Free online game
Play Mau-Mau online with 2–4 players
Play Mau-Mau online with 2–4 friends without sharing a device or downloading an app. Create a room, share the invitation, then start the game.
How to play
The game uses a standard 52-card deck without jokers. Each player receives 7 cards. On your turn, play a card matching the top card by suit or rank; a jack can also be played under its special rule. If you draw, your turn ends immediately.
Mau-Mau – what does each card do?
This version is for 2–4 players, starting with 7 cards each. The first player to empty their hand wins.
| Card | Effect |
|---|---|
| 7 | The next player draws 2 cards or plays another 7. Penalties stack: 2, 4, 6… cards. Only a 7 can be played during a draw penalty, not even a jack. Drawing the penalty ends the turn. |
| 8 | Skips the next player. With two players, you take another turn. |
| J – jack | Choose hearts, diamonds, clubs or spades. A jack can be played on any card unless a draw penalty is pending. The next card must match the requested suit or be another jack. |
| A – ace | Reverses the direction of play. With two players, the other player still goes next; they are not skipped. |
| 2–6, 9, 10, Q, K | No special effect. Match the top card’s suit or rank; after a suit request, follow the requested suit. |
On your turn, play one card or draw. A normal draw gives you 1 card and ends your turn: you cannot immediately play the drawn card. Sevens, eights and aces must also match suit or rank, except when passing on a seven’s draw penalty.
Tips for winning
Keep cards in several suits and watch each opponent’s card count. A 7 is strongest when the next player cannot pass the penalty on; use a jack to request a suit you still hold in quantity.
Mau-Mau strategy: control the tempo, not only your hand size
Mau-Mau: playing on TableDuel
What is different about this version?
Mau Mau starts with two to four invited players and has no computer opponent. The room creator starts after the others join. In this version, a seven adds a two-card draw penalty, an eight skips, a jack requests a suit and an ace reverses direction. Follow these rules rather than house rules from another group.
A decision worth thinking through
When a seven leaves you owing two cards, playing another seven passes on a four-card penalty. If you draw the required cards instead, drawing ends your turn. When playing a jack, request a suit you still hold; choosing only to remove an inconvenient suit may leave you unable to play next time.
The exact TableDuel Mau-Mau rules
Mau-Mau has many common house-rule variants. This page always describes the rules actually enforced by the online game.
Goal and deal
The game is played by 2–4 people with a standard 52-card deck and no jokers. Each player receives 7 cards. The first discard is not an action card. The first player to empty their hand wins.
Taking a turn
You may play a card matching the top discard by suit or rank. A jack can be played without a match unless a draw penalty is active. Exactly one card may be played per turn. Drawing ends the turn even when the drawn card could have been played.
Action cards
A 7 gives the next player a two-card draw penalty. Another 7 passes it on and adds two more cards. An 8 skips the next player. A jack requests a new suit; that request remains until someone plays the requested suit or another jack. An ace reverses direction. With two players, the opponent still acts next after a reversal.
Drawing and recycling the deck
Without an active penalty, drawing takes one card. During a 7 penalty, only another 7 may be played; otherwise the entire accumulated penalty must be drawn. When the draw pile runs out, all discards except its top card are shuffled into a new draw pile. Reaching the 60-second turn limit counts as an automatic draw.
Winning and leaving
The game ends as soon as a player discards their final card; there is no separate Mau announcement penalty. If someone leaves, the remaining players continue. The last active player wins if everyone else leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is the game free?
Yes. You can play free directly in your browser.
Can I play with a friend?
Yes. Start a game, then send the generated invite link or code to the other player.
Do I need to register?
No. You can play as a guest. A registered account adds game history, detailed statistics and collectible badges; eligible human matches can also count towards rankings. See the leaderboard page for its separate qualification rules.
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