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Hidden-rule shedding

Mao: a hidden-rule game

A shedding game built around discovering hidden rules. Join an established group: there is no single official ruleset to learn.

Mao has no single rulebook. Player numbers, the deal and penalties vary by group; ask your host which rules they use.

On this page

Players

Varies by group

Deck

Ordinary playing cards; deck count varies by group.

Goal

Empty your hand while following rules that newcomers must discover.

Setup

An experienced player needs to know the group's rules. Ask which version the group plays before looking up spoilers; the deal is group-specific.

How to Play

  1. In the Eights family, play normally involves matching suit or rank. Mao adds secret requirements and penalties.
  2. New players learn through observing play and receiving penalties, rather than being given all the rules. A group's special actions are not universal.

How to Win

The aim is to shed your cards under the group's rules. The required final declaration and whether winners add a rule vary by group.

Variants

Rules differ by group; ask your host which version they play before joining. Although their names are similar, Mao and Mau Mau are different games.

Sources

Checked 17 October 2026. These sources describe Mao's hidden-rule tradition. Pagat provides an overview; USC records a player's account. Your group's version may differ. Our guides summarize the sources in our own words.

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