Game guide · 2COU99BJ
Old Maid: rules and examples
Keep the goal in view while choosing a move. Make matching-rank pairs and avoid being the player left with the last queen. Start a new round when you are ready to try again. 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.
An idea for your next attempt
Use the controls beside the game rather than guessing the rules. On your turn choose one face-down card from the computer’s hand.
Aim for this result
Check the rule below as you play. Make matching-rank pairs and avoid being the player left with the last queen. The game area remains available above the explanation.
Step by step
- 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.
The controls to know
Tap one of the face-down cards marked with a question mark. Your remaining unpaired cards are shown below. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
See how the rules apply
Read the position before choosing your next action. 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
A careful first move helps you understand the round. The last queen is not always the queen first seen in your hand; queens can be exchanged and paired during play. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.
Further help with the game
For this game, what is the aim of Old Maid?
Make matching-rank pairs and avoid being the player left with the last queen. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
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. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
When I start, 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. The game is played locally in your browser.
For this 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. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.
When I start, 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.
When I start, how many people can play here?
You vs computer. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. A new round resets the current game.
On this page, which card is removed before dealing?
The queen of diamonds, leaving an odd number of queens in the deck. You can start a new round from the game controls.
On this page, do I remove pairs myself?
No. Equal-rank pairs are removed automatically after the deal and after each draw. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
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 game is played locally in your browser.
For this game, does the computer choose by looking at my hidden cards?
Its draw chooses a face-down position, not a card value. The game is played locally in your browser.
