Card games
Play Mau-Mau online
A German classic with clear rules: a seven forces a draw, an eight skips, and a jack calls the suit. With one card left you say Mau – forget it and you draw again.
Play Mau-Mau nowFree · no download · no sign-up
At a glance
- Category
- Card games
- Controls
- mouse or finger
- Price
- free
- Sign-up
- not required
Yes. Mau-Mau is played against the computer here, across several strengths from easy to very strong. A win also pays chips into your account.
Where Mau-Mau comes from
Mau-Mau spread across German-speaking countries after the Second World War; the name probably comes from the Bavarian expression mau machen. It belongs to the worldwide family of shedding games around Crazy Eights, which also produced Uno. Because it works with any skat or rummy deck, it is one of the most played card games in Germany – and one with the most house rules.
How it works
Play a card matching the top one in suit or rank. If nothing fits, draw one.
7 – the next player draws two. If they play a 7 too, it stacks up. 8 – the next player is skipped. Jack – wish for a suit; it fits on anything. Ace – reverses direction (with three or more players).
First to run out of cards wins.
Three tips for better results
- 1Keep a jack until the end: it always fits and saves you from drawing.
- 2Two sevens in a row are no accident – collect them to pass on four cards.
- 3Watch for the suit your opponent never plays; that is the one to call with the jack.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mau-Mau free to play?
Yes. Mau-Mau runs straight in your browser, costs nothing and needs no installation. There is no paywall – the chips in the game are play money and cannot be bought. The site is funded by advertising, which appears only if you agree to it.
Do I need an account to play Mau-Mau?
No. The home page offers “play now without an account” – that starts you straight away and your progress stays in this browser. An account is only worth it if you want the same progress on several devices; name and PIN are enough, and we never ask for an email address. A guest profile can be turned into an account at any time without losing anything.
How do you play Mau-Mau?
Play a card matching the top one in suit or rank. If nothing fits, draw one.
Where does Mau-Mau come from?
Mau-Mau spread across German-speaking countries after the Second World War; the name probably comes from the Bavarian expression mau machen. It belongs to the worldwide family of shedding games around Crazy Eights, which also produced Uno. Because it works with any skat or rummy deck, it is one of the most played card games in Germany – and one with the most house rules.
Does Mau-Mau work on a phone?
The site adapts to the screen size, and anything you can click can also be tapped. Games controlled with arrow keys do need a keyboard, though.
Do I have to download anything to play Mau-Mau?
No. Mau-Mau runs in the browser – on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iPhone alike. There is no app, no plugin and nothing to install.
Can I play Mau-Mau against the computer?
Yes. Mau-Mau is played against the computer here, across several strengths from easy to very strong. A win also pays chips into your account.
Does Mau-Mau work without an internet connection?
The page has to load once; after that the game itself runs entirely in your browser and needs no connection. If you use an account, your progress syncs again as soon as you are back online.
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