Game guide · RCFUTURE11
Making your first moves in Old Maid
Keep the goal in view while choosing a move. Make matching-rank pairs and avoid being the player left with the last queen. The queen of diamonds is removed from a standard deck, leaving 51 cards. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
Two-player free game. Pairs are identified by rank, regardless of suit. Computer choices do not inspect the face-down card values.
A small practice goal
Check the rule below as you play. 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 objective of a round
Keep the goal in view while choosing a move. Make matching-rank pairs and avoid being the player left with the last queen. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction.
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.
Your inputs
The board gives you the information needed for the next action. Tap one of the face-down cards marked with a question mark. Your remaining unpaired cards are shown below. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.
A closer look at one example
Check the rule below as you play. If you hold 6♣ and draw 6♥, both cards leave your hand as a pair. A queen can also pair with another queen.
Where a round can go wrong
Begin with the basic rule, then follow the result of your action. The last queen is not always the queen first seen in your hand; queens can be exchanged and paired during play.
If you are unsure
On this page, what is the aim of Old Maid?
Make matching-rank pairs and avoid being the player left with the last queen. The game is played locally in your browser.
For this game, 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.
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. Use the labelled controls for your next action.
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. Use the labelled controls for your next action.
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.
During a round, 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. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
For this game, do I remove pairs myself?
No. Equal-rank pairs are removed automatically after the deal and after each draw. The controls work with mouse or touch.
During a round, 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.
Does the computer choose by looking at my hidden cards?
Its draw chooses a face-down position, not a card value. No download or player account is required.
