different versions of the game.
  6. Winning: The game is won by the first player to get rid of all of their cards. If the last card in a player's hand is a joker, they must call out "Mau Mau" in order to win.

See the most popular Mau Mau on Amazon

Important considerations

Pros

  • Private card game: Mau Mau is a private card game, meaning that it is typically played between individuals or small groups of friends. This makes it a great game for social gatherings or just to have fun with family.
  • Skillful game: It is a game of skill, as opposed to luck, so those who are more experienced will often have an advantage. This means that the game can be a fun challenge for all players.
  • Goal of game: The goal of the game is to be the first to get rid of all your cards. This makes the game fast-paced and exciting and adds an element of competition.
  • Easy to learn: Mau Mau is easy to learn, even for people who have never played it before. The rules are quite simple and easy to understand.
  • Fast-paced: The game is fast-paced and it can be easily adapted to suit different numbers of players. This means that it can easily be enjoyed by anyone.

Cons

  • Cost – Mau Mau is relatively expensive compared to some other card games.
  • Setup Time – Depending on the number of players, the setup for Mau Mau can take a few minutes.
  • Complex Rules – The various rules and conventions of Mau Mau can be difficult for beginners to grasp.
  • Unpredictable Outcomes – The unpredictable nature of the game can lead to an unsatisfying experience.

Best alternatives

  1. UNO - A card game similar to Mau Mau, but with some differences in the rules and card values.
  2. Phase 10 - A card game that can be played with two to six players, where the goal is to complete certain phases before your opponents.
  3. Smear - A trick-taking card game where players focus on taking tricks instead of building certain card combinations.
  4. Rummy - A classic card game where players try to win points by collecting and melding sets of cards.
  5. Skat - A three-player trick-taking card game that uses a bidding system to decide which player will play against the other two.
  6. Hearts - A four-player trick-taking game where the goal is to avoid winning tricks that contain hearts.

Related tools, supplies, and accessories

  • Deck of Cards – A traditional deck of playing cards with four suits (hearts, clubs, diamonds, and spades).
  • Mau Mau Rulebook – A book outlining the official rules for playing the card game Mau Mau.
  • Mau Mau scorepad – A scorepad for keeping track of the score during the game.
  • Mau Mau tokens – Tokens that players can use to mark their progress in the game.
  • Mau Mau dice – Special dice used in the game.

Common questions

  1. What type of Mau Mau card decks are available? Mau Mau card decks come in various themes including classic, modern, children's, and special editions.
  2. How many players can play Mau Mau? Mau Mau can be played by two to four players.
  3. Do I need any special accessories to play Mau Mau? No, all that is needed to play Mau Mau is a Mau Mau card deck.
  4. Are there any rules I should be aware of before playing Mau Mau? Yes, there are some basic rules that should be followed when playing Mau Mau, such as the number of cards dealt to each player, how to draw and discard certain cards, and how to win.

Trivia

Mau Mau is a card game that has been around for centuries, but was named for the Mau Mau Uprising, a rebellion against the British colonial administrators in Kenya in the 1950s. It became popular with American college students in the 1970s and is still a favorite among card players today. Interestingly enough, the game features elements of chance and strategy that tie together the multiple African cultures from which it originates. It is believed to have derived from a much older game called Ol' Spades, which was said to be quite popular in the 1800s. The game was also featured in the 2005 comedy movie "The Ringer", starring Johnny Knoxville and Brian Cox.

Disclaimer: This buying guide was not created by humans, and it is possible that some of it's content is inaccurate or incomplete. We do not guarantee or take any liability for the accuracy of this buying guide. Additionally, the images on this page were generated by AI and may not accurately represent the product that is being discussed. We have tried to convey useful information, but it is our subjective opinion and should not be taken as complete or factual.