Game guide · HBYDMS
The Old Maid playbook
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. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction.
Two-player free game. Pairs are identified by rank, regardless of suit. Computer choices do not inspect the face-down card values.
Something to practise
Check the rule below as you play. On your turn choose one face-down card from the computer’s hand. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.
Your goal
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.
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.
Making selections and moves
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. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
An example before you play
The board gives you the information needed for the 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. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction.
Where a round can go wrong
Check the rule below as you play. 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
During a round, what is the aim of Old Maid?
Make matching-rank pairs and avoid being the player left with the last queen. The instructions above use these same rules.
When I start, how do the controls work?
Tap one of the face-down cards marked with a question mark. Your remaining unpaired cards are shown below. A new round resets the current game.
On this page, 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. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
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. 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. The instructions above use these same rules.
For this game, 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.
Which card is removed before dealing?
The queen of diamonds, leaving an odd number of queens in the deck. The game is played locally in your browser.
On this page, 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. No download or player account is required.
Does the computer choose by looking at my hidden cards?
Its draw chooses a face-down position, not a card value. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.