What is No Mau penalty?
In the standard game here, when you play your second-to-last card your turn pauses until you call Mau. If you draw instead, you take two penalty cards from the stock and the turn passes; the card you played still takes effect. The call warns the table that you are about to go out, and the penalty punishes forgetting it.
With no Mau penalty, there is no call at one card. When you play your second-to-last card, its effect applies at once and the turn passes, as with any other card. Nobody can be caught out, so the game is decided by the cards alone.
Going out is unchanged: when you play your last card you still call Mau Mau to win the game, or the round with penalty points.
Rule changes
| Rule | Standard Mau Mau | No Mau penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Down to one card | Standard Mau MauYour turn pauses until you call Mau. | No Mau penaltyNo call: the card's effect applies and the turn passes at once. |
| Forgetting to call | Standard Mau MauDrawing instead of calling Mau costs two penalty cards from the stock. The card you played still takes effect and the turn passes. | No Mau penaltyThere is nothing to forget and no penalty. |
| Last card | Standard Mau MauCall Mau Mau to win. | No Mau penaltyUnchanged: call Mau Mau to win. |
| Other options | Standard Mau MauThe 32-card deck, Nine reverses, Ace skips and penalty points can be chosen. | No Mau penaltyNo Mau penalty works with all of them. |
History
Calling out a nearly empty hand is part of Mau Mau almost everywhere, but the details vary. The usual penalty for a missed call is often given as four cards, and two in Austria; other descriptions give one or two penalty cards, due only if another player notices before the next card is played. A German-language rule sheet published in Austria asks for Mau on the second-to-last card and Mau Mau on the last, with two penalty cards for forgetting either.
At a real table the call tests your memory and your neighbours' attention. Switching off the penalty is offered here as a house rule for players who would rather the cards decide the game.