Mikado (game)

Mikado is a pick-up sticks game originating in Europe. In 1936 it was brought from Hungary to the USA and was mostly called pick-up sticks. This term isn't very specific in respect to existing stick game variations. Probably the "Mikado" name wasn't used because it was a brand name of a game producer. The game got its name from the highest scoring (blue) stick "Mikado" (jap. emperor, tenno). The buddhistic Chien Tung contains also a stick called "emperor".

The house of "Tsuchimikado" adaped in the 16th century some culture, possibly also the "Chien Tung" oracle. Maybe in the course of Japonism in the 19th / 20th century the "Zitterwackel" game had changed to "Mikado" (probably first named "Tsuchimikado").

Rules

The classic Mikado game 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 / coding1 / coding 2 / value / number of the sticks:

Mikado, walnut, blue, 20 points, 1 stick

Mandarin, cherry, yellow/black, middle wide two narrow stripes on the ends, 10 points, 5 sticks

Bonzen (jap. bouzu), oak, orange, five stripes, 5 points, 5 sticks

Samurai, beech, green, three stripes, 3 points, 15 sticks

Kuli (chin. guli) / Worker, ash, red, two stripes, 2 points, 15 sticks

The sticks are bundled and taken in one hand that touches the table/ground. The release creates a circulary jumble. Now one stick after another should be taken up without moving/touching others. The take away could be by hand, possibly through pressing on a stick's tip or if already picked up a special stick (Mikado/Mandarin) could be used as a helper, possibly to throw up another stick.

It is allowed to stand up on but not to leave the own place. A bad throw could be rerun and the rules should be kept strict in repect to moving sticks to enjoy the game.

On a fault the turn ends (the last stick taken is not counted). The next player bundles and drops the sticks again. After several rounds normally 5 the one with the highest score is the winner.

Rule Variations

the starting player could be determined with a die

on a player's turn:

the sticks are rebundled and dropped

the stack is taken over from the previous player

allowed helpers:

only the Mikado if the player has at least one of all other sticks (Kuli, Samurai, Bonzen, Mandarin)

Mikado (traditional)

Mikado / Mandarin (simplified)

Mikado / Mandarin / Bonzen

the last stick taken when the stack moves:

added to the score

not added

not added and drop immediately (stack take over variant)

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 actual turn.

Normal Mikado

as described above. Its normally made out of 1 wood type like beech.

sizes:

standard: length 17 cm, mm thick

large: length 28 cm, mm thick

super: length 50 cm, 8mm thick

the large and super variants may use the 26 sticks Giant Mikado variant.

Mini Mikado

made of 31 toothpicks painted in the middle. The game has a total of 135 points.
name / coding / value / number of the sticks:

Mikado, 1 blue stripe, 1 stick

Mandarin, 3 yellow stripes, 5 sticks

Bonzen, 2 orange stripes, 5 sticks

Samurai, 3 green stripes, 10 sticks

Kuli, 2 red stripes, 10 sticks

Rules and values are the same as with normal Mikado sticks.

Giant Mikado

This type is thought for outdoor use. There are 26 sticks with a length of 93 cm and 10 mm diameter. The game has a total of 200 points.
name / value / number of the sticks:

Mikado, 50 points, 1 stick

Mandarin, 10 points, 5 sticks

Samurai, 5 points, 10 sticks

Kuli, 5 points, 10 sticks
Rules and markings are the same as with normal Mikado sticks. The play is more enjoyable on a plane and fixed ground.

Monster Mikado

This was a project [1] by "Werner Holz" to create the largest pickup sticks game. 41 eight meter long tree trunks were used instead of sticks and weighed around 3.5 tons. The Guinness Book of Records includes a record about 5 meter long sticks.

self made Mikado

you'll need:

round bars of beech or pine wood

colours: red, green, orange, yellow, black, blue

sticky tape

ev pencil-sharpener

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