Objective
Makao is a card game where the main goal is to be the first player to discard all cards from your hand. It is a simple but strategic game similar to Uno or Mau Mau.
Setup
- Number of Players: 2-6 players, ideally 3-5.
- Deck: A standard 52-card deck with 2 jokers.
- Dealing: Each player receives 5 cards to start. The remaining cards form the draw pile.
- Starting the Game: The top card of the draw pile is turned over to start the discard pile.
Basic Rules
- Play proceeds clockwise.
- A player may discard a card that matches either the suit or the rank of the top card on the discard pile.
- If a player cannot play a card, they must draw a card from the draw pile.
Special Cards and Their Effects
- 8: The next player must draw 1 card. If the next player plays another 8, the number of cards to be drawn accumulates.
- Ace (A): Skips the next player's turn.
- King and Queen (K, Q): The next player must either put another card of the same suit or rank or draw 5 cards.
- Joker: Can be played on any card and forces the next player to follow a rule dictated by the joker's player or draw 5 cards.
Special Features
- Last Card: When a player has only one card left, they must say "Makao." If they forget and are caught, they must draw 5 cards.
- Depleted Draw Pile: If the draw pile runs out, shuffle the discard pile (except the top card) to form a new draw pile.
Winning Conditions
- The winner of the game is the player who first discards all their cards.
Strategy Tips
- Always keep track of the remaining cards of opponents to estimate when special cards will be played.
- Use special cards strategically to block or penalize opponents.
