MauMau, a beloved card game in Germany, is a thrilling variant of the classic Crazy Eights. Played with a compact deck of 32 cards, each player starts with a hand of 5 or 6 cards. The objective is simple yet engaging: be the first to discard all your cards and claim victory. The gameplay revolves around matching either the suit or the value of the card that was last played, adding a strategic layer to each turn.
What makes MauMau particularly exciting are the special functions assigned to certain cards. For instance, if a player lays down a seven, the next player must draw two cards, potentially disrupting their strategy. An eight, on the other hand, forces the next player to skip their turn, adding a twist of suspense. The jack is the most versatile card; it can be played on any card, and the player who plays it gets to choose the suit for the next play, giving them a significant advantage in steering the game's direction.