| Mao Sample Game | ||
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Mao |
This is a sample game of Mao (as played by
the UQ Physics students). It's a little contrived in parts, because
I wanted to try and get as much into it as possible. Your goal is to
watch the game closely and try and deduce the rules. Then, you can
start your own game of Mao! You probably should get a friend or two
to read it as well, so that they can also try and work out the rules.
Two reasons - one, it's a lot easier if more than one person can give
penalties. Two, you might have got the rule wrong! If you
disagree, you'll just have to come to a group majority decision (or email
me, and I might make up another bit of the game to clarify it ;) On that subject, I'd happily receive any feedback you might have on this page. If something's not clear, then let me know and I'll try and rewrite that bit. Keep in mind, though, that we will inevitably play slightly different rules to everyone else. I've included in this game all the rules that we play, so if it's not here, we don't play it as a base rule. There are a couple of notable exceptions, particularly a rule about 8's, and a rule about spades, which I didn't hear of until I did some digging. But the best thing is, you really can make up the rules as you go along! Have fun! Four players get together to play Mao. They are Angela, Bob, Cass and Dave. Dave is new to the game, whereas the others have all been at it for a while. They sit around the table in that order, and Angela begins to deal everyone five cards. Dave picks up his cards as Angela deals, and Cass quickly motions for him to leave them alone. Dave doesn't understand, so she interrupts Angela's dealing and gives Dave a card from the top of the deck, saying "Cards up during Point of Order". Dave picks up the card and puts it with the others. Cass sighs, takes another card from the deck and gives it to him, saying again "Cards up during Point of Order", and motions towards the table top. Dave hesitantly puts his cards back on the table, and Cass gives a sigh of relief. Angela grins at Bob and finishes dealing. She places the pile face down in the middle of the table. Angela flips over the top card. It is the 5 of Clubs. She goes to take a card from her hand, when Bob quickly plays the 6 of Clubs on the 5 of Clubs already face up on the table. Angela glares at him, but plays her card on top anyway, the 4 of Clubs. There's a pause. She glances at Dave, who hesitates. "Do I play now?" he asks. Angela takes a card from the face down pile and pushes it towards him. "Talking," she says. "Hang on," begins Dave, picking up the card, and Angela immediately draws another card and gives it to him as well. "Talking," she says. Dave says, "Stop giving me cards! I don't know what's going on!" Angela makes an exasperated sound and hands him yet another card. "TALKING!" Bob says "Point of Order", and he, Cass and Angela all put their cards face down on the table. "Slow learner, aren't you, Dave?" he says with a grin, then takes another card from the face down pile and gives it to Dave. "Cards up during Point of Order." Dave quickly puts his cards on the table. "Got it now Dave?" asks Angela. Dave nods and Cass says "Right, it's your go. End Point of Order". They all pick up their cards, including Dave. Dave plays a Jack of Spades, and Cass picks it up and gives him another face down card saying "Bad play". Dave frowns, then nervously plays a 9 of Clubs. Cass grins, and gives him the thumbs up. Cass plays the 2 of Clubs. Bob growls at her, draws two cards, then plays the Queen of Clubs. Angela plays the Queen of Hearts. Dave plays the King of Hearts, but Angela gives it back to him along with a penalty card and says "Playing out of turn". Dave frowns, but wisely says nothing. Bob plays the 7 of Hearts and says "Have a nice day" Cass plays the 7 of Diamonds and says "Have a very nice day" Dave hesitates, then plays the 7 of Clubs, but says nothing. Cass points to the deck, and motions him to speak. Everyone watches eagerly as he slowly says "Have a very n..." Cass is waving wildly, holding up two fingers. Dave stops, then it clicks. "...very nice day," he finishes triumphantly. Angela immediately plays another 7 of Clubs, and says "Have a very, very, very nice day." Bob grimaces, then draws a card. Cass grins, then plays another seven, again the 7 of Diamonds, and says "Have a very, very, very, very nice day." Angela immediately gives her a card. "Failure to abide by the Sevens rule". Cass groans. Dave plays another 7 of Diamonds. "Have a nice day?" No-one says anything, so he assumes he's safe. Angela has two cards left, and plays the Ace of Diamonds, saying "Last card" as she does so. Bob bites his lip, obviously debating something. After several seconds, Cass slides him a card, saying "Taking too long." Bob snatches the card, then plays the Ace of Spades. Cass reaches for the deck, then says "Whoops!". Bob gives her a card: "Talking." She glares at him. He smiles. Angela thumps the table in annoyance, then draws from the deck. Bob seems relieved. Angela looks at the card and plays it. It is the Two of Spades. The table is strangely silent, then Bob lunges for the deck and says "Failure to say 'Last card'", giving a card to Angela, who looks mortified. Dave plays the Two of Hearts, and Angela chuckles. Cass grins and shurgs, then plays the Two of Clubs. Bob is horrified, and with a sigh draws six cards, playing the Ten of Clubs. Angela plays the Ten of Hearts, and quickly says "Last card". Bob looks at his large hand, twists up his face, and reluctantly plays the Ten of Diamonds. Angela punches the air, and plays the Queen of Diamonds. "Mao!" she shouts! Bob buries his head in his hands. Angela hands him a card "Cards down during play." Immediately, Cass hands him another card and says "Cards down during play." Bob shouts "Point of order", and everyone puts down their cards. "You can't both penalise me," he says. "I'm not in the game," says Angela. "It's your own fault if you take a card from me." "Why you - " starts Bob annoyed at being tricked, but Cass cuts him off with "End point of order." Everyone picks up their cards. Dave plays Queen of Clubs. Cass plays Three of Clubs. Angela deals herself 5 cards, and picks them up. Bob plays Six of Clubs. Cass plays Six of Hearts. Angela hands Cass a hard, and says "Failure to Old McDonald." Cass laughs. She knows this rule. Bob plays Three of Hearts. Angela plays Three of Diamonds, and says "Oink! Oink!" Bob draws a card. Cass plays Three of Spades, and says "Mooooooo?" Angela nods, and everyone laughs. Dave says "Point of order?" and everyone puts down their cards. "So, is that your rule Angela?" he asks. Angela smiles sweetly and says "End point of order." The game continues...
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