Old Maid
Pair up, and don't get stuck with the last queen.
- Players
- 1–4 players
- Time
- 5–15 min
- Ages
- 4+
- Where
- Same room or online
- You need
- Nothing but this page
How to play Old Maid
- 1One queen is removed from the deck and the rest are dealt out, leaving one queen that can never be paired.
- 2Everyone throws out any pairs in their hand.
- 3On your turn, draw a face-down card from the next player. If it pairs with a card you hold, throw out the pair.
- 4Run out of cards and you're safe.
- 5The player left holding the last queen is the Old Maid and loses.
Pair up, and don't get stuck with her
One queen has been taken out of the deck, so one can never be paired. Take turns drawing from your neighbour and throwing out pairs. Whoever holds the last queen loses.
Variations
- Real cards: take the queen of clubs out of a standard deck and deal the rest around the table.
Tips
- There's no strategy in the computer version, so it's a good first card game for learning to match pairs.
Great for
Play next
Would You Rather
PlayTwo impossible choices. Defend your pick.
2+ players5–30 minAges 6+
This or That
PlayQuick-fire picks: no thinking allowed.
2+ players3–15 minAges 5+
Charades
PlayAct it out. No talking.
4+ players15–60 minAges 6+
Twenty Questions
PlayYes or no questions only. Twenty tries.
2+ players5–20 minAges 6+