What is the Mow card game?
Mow is Bruno Cathala’s card game about building a herd of cows while collecting as few flies as possible. It uses its own numbered cow cards. Hurrican’s current edition lists 2–10 players; Mao and Mau Mau are different games.
How the basic numbered-card turn works
Play a cow with a number below the herd’s lowest number or above its highest, then draw a replacement. If you cannot or choose not to play, you take the herd and its flies.
For example, if the lowest cow is 4 and the highest is 9, an ordinary 3 or 10 fits at an end; an ordinary 6 does not. Use the edition’s rulebook for special cards and setup.
How flies decide the winner
Add the flies after each round. The publisher’s overview ends the game when someone reaches at least 100 flies; the lowest total wins. Taking a herd can therefore cost more than simply losing a turn.
Mow, Mao and Mau Mau
Mow
- Cards
- Numbered cows and flies.
- Remember it by
- Adding at either end of a herd and avoiding fly points.
Mao
- Cards
- A conventional pack under table-specific rules.
- Remember it by
- Discovering hidden rules through play and penalties.
Mau Mau
- Cards
- A conventional pack under a stated rule set.
- Remember it by
- Matching suit or rank to empty a hand.
Rules and where to play
Hurrican provides the official rules and links to an online version on Board Game Arena. Use the rules for the edition you have, especially for special cow and farmer cards.