Game guide · RJCWPX
Learn your way around Old Maid
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. 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.
Give this approach a try
Use the controls beside the game rather than guessing the rules. On your turn choose one face-down card from the computer’s hand. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction.
The purpose of your moves
Take a moment to check the current turn. Make matching-rank pairs and avoid being the player left with the last queen. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
From the start of a round
- 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
A careful first move helps you understand the round. 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.
An example before you play
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. The game area remains available above the explanation.
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.
Further help with the 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. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.
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 controls work with mouse or touch.
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. You can start a new round from the game controls.
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. The instructions above use these same rules.
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. The instructions above use these same rules.
How many people can play here?
You vs computer. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
When I start, which card is removed before dealing?
The queen of diamonds, leaving an odd number of queens in the deck. The controls work with mouse or touch.
Do I remove pairs myself?
No. Equal-rank pairs are removed automatically after the deal and after each draw. Use the labelled controls for your next action.
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. 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. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.