Game guide · CH12372
The essentials of playing Old Maid
Use the controls beside the game rather than guessing the rules. Make matching-rank pairs and avoid being the player left with the last queen. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction. The queen of diamonds is removed from a standard deck, leaving 51 cards. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
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
A careful first move helps you understand the round. On your turn choose one face-down card from the computer’s hand. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.
The challenge in front of you
Begin with the basic rule, then follow the result of your action. 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.
Start here and follow along
- 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
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. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction.
One way to understand the rules
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. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction.
Pay attention to this rule
Use the controls beside the game rather than guessing the rules. The last queen is not always the queen first seen in your hand; queens can be exchanged and paired during play.
Helpful answers for players
What is the aim of Old Maid?
Make matching-rank pairs and avoid being the player left with the last queen. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
For this 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. No download or player account is required.
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.
During a round, 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 game is played locally in your browser.
For this game, 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. A new round resets the current game.
When I start, how many people can play here?
You vs computer. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. The instructions above use these same rules.
For this game, which card is removed before dealing?
The queen of diamonds, leaving an odd number of queens in the deck. A new round resets the current game.
When I start, 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.
Can two queens form a pair?
Yes. There are three queens in the 51-card deck, so one queen eventually remains unmatched. No download or player account is required.
On this page, does the computer choose by looking at my hidden cards?
Its draw chooses a face-down position, not a card value. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.