A worn-out board game box for "Solid Wood MIKADO," featuring 54 wooden pegs, intended for 2 players ages 3 and up. The box displays an image of the game contents, which include a wooden frame with pegs and checkered blue and white background. Visible logos indicate the product is from "Bits & Pieces" and "MADE IN THAILAND."

Mikado

Mikado

Mikado is a pick-up sticks game that originated in Europe and is played with a set of same-length sticks that can measure between 17 and 20 cm (6.7 and 7.9 in). The game has its origins in ancient Asia, and although an exact date of its origin is not known, it is believed to have been played in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. The modern version of the game is believed to have originated in Europe in the 18th century, and it was originally played with a bundle of straw or reeds, and it was known as Spillikins. In 1936, it was brought from Hungary (where it was called Marokko) to the United States and named pick-up sticks. The game is named for the highest scoring (blue) stick “Mikado” (Emperor of Japan).

Why is Mikado Popular?

Mikado is a classic game of physical skill that has been enjoyed by people around the world for centuries. It is a game that requires a steady hand and careful strategy, and with practice and patience, anyone can master the art of picking up sticks and coming out on top in this classic game of skill. The game is popular because it is easy to learn, can be played by people of all ages, and can be played with just a few players or a large group.

Game Components of Mikado

Classic Mikado consists of 41 sticks, 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, 1Mandarin, cherry, yellow/black, middle wide two narrow stripes on the ends, 10 pts, 5Bonzen (jp. bouzu), oak, orange, five stripes, 5 pts, 5Samurai, beech, green, three stripes, 3 pts, 15Kuli (cn. guli) / Worker, ash, red, two stripes, 2 pts, 15

Game Setup of Mikado

The sticks are held in a vertical bundle and then released so that they land in a tangled pile.

Gameplay Mechanics of Mikado

The game is played by taking turns to remove one stick at a time from the pile without disturbing any of the other sticks. In some versions of the game, different colored sticks are worth different amounts of points, and players score points based on the sticks they successfully remove. The game is won by the player who has the most points at the end of the game.

Game Objective of Mikado

The objective of the game is to score the most points by successfully removing sticks from the pile without disturbing any of the other sticks.

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