Objective:

The goal of Mikado is to collect as many points as possible by carefully picking up sticks without moving others in the pile.

Setup:

1. Typically, 2 – 6 people can play.
2. Prepare the sticks: Hold all the sticks together in a vertical bundle above a flat surface, like a table. Then let go, allowing them to scatter randomly. The sticks will land in a pile with some crossing over others.

Gameplay:

1. Taking turns: Players take turns trying to carefully remove one stick from the pile without moving any other stick.

– The first player chooses one stick to remove and attempts to pick it up without disturbing the rest. If they succeed, they get to continue removing sticks.

– If any other stick moves, their turn ends, and play passes to the next player.

2. Using the Mikado Stick: If the “Mikado stick” (a special stick with the highest point value) is successfully picked up, the player may use it like a tool in subsequent turns to lift or move other sticks without directly touching them.

3. End of a turn: If a player accidentally moves another stick while trying to remove one, their turn is over, and play passes to the next person.

Scoring:

– Each stick has a specific point value based on its colour or markings:

– Mikado (one stick, usually with blue stripes): 20 points

– Mandarin (five sticks, usually with red and yellow stripes): 10 points each

– Bonzen (five sticks with blue and yellow stripes): 5 points each

– Samurai (fifteen sticks, typically plain): 3 points each

– Kuli (fifteen sticks with red stripes): 2 points each

End of the game:

– The game continues until all the sticks have been picked up.

– Once the last stick has been taken, each player adds up their points.

– Winner: The player with the highest score wins the game.

Strategy Tips:

– Be patient and take your time examining the pile to choose sticks that are easiest to remove.

– Try to remove sticks that are lying on top of the pile first, and avoid ones that are buried or entangled with others.

That’s how you play Mikado! It’s a simple yet fun game that tests your precision and concentration