kaoo

Kaoo is a traditional Japanese card game for two to four players. The game is played with a unique deck of 48 cards, which are divided into four suits: pine, plum, cherry, and maple. Each suit contains cards numbered one through twelve. The objective of Kaoo is to score points by forming specific combinations of cards, known as "yaku," or by capturing cards from the table.

Gameplay involves dealing cards to players and laying out a set of cards face-up on the table. Players then take turns drawing a card from the deck or taking a card from the table, aiming to create scoring combinations or capture table cards. Captured cards are kept separate and are also used for scoring. The game continues until the deck is depleted, and then scores are tallied.

Scoring in Kaoo is based on the "yaku" formed by a player's hand and the points awarded for captured cards. Common yaku include sequences, sets of the same number, and specific special cards. The player with the highest score at the end of the game wins. Kaoo is known for its strategic depth, requiring players to balance hand-building with table-card capture. The game has a history stretching back centuries and remains a popular pastime in Japan, with various regional rule variations.