shedding / matching · Poland (also played as Macau across Central and Eastern Europe)
Makao
Also known as Macau · Macao · Polish Crazy Eights · Makau · Czarny Piotruś (related)
Makao (also spelled Macau or Macao) is Poland's hugely popular shedding card game and one of the most famous members of the Crazy Eights family, sitting right alongside Mau Mau, Switch and UNO. Played with a standard 52-card deck, the goal is to be the first player to get rid of every card in your hand by matching the top of the discard pile by suit or by rank. What makes Makao addictive is its arsenal of "functional" cards — 2s and 3s that force opponents to draw, 4s that skip turns, Jacks that demand a rank, Aces that change the suit, and the dreaded Kings of Hearts and Spades that hit a neighbour with five cards. When you reach your final card you must shout "Makao!" or risk a penalty. Play Makao online free against smart bots or with friends — no download, no signup. A friendly note for purists: this page launches our Crazy Eights engine, the same shedding game at Makao's core (match suit or rank, with 8s as the wild card), so you can enjoy the fast, last-card-out fun online right now even though our engine doesn't yet model every Polish action card described in the rules below.
2–6 players · free · no download · no signup
How to play Makao
- Deal 5 cards to each player; put the rest face down as the stock and flip the top card to start the discard pile.
- On your turn, play a card that matches the top discard by suit or by rank.
- Use action cards for advantage — 2s and 3s make the next player draw, 4s skip a turn, Jacks demand a rank, and Aces change the suit.
- Attacked by a 2, 3, King or Joker? Counter with a matching attack card to stack and pass it on, or draw the whole penalty.
- No legal play? Draw one card from the stock; play it if it fits, otherwise your turn ends.
- Shout "Makao!" as you reach your last card so opponents can't catch you for a penalty.
- Be the first to play your very last card to win the round.
Makao rules
Objective
Be the first player to play every card from your hand. There are no teams — each player plays for themselves. When you play your last card you win the round, but you must announce it: as you put down your second-to-last card you call "Makao!" to declare you are on your final card. In scoring versions the other players tally the points left in their hands, but the headline rule is simple — empty your hand first and win.
The deal
Use one standard 52-card deck (Polish players often add the two Jokers as extra-strong attack cards). Deal 5 cards to each player. Place the rest face down as the draw (stock) pile and turn the top card face up beside it to start the discard pile. If that starter card is a functional card, it is usually reshuffled or ignored. Play proceeds clockwise from the player to the dealer's left.
Playing a card
On your turn you must play one card that matches the top of the discard pile by SUIT or by RANK. For example, on the 7 of hearts you may play any heart (matching suit) or any 7 (matching rank). The card you play goes face up on the pile and becomes the new card to match. If you cannot play, you draw one card from the stock; you may play it immediately if it fits, otherwise your turn ends.
Attack cards: 2s, 3s and the Kings
Makao's signature cards force opponents to draw. A 2 makes the next player draw 2 cards; a 3 makes them draw 3. These stack — if you are hit by a 2 but hold a 2 (or a 3), you may play it to pass the growing penalty along to the next player, who must then draw the combined total or counter again. The King of Hearts attacks the NEXT player for 5 cards, while the King of Spades attacks the PREVIOUS player for 5 cards; both can be countered by another battle King. A defender who cannot counter draws the whole stack.
Function cards: 4s, Jacks and Aces
A 4 is the "stop" card — it skips the next player's turn, and multiple 4s stack to skip several players or end a King's attack. A Jack lets you DEMAND a non-functional rank: play it and call out, for example, "I want nines," and the next player must play a 9 (or another Jack to change the demand) or draw. An Ace is the suit-changer: play it and name a new suit that the next player must follow, regardless of the Ace's own suit.
The Queen and Jokers
The Queen is the universal card under the rule "a Queen on anything, anything on a Queen" — you may play any Queen on any card, and the next player may answer with any card at all. In Joker versions the black Joker forces the next player to draw 5 and the red Joker forces a draw of 10; like 2s and 3s, Jokers and Kings can be stacked into a punishing "war" until someone cannot defend.
Winning, Makao and scoring
The first player to discard their final card wins the round. You must shout "Makao!" as you reach your last card; if you forget and an opponent catches you, you draw a penalty card (commonly 1, or 5 in stricter house rules). Many groups also forbid finishing on a functional card, requiring a plain number or picture card to go out. For a longer match, the winner scores the cards left in opponents' hands and play continues to an agreed target.
Strategy tips
- Hoard your attack cards (2s, 3s and battle Kings) so you can counter a stacked draw instead of picking up a huge penalty.
- Use Jacks to demand a rank you hold plenty of, forcing opponents to draw while you keep shedding.
- Save an Ace or wild card to switch the suit away from what an opponent who is nearly out can follow.
- Shed high picture cards early — they cost the most if you get caught holding them at the end.
- Track the discard pile to learn which suits are running thin, then change to a suit your opponents likely can't match.
- Never forget to call "Makao!" on your last card — the penalty for staying silent can hand the round away.
- Watch for anyone down to one card and aim your skips, draws and suit-changes squarely at them.
Variants
Crazy Eights (the engine this page plays) · Mau Mau · Macau / Macao (Central & Eastern European spellings) · Switch · UNO (commercial descendant) · Joker Makao (black Joker draw 5, red Joker draw 10) · Battle Kings variant (Kings of Hearts and Spades draw 5)
Makao — frequently asked questions
What is Makao?
Makao (also spelled Macau or Macao) is a Polish shedding card game in the Crazy Eights family. You race to empty your hand by matching the top discard by suit or rank, using action cards like 2s, 3s, Jacks, Aces and the battle Kings to slow opponents down.
How do you play Makao?
Deal 5 cards each, then take turns playing a card that matches the top of the discard pile by suit or rank. Use functional cards for attacks and skips, draw when you cannot play, and be the first to discard your last card — shouting "Makao!" as you reach it.
Why do you shout "Makao"?
You shout "Makao!" when you are down to your final card to warn the table. If you forget and an opponent catches you, you take a penalty card (usually 1, or up to 5 under stricter rules).
What do the 2 and 3 cards do in Makao?
A 2 forces the next player to draw 2 cards and a 3 forces them to draw 3. They stack — a defender holding a 2 or 3 can play it to pass the growing penalty onward instead of drawing.
What are the King of Hearts and King of Spades in Makao?
They are the strongest attack cards. The King of Hearts makes the next player draw 5, and the King of Spades makes the previous player draw 5. Either can be countered by playing another battle King to stack the penalty.
Is Makao the same as Crazy Eights or UNO?
They are close cousins. Makao is Poland's version of the Crazy Eights / Mau Mau shedding family that also inspired UNO. The core — match suit or rank and use special cards — is shared, but Makao has its own set of Polish action cards. This page plays our Crazy Eights engine, where 8s are the wild card.