Matatu Game Rules

🎯 Objective

Be the first player to play all your cards. When you have only one card left, you must say "Matatu!" or you'll be penalized.

🎮 Basic Gameplay

• Players take turns clockwise
• On your turn, play a card that matches either the suit or rank of the top discard pile card
• If you cannot play, draw one card from the stock pile
• If you still cannot play after drawing, your turn ends
• When you have one card left, announce "Matatu!" before your next turn

⚡ Special Cards & Effects

• 8 (Eight): Next player skips their turn
• 2 (Two): Next player draws 2 cards and loses their turn (unless they play another 2)
• Jack (11): Changes the suit to any suit you choose (announce the new suit)
• King (13): Reverses the direction of play (clockwise ↔ counterclockwise)
• Ace (15): Suit selection card - allows you to choose the next suit
• Queen of Spades (12S): Next player draws 5 cards and loses their turn

🎯 Ace (15) Special Rules - Suit Selection

• Primary Function: Only the Ace (15) can trigger suit selection
• Penalty Neutralization: Ace of Spades (15S) can neutralize active penalties
• Last Card Exception: If Ace (15) is your last card, no suit selection occurs - game ends immediately
• Priority System: When Ace of Spades (15S) is played during active penalty, it neutralizes penalty first, then allows suit selection if no penalty exists

🔄 Stacking Rules

• Twos can stack: If a 2 is played, the next player can play another 2 to pass the penalty to the following player
• The penalty accumulates (2+2=4 cards, 2+2+2=6 cards, etc.)
• Player who cannot stack must draw all accumulated cards
• Queen of Spades stacking: Some variations allow Queen of Spades to stack with 2s

📢 "Matatu!" Declaration

• When you have exactly one card left, you must say "Matatu!" before the next player starts their turn
• If you forget to say "Matatu!" and another player notices, you must draw 2 penalty cards
• You can still win on your next turn if you can play your last card legally

🏆 Winning & Scoring

• Instant Win: First player to legally play all their cards wins the round
• Points System (Optional): Players who still have cards score penalty points based on remaining cards:
• Number cards (2-10): Face value
• Face cards (J, Q, K): 10 points each
• Ace: 1 point
• Play multiple rounds - lowest total score wins the game

❌ Common Penalties

• Illegal play: Draw 2 cards and lose your turn
• Forgetting "Matatu!": Draw 2 cards when caught
• Playing out of turn: Draw 1 card
• False "Matatu!" call: Draw 2 cards (if you have more than 1 card)

🎲 Digital Game Features

• Auto-validation: Illegal moves are prevented automatically
• Hint system: Get suggestions for valid plays
• Quick play: Fast-paced games with shorter timers
• Tournaments: Compete in structured competitions
• Statistics: Track your wins, losses, and improvement over time
• Custom rules: Play with house rule variations