Game guide · SXSS56
How to play Old Maid
A careful first move helps you understand the round. Make matching-rank pairs and avoid being the player left with the last queen. The queen of diamonds is removed from a standard deck, leaving 51 cards.
Two-player free game. Pairs are identified by rank, regardless of suit. Computer choices do not inspect the face-down card values.
Something to practise
Check the rule below as you play. On your turn choose one face-down card from the computer’s hand. The game area remains available above the explanation.
What the game asks you to do
The board gives you the information needed for the next action. Make matching-rank pairs and avoid being the player left with the last queen.
A walkthrough of the rules
- The queen of diamonds is removed from a standard deck, leaving 51 cards.
- All cards are dealt between you and the computer. Opening pairs of equal rank are removed automatically.
- On your turn choose one face-down card from the computer’s hand.
- A new matching pair is removed automatically. The computer then draws one card from your shuffled face-down hand.
- The round ends when only the unpaired queen remains. The holder of that queen loses.
Controls
Take a moment to check the current turn. Tap one of the face-down cards marked with a question mark. Your remaining unpaired cards are shown below. The game area remains available above the explanation.
An example to follow
Use the controls beside the game rather than guessing the rules. If you hold 6♣ and draw 6♥, both cards leave your hand as a pair. A queen can also pair with another queen.
Keep this in mind
Begin with the basic rule, then follow the result of your action. The last queen is not always the queen first seen in your hand; queens can be exchanged and paired during play. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction.
Read these answers for extra help
On this page, what is the aim of Old Maid?
Make matching-rank pairs and avoid being the player left with the last queen. You can start a new round from the game controls.
During a round, how do the controls work?
Tap one of the face-down cards marked with a question mark. Your remaining unpaired cards are shown below. A new round resets the current game.
For this game, can you show an example?
If you hold 6♣ and draw 6♥, both cards leave your hand as a pair. A queen can also pair with another queen. A new round resets the current game.
Which mistake should I avoid?
The last queen is not always the queen first seen in your hand; queens can be exchanged and paired during play. Use the labelled controls for your next action.
On this page, what rules and limits are used here?
Two-player free game. Pairs are identified by rank, regardless of suit. Computer choices do not inspect the face-down card values. The game is played locally in your browser.
On this page, how many people can play here?
You vs computer. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. Use the labelled controls for your next action.
For this game, which card is removed before dealing?
The queen of diamonds, leaving an odd number of queens in the deck. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
During a round, do I remove pairs myself?
No. Equal-rank pairs are removed automatically after the deal and after each draw. No download or player account is required.
For this game, can two queens form a pair?
Yes. There are three queens in the 51-card deck, so one queen eventually remains unmatched. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
During a round, does the computer choose by looking at my hidden cards?
Its draw chooses a face-down position, not a card value. The controls work with mouse or touch.