MACAU
a guide to the Hungarian shedding game
Makaua · Macaua · Makao · Macao
SHEDDING-TYPE CARD GAME · HUNGARY

Macau

Also spelled Makaua · Macaua · Makao · Macao
THE GAME AT A GLANCE
Players 2–10
Cards Standard 52-card deck
Hand 5 cards
Age 8+
Setup Under one minute
Duration About 10-30 minutes
Difficulty Easy / Medium
Strategy Important
A note on this page: This article was created independently because I had some trouble around Wikipedia's strict sourcing policies. Folk games are often passed down through oral tradition, while formal English-language sources can be scarce. This page is intended as a free, readable, and complete reference to the rules and variations of Macau.

Macau, also spelled Makaua or Macaua, is a shedding-type card game from Hungary, with similar rules to Crazy Eights or Uno, using a standard 52-card deck. The object of the game is to be the first player to remove all cards from one's hand.

Macau involves tactical play where players manage their cards to maximise efficiency and strategically respond to opponents' moves. Bluffing is a core element, as players may choose to withhold playable cards to preserve them for later use.

The game belongs to the broader Crazy Eights family, which first appeared in the 1930s and shares fundamental shedding mechanics with games such as Mau-Mau (Germany), Pesten (Netherlands), and Switch (United Kingdom). The name Macau is distinct from the unrelated 18th-century banking card game Macao, a forerunner of baccarat.

When playing the game, the player who has one last card cannot end the game with a 2 or 3 while playing in two. If a player has 2 cards which are the same (for example 2♠ and 2♥), they call double Macau. However, if the other player holds a 2♦, the first player has to pick up 6 cards. If played in a group, the player can end the game with a 2 and a 3.

Contents
  1. Rules
  2. Variations
  3. Foreign Versions
  4. References
The following describes the main set of rules used by this page.

Rules

Two or more players (up to 10) are dealt 5 cards each. For larger groups, additional decks may be added at the players' discretion; a single 52-card deck is generally sufficient for two to four players. The deck is then cut and the cut card becomes the first card in the discard pile. If the revealed card is an action card, it is returned to the deck and the next card is revealed in its place. Play starts to the dealer's right.

The next card played must be of the same suit or the same value as the card on the top of the discard pile. For example, if a 7♠ was on top, the player can play a 9♠ or a 7♣. Alternatively, an Ace or Joker can be played as they are wild. If the player cannot play a card, they must draw from the deck. If a drawn card matches the top of the discard pile, it may be played immediately (the "first card saves" rule).

Cards can be played in runs. Cards of consecutive values in the same suit may be played in the same turn. These runs may be continued into different suits if cards of the same value are included. For example: 5♠, 6♠, 7♠, 7♥, 8♥, 8♣, 7♣ would be valid.

If the draw pile is exhausted, the discard pile (except for the top card) is shuffled and turned face-down to form a new draw pile.

When an action card is played, the player next in the sequence must complete the action or add to it to pass it on. When down to a single card, a player must say "Macau!" If an opponent calls "Macau!" first, the player must draw 5 cards. The winner is the first player to have no cards. In instances of more than 2 players, gameplay continues until only one player is left, so players finish in ranked order.

Action Cards

2
Two: The next player must pick up 2 cards unless they have a 2, in which case they add it and the next player picks up 4, and so on. In the worst case with a single deck, a player could be forced to draw up to 29 cards.
3
Three: The next player must pick up 3 cards unless they have a 3, in which case they add it and the next player picks up 6, and so on.
4
Four: The next player misses a go unless they have a 4 to add. A blocked player is skipped entirely, and any pending action passes to the next player.
J
Jack: The player calls for a non-action card value which they must hold. The demand lasts for the entire following round and can only be changed by another Jack.
Q
Queen: "A Queen on anything, anything on a Queen." It may be played on any card regardless of suit or value, and any card may be played on top of it.
K
King: The King of Spades makes the previous player pick up 5. The King of Hearts makes the next player pick up 5. Battle Kings may counter one another and stack to 10.
★
Joker: Acts as a replacement for any card chosen by the player, including action cards. Players may exclude Jokers if they prefer less randomness.
A
Ace: The player calls a suit different from what is in play and must hold a card of that suit. If they do not, they call "free suit." The change affects only the next player.

Non-action cards are: fives, sixes, sevens, eights, nines, tens, K♣, and K♦.

Multiple action cards can be played at once. For example, three 2s can force the next player to pick up 6 cards unless they have another 2.

Variations

Romanian Variation

Romania: Macao / Macaua

In Romania, the game is called Macao (or Macaua) and has regional variations. The most common rules are:

  • 2s and 3s remain "draw 2" and "draw 3" cards.
  • Jokers are wild cards. The black Joker means "draw 5"; the red Joker means "draw 10".
  • 4s block action cards such as 2s and 3s.
  • Aces are "skip a turn" cards.
  • 7s are wild cards used to change the suit.

In restricted versions, players cannot use a 3 on a 2 that does not match colour or suit. In less restricted versions, draw cards can be stacked regardless of colour or suit.

Romanian Variation #2

A less common variation which typically does not use wild cards or jokers. Aces change the suit and 4s do not block. If there are 3 players, two 8s are sometimes removed and the other two become wild cards (7s).

  • If an opponent places 4s, the next player must wait a number of turns equal to the number of 4s placed.
  • If an opponent places 3s, the next player must draw cards equal to the total value of 3s placed.
  • If an opponent places 2s, the next player must draw cards equal to the total value of 2s placed.

Tips for Playing Macau

At the table
  1. Keep track of the cards that have been played to know which are still in play.
  2. Save wild cards for moments when you cannot match the current suit or value.
  3. Manage your action cards (2s and 3s) to respond to penalties or shift game momentum.
  4. Use 4s to skip the turn of a player who is close to winning.
  5. Try to create runs or sets with your cards to decrease your hand size quickly.
  6. Observe the number of cards held by opponents to anticipate when they might call Macau.
  7. Balance the risk of drawing a card against the benefit of holding a stronger hand.
  8. Focus on matching the suit in play to stay in the game if your hand is weak.
  9. Be aware of the special card rules agreed upon at the start of the game.
  10. Stay focused on the sequence of play to avoid missing an opportunity to play a run.

Tel-Aviv Variation

Tel-Aviv Variation (also 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 becomes the first card in the discard pile.

  • Aces and Queens may be played at any time. A Queen changes the suit to whatever suit the queen is. With an Ace, a player may choose a suit of their choice.
  • A player may only play 1 card per turn, with the exception of a 5. If a player plays a 5, they may play another card on top of that.
  • If a player plays a 2, the next player must pick up 2 cards unless they have another 2.
  • If a player plays a 3, the next player must pick up 3 cards unless they have another 3.
  • If a player plays the K♥, the next player must pick up 5 cards.

Point system for series play (played to 500, points are bad):

Cards Points
4 through 9 5 points
10s and face cards 10 points
2s 20 points
3s 30 points
Aces 50 points
King of Hearts 150 points

Easier / Harder

Players can agree on extra rules before starting to adjust difficulty:

  • Easier: 2s and 3s are wild when placed on other draw cards, allowing a 2 to be placed on a 3.
  • Harder: 2s and 3s are treated as normal cards for matching purposes but still carry their draw penalty.
  • Easier: Cards of the same numeric value may be played in packs at once.
  • Harder: 7s used as wild cards can only change the suit to their own suit.

Polish Variation (Makao)

Poland: Makao

In Poland, the game is widely known as Makao and is recognised as a national variant of Crazy Eights, remaining a staple of informal play. It is frequently played with a full 52-card deck, though house rules often add complexity to the action cards.

  • Jacks: A player may play a Jack to "wish" for a specific card rank. The next player must play that rank or another Jack to change the wish. The demand covers the full following round.
  • Aces: Function as suit-changers, affecting only the next player.
  • Stops (4s): Playing a 4 forces the next player to skip a turn; multiple 4s stack.

In some Polish regions, the rule "a five on anything, anything on a five" replaces the standard Queen rule. In others, the J♠ has a special ability to ignore an outstanding demand, provided it has already been fulfilled by a previous player.

Foreign Versions

Prší

Czech Republic and Slovakia: Prší ("It's raining")

Prší is a version of Macau that arose in the second half of the 20th century. It is typically played by two to five players using a 32-card deck (sevens through aces) of the German pattern, or alternatively a standard French deck. The game ends immediately when one player sheds all cards.

Each player receives 4 to 6 cards; the top card of the remaining deck is turned face-up as the starter. Play proceeds clockwise from the dealer's left. On each turn a player places exactly one card, matching rank or suit. If no playable card is held, the player draws one card.

Action cards in Prší:

  • Ace: the next player loses a turn; an Ace may be played in defence, though skipped turns do not stack.
  • Queen / Ober: changes the current suit and may be placed on any card; defended by another Queen.
  • Seven: the next player draws 2 cards; defended by another Seven.

When a player goes out, they announce "Prší!" Remaining players score penalty points: Ace = 11, King = 4, Queen/Ober = 3, Jack/Unter = 2, numbered cards = face value.

Mau-Mau

Germany and Austria: Mau-Mau

Mau-Mau may be played with either a 32-card or full 52-card deck. Rules are similar to Prší with a broader set of action cards. In addition, the eight reverses the direction of play, meaning the next player to act is the one sitting to the right instead of the left. An eight may only be countered by another eight.

The game ends immediately when one player sheds all cards and declares "Mau-Mau!"

Cards Points
Numbered cards Face value
King and Jack 10 points each
Ace 11 points
Queen 50 points

101

Russia: 101 (Sto odin) / Czech Fool

101 is the Russian version of Macau, played with a 36-card deck (sixes through aces) or optionally a full deck. The aim is to shed all cards; the player who accumulates 101 or more penalty points loses.

Each player receives five cards. The first game is begun by a randomly chosen player; subsequent games are started by the previous winner.

  • Ace: the next player loses a turn if they have no Ace.
  • King of Spades: the next player draws 4 cards and loses a turn.
  • Queen: changes the suit in play and may be placed on any card.
  • Ten: reverses the direction of play.
  • Seven: the next player draws 2 cards if they have no Seven.
  • Six: the player must immediately also play another Six or a card of the same suit; if neither is available, they draw until a matching card is found.

Penalty points: Ace = 11, King = 4, Queen = 3 (with bonuses if the winning card was a Queen), Jack = 2, Ten = 0, all others = face value. The player to reach 101 or more loses.

References

  1. Fári, Kata (18 January 2017). "Explainer: Hungary's unique playing cards" . WeLoveBudapest.com.
  2. "Card Game 'Makao' - Learn to Play - Rules and Meanings" . pokeriomokykla.com.
  3. "Crazy Eights: Rules Macau" . LITE Games.
  4. McLeod, John. "Crazy Eights card game rules" . pagat.com.
  5. Parlett, David. The Oxford Guide to Card Games. Oxford University Press, 1990. pp. 82-83. ISBN 0-19-214165-1.
  6. McLeod, John. "Eights Group card games" . pagat.com.
  7. McLeod, John. "National and regional card games: Poland" . pagat.com.
  8. "Makao - card game" . Google Play.