Mikado (game)
Mikado is a pick-up sticks game originating in Europe, played with a set of same-length sticks which can measure between and.
In 1936, it was brought from Hungary to the United States and named pick-up sticks. This term is not very specific in respect to existing stick game variations. The "Mikado" name may have been avoided because it was a brand name of a game producer. The game is named for the highest scoring stick "Mikado".
Rules
Classic Mikado consists of 41 sticks. They are coded with different values that have a total of 170 points and are around 15 cm long.| Name | Traditional wood type | Coding | Point value | Number of sticks |
| Mikado | walnut | blue | 20 pts | 1 |
| Mandarin | cherry | yellow/black, middle wide two narrow stripes on the ends | 10 pts | 5 |
| Bonzen | oak | orange, five stripes | 5 pts | 5 |
| Samurai | beech | green, three stripes | 3 pts | 15 |
| Kuli / Worker | ash | red, two stripes | 2 pts | 15 |
The sticks are bundled and taken in one hand that touches the table or ground. The release creates a circular jumble. Now the players take turns, in which one stick after another should be taken up without moving or touching others. The take-away could be by hand, possibly through pressing on a stick's tip or if one has already picked up a special stick, it could be used as a helper, possibly to throw up another stick.
On a fault the turn ends. The next player bundles and drops the sticks again. After several rounds, normally five, the one with the highest score – the total of the values of the sticks picked up – is the winner.
A player is allowed to stand up on but not to leave their own place. A bad throw could be rerun and the rules should be kept strict in respect to moving sticks to enjoy the game.
Rule variations
During a player's turn:- the sticks are rebundled and dropped again ;
- the stack is taken over as is from the previous player ;
- the person to the left of the player turn rebundles and drops the sticks for the player, thus eliminating the potential for a doctored drop.
- Mikado ;
- only the Mikado if the player has at least one of all other sticks ;
- Mikado / Mandarin ;
- Mikado / Mandarin / Bonzen ;
- any stick already picked up.
- is not added to the player's score and dropped back ;
- is not added ;
- is added to the player's score.
- the exact sequence of Kuli, Samurai, Bonzen and Mandarin may double the points of a turn;
- a player who does not use the correct helper may lose all points of the current turn.
Types
Classic Mikado
Classic Mikado is typically made from beech wood.Sizes:
- standard: length, thick
- large: length, thick
- super: length, thick
Mini Mikado
Made of 31 toothpicks painted in the middle. The game has a total of 145 points.name / coding / value / number of the sticks:
- Mikado, 1 blue stripe, 20 points, 1 stick
- Mandarin, 3 yellow stripes, 10 points, 5 sticks
- Bonzen, 2 orange stripes, 5 points, 5 sticks
- Samurai, 3 green stripes, 3 points, 10 sticks
- Kuli, 2 red stripes, 2 points, 10 sticks
Giant Mikado
This type is usually used for outdoor use. There are 26 sticks with a length of and diameter. The game has a total of 200 points.Rules and markings are the same as with normal Mikado sticks.