Photo: BCD Jeux, partner shopOutdoor & pub games
Mikado
- players
- 2–6
- minutes
- 15
- years
- 5+
In the box
41 sticks of different colours and values
Box details
- Origin
- Traditional game, with no specific designer or publisher
- Mechanics
- Dexterity
Where to buy it
Near you and online
In a shop
Within 50 km.
Online
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The basics
Take the sticks off the pile one at a time, without any other stick moving, and collect the most valuable ones. On your turn, keep removing sticks as long as no other stick moves; at the first quiver, play passes to your neighbour, and the mikado, once won, can be used as a tool. When all the sticks have been picked up, add up their values (the mikado is worth 20 points) and the highest total wins.
The rules, step by step
Setup
41 sticks, 2 to 6 players
- Forty-one sticks, two to six players, a flat table.
- One player holds the bundle upright, points on the table, and lets go: the resulting pile is not touched again.
- The player to their left starts.
How to play
Remove a stick, While nothing moves, Else play passes
- On your turn, remove a stick from the pile with your fingers.
- As long as no other stick moves, you keep playing.
- At the first quiver of another stick, play passes to your neighbour.
- The mikado, the most valuable stick, can then be used as a tool to free the others.
Scoring
Mikado 20, mandarin 10, Bonze 5, samurai 3, Coolie 2
- Mikado: 20 points. Mandarin: 10. Bonze: 5. Samurai: 3. Coolie: 2.
- The pile contains one mikado, five mandarins, five bonzes, fifteen samurai and fifteen coolies, making 170 points in play.
End of the game
All sticks picked up, Highest total wins
- The round ends when all the sticks have been picked up.
- The highest total wins. Play as many rounds as you like.
House rules and pitfalls
The sticks are told apart by their coloured bands: the scale is painted on them…
- The sticks are told apart by their coloured bands: the scale is painted on them, and it varies from set to set. Check yours before scoring.
- Starting with the least valuable sticks on top to free the mikado is the safest tactic — and the most boring.
Going further
Frequently asked questions · In the same family
Frequently asked questions
How are the sticks dropped?
Hold the bundle upright in one hand, then let go: the sticks scatter into a pile. That initial mess is what the whole game is about.
What is the golden rule?
Remove a stick without any other one moving. At the slightest quiver of a neighbouring stick, the turn stops and play passes on.
How much is each stick worth?
The Mikado (the blue one) is worth 20 points, the Mandarins 10, the Bonzes 5, the Samurai 3, the Coolies 2. They are told apart by their coloured bands.
Can you use a stick to move the others?
Yes: once you have taken the Mikado, you can use it as a tool to gently move the other sticks.
How do you win?
When all the sticks have been taken, add up the points. The highest total wins — the blue stick alone is worth a small head start.