Macau (card game)

Macau, also spelled Makaó or Macao, is a Hungarian version of Crazy Eights, where players play a single card in sequence in a manner similar to Uno. Unlike Uno, however, Makaó is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. Makaó also involves bluffing so that the players do not necessarily have to play a card if they wish to save it for higher points later. Cheating is encouraged in the game, and it can make for a lively evening.

Gameplay

2 or more players (up to 10) are dealt 5 cards each; the deck is then cut and the cut card becomes the first card in the discard pile. Play starts to the dealer's right.

The next card played must be a of the same suit or same value as the card on the top of the discard pile. If a 7 of spades was on the top of the discard pile, the player can play a 9 of spades or a 7 of clubs. Alternatively, an Ace or Joker can be played. If the player cannot play a card, he must draw from the deck.

Cards can be played in runs, i.e. 5 of Spades, 6 of Spades, 7 of Spades, 7 of Hearts, 8 of Hearts, 8 of Clubs, 7 of Clubs.

When an action card is played, the player next in sequence must complete the action or add to it to pass in onto the next player in sequence. When down to a single card, a player must say "Macau!". If an opponent calls Macau before the player, the player must draw a card. The winner of the game is the first player to have no cards; in instances of more than 2 players, game play continues until only one player is left with cards.

Action Cards

Multiples action cards can be played, i.e. Player 1 plays three 2s and the next player in sequence must pick up 6 cards unless they have another 2. This is the same for 3's, 4's and Kings.

When a player get down to 1 card they must say Macau or if another player catches them not saying Macau they must draw 5 cards

Variations

Romanian variation

In Romania the game is called Macao (or Macaua) and it has some variations according to region. The rules are a bit different from the ones explained above and the special, or action, cards change a bit. The rules below are the most common around Romania.

Generally 2s and 3s remain "draw 2" and "draw 3" cards, respectively. Jacks and Kings are normal playing cards.

Jokers are like 2s and 3s, but with a twist, they are both wild cards and may be placed regardless of suit, that is, the player following the one who draws cards as a result of the Joker being played may play any card regardless of suit. Usually the black Joker means "draw 5" and the colored one means "draw 10".

The 4s, aces and 7s are very disputed cards once they are used differently by different players. Usually their actions are interchanged and when starting a game, players agree what each card does. The most commonly agreed upon actions in Bucharest and other areas are as follows:

Tel-Aviv Variation (Sometimes known as the London Variation)

2 players are dealt 7 cards each, 3 or more players are dealt 5 cards each; the top card of the deck then becomes the first card in the discard pile. Play starts to the dealer’s left.

As with standard gameplay, the next card must be of the same suit or same value. Alternatively, an Ace or a Queen can be played (Jokers are not used in this version). If a player cannot play a card, he must take one from the deck. If the player can play the card he may choose to do so, if he cannot then the next player gets to go. The winner is the one who loses all his cards first.

If a 2, 3, or King of Hearts is played, the attacked player must pick up the appropriate amount of cards, and the next player is allowed to play a card.

Special Cards:

With one card left, a player must call out “Macau.” If he fails to do so before the next player’s turn, he must then pick up 2 cards. If a player has a 5 and another card as his last cards, and can play then together, he need not say Macau after the 5 is played. If a 5 is the last card in a player’s hand, when he plays it he must pick up a new card. If he can play it, he wins. If he cannot, the player then keeps the card and says “Macau.”

Players may choose to have a series of games using points. The game is played until 500, and points are bad; the first one to 500 loses. The point system is as follows:

Easier - Harder

To make the game harder or easier, players agree upon a few extra rules before stating play.


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