Game guide · 12530NET
Old Maid: instructions and practice
Take a moment to check the current turn. 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.
Practice with a purpose
Use the controls beside the game rather than guessing the rules. On your turn choose one face-down card from the computer’s hand. The game area remains available above the explanation.
Aim for this result
A careful first move helps you understand the round. Make matching-rank pairs and avoid being the player left with the last queen. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
Follow these playing steps
- 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.
How to interact with the game
Begin with the basic rule, then follow the result of your action. 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.
Try this example
A careful first move helps you understand the round. If you hold 6♣ and draw 6♥, both cards leave your hand as a pair. A queen can also pair with another queen. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.
A common point of confusion
Take a moment to check the current turn. The last queen is not always the queen first seen in your hand; queens can be exchanged and paired during play.
Questions that come up during play
During a round, what is the aim of Old Maid?
Make matching-rank pairs and avoid being the player left with the last queen. A new round resets the current game.
How do the controls work?
Tap one of the face-down cards marked with a question mark. Your remaining unpaired cards are shown below. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
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.
On this page, 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. The instructions above use these same rules.
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. You can start a new round from the game controls.
During a round, how many people can play here?
You vs computer. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. The instructions above use these same rules.
Which card is removed before dealing?
The queen of diamonds, leaving an odd number of queens in the deck. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.
Do I remove pairs myself?
No. Equal-rank pairs are removed automatically after the deal and after each draw. The controls work with mouse or touch.
When I start, 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.
Does the computer choose by looking at my hidden cards?
Its draw chooses a face-down position, not a card value. You can start a new round from the game controls.