Mau-Mau has many house rules and named rulesets. Eights or tens as skips, seven chains and jack-on-jack now have dedicated guides. This overview explains the relationship to Crazy Eights, Switch and UNO; similar game ideas do not mean identical rules.
In this guide
Why we identify our ruleset
LITE Games documents preset international Mau-Mau variants in its app and a customizable mode. This describes that particular app, not a worldwide Mau-Mau authority. Our study agreement serves the same purpose: identify rules before applying examples.
Further reading: LITE Games: Mau-Mau-Regelvarianten der eigenen App
Wild cards in our four guides
This compares explicitly identified rules: our study agreements for Mau-Mau and Switch, the named Bicycle comparison for Crazy Eights, and classic base UNO. Other editions can differ.
Position as text
Mau-Mau: jack. Crazy Eights: eight. Switch: ace. UNO: ordinary Wild. Other rules remain different.
| Game | Wild in the covered ruleset | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Mau-Mau | Jack | Our seven penalty cannot stack |
| Crazy Eights | Eight | Bicycle: draw until a play is possible |
| Switch | Ace | Penalty chains require an explicit rule |
| UNO | Wild; Draw Four is conditional | Draw one; no defensive penalty stacking |
Go directly to the relevant comparison
Read Crazy Eights for wild eights, Switch for an agreed ace and penalty system, and UNO for a dedicated colour deck. When switching games, check the meaning of colour: standard cards use suits, whereas UNO uses its printed game colours.
Five questions before adopting a house rule
Which card is wild? Can a penalty be passed on? Draw once or until playable? May a newly drawn card be played immediately? Which final cards are allowed? Write the answers down. Switching from 32 to 52 cards answers none of these questions; it first changes the deck composition.