Game guide · XINLIANSHOP
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. Keep the goal in mind before your next move. 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.
A focus for your next round
Check the rule below as you play. On your turn choose one face-down card from the computer’s hand. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
Your goal
Check the rule below as you play. Make matching-rank pairs and avoid being the player left with the last queen. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
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.
Using the playing area
Tap one of the face-down cards marked with a question mark. Your remaining unpaired cards are shown below.
Work through an example
Begin with the basic rule, then follow the result of your action. 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 area remains available above the explanation.
A useful caution
Read the position before choosing your next action. The last queen is not always the queen first seen in your hand; queens can be exchanged and paired during play.
Questions about this game
When I start, what is the aim of Old Maid?
Make matching-rank pairs and avoid being the player left with the last queen. The game is played locally in your browser.
On this page, how do the controls work?
Tap one of the face-down cards marked with a question mark. Your remaining unpaired cards are shown below. Use the labelled controls for your next action.
During a round, 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.
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.
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. Use the labelled controls for your next action.
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.
During a round, which card is removed before dealing?
The queen of diamonds, leaving an odd number of queens in the deck. The instructions above use these same rules.
When I start, 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.
On this page, can two queens form a pair?
Yes. There are three queens in the 51-card deck, so one queen eventually remains unmatched. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
On this page, does the computer choose by looking at my hidden cards?
Its draw chooses a face-down position, not a card value. A new round resets the current game.
