Game guide · LYFPL
Rules, controls and help for Old Maid
Read the position before choosing your next action. 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
Begin with the basic rule, then follow the result of your action. On your turn choose one face-down card from the computer’s hand.
The objective of a round
A careful first move helps you understand the round. Make matching-rank pairs and avoid being the player left with the last queen.
Making your moves
- 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
Keep the goal in view while choosing a move. Tap one of the face-down cards marked with a question mark. Your remaining unpaired cards are shown below. The game area remains available above the explanation.
A useful example
The example and rules describe the same game you can play above. 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
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. The game area remains available above the explanation.
A few questions answered
During a round, 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 game is played locally in your browser.
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. The controls work with mouse or touch.
When I start, 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. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.
When I start, how many people can play here?
You vs computer. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. You can start a new round from the game controls.
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.
When I start, do I remove pairs myself?
No. Equal-rank pairs are removed automatically after the deal and after each draw. You can start a new round from the game controls.
Can two queens form a pair?
Yes. There are three queens in the 51-card deck, so one queen eventually remains unmatched. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
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.