Old Maid Card Game

Old Maid is a simple, lucky card game for all ages. Throw away pairs, take turns drawing a hidden card from the next player, and try not to be the one left holding the single queen that has no partner.

How to play Old Maid Card Game

• One queen is taken out of a standard deck before dealing, so one of the three queens left can never make a pair. That card is the odd queen.
• All the cards are dealt out. Some players will have one card more than others, which is fine.
• Everyone throws away every pair of cards with the same rank, for example two sevens or two kings. Three of a kind leaves one card behind.
• On your turn take one face-down card from the next player who still has cards. If it matches a card in your hand, the pair is thrown away. If not, you keep it.
• A player whose hand becomes empty is safe and leaves the round.
• Play continues until every pair has been made. The player left holding the odd queen loses the game; everybody else is safe.

Controls

• When it is your turn, tap any face-down card in your neighbour's fanned hand to take it.
• Keyboard: Tab to the fan, use the arrow keys to move between cards and press Enter to take one.
• Use Players in the toolbar to play against one, two or three computer players, and Speed to make the computer faster or slower.

Tips

• Old Maid is all about luck, so it is a great first card game for younger players: there is nothing to remember and every turn is quick.
• Watch the queen count. Once two queens have been paired, the last queen out there is the odd one.
• After the first discards, every card except the odd queen has exactly one partner somewhere at the table. Against one opponent that means almost every draw makes a pair.
• Nothing is decided until the end: even with one card left, the odd queen can still be passed to you or away from you.

FAQ

How do you play Old Maid?

Take one queen out of the deck and deal all the cards. Everyone throws away their pairs, then players take turns drawing one face-down card from the next player and throwing away any new pair. A player who runs out of cards is safe. Whoever is left holding the unmatched queen loses.

Which card is the Old Maid?

Here the queen of clubs is removed before the deal, so one of the other three queens can never be paired. Whoever holds that odd queen at the end loses.

Can the computer see which card is the queen?

No. The computer players pick a random card from your hand, and they shuffle their own hands after you draw so the position of a card tells you nothing.

How many players can play Old Maid?

You can play against one, two or three computer players. With more players each hand is smaller and the game is a little quicker.

Is Old Maid a good card game for kids?

Yes. Matching pairs is the only skill needed, turns are short and the rules take a minute to learn. Your game is saved, so you can pick it up again later.