Old Maid

1 Overview

Old Maid is a classic children's card game for 2 to 8 players. Players match cards into pairs and discard them. One card (the Old Maid) has no pair. The game ends when all pairs are found and one player is left holding the unmatched Old Maid card. That player loses.

Old Maid is one of the oldest and simplest card games, played for centuries in some form. It is perfect for young children (ages 4+) learning card games for the first time. Dedicated Old Maid decks have illustrated characters; the game can also be played with a standard deck.

2 Setup

With a Dedicated Old Maid Deck

The deck includes matched pairs of cards plus one single Old Maid card. Shuffle all cards and deal them as evenly as possible to all players. It's fine if some players have one more card than others.

With a Standard 52-Card Deck

Remove three Queens from the deck, leaving one Queen (the Old Maid). Deal all remaining 49 cards as evenly as possible to all players.

After dealing, all players look at their hands and remove any pairs they hold (two cards of the same rank), placing them face-down in front of them. Do not show discarded pairs to other players.

3 Gameplay

1. The player to the left of the dealer starts. They hold their cards face-down in a fan so the player to their left cannot see which card is which.
2. The next player (to their left) draws one card blindly from the fan.
3. If the drawn card pairs with a card in their hand, they discard the pair face-down.
4. That player then fans their cards for the next player to draw from.
5. Play continues clockwise. Players draw, pair, discard, and pass.

Players who discard all their cards are out of the game (safely -- they have not lost). The game continues among remaining players with cards.

4 Winning and Losing

The game ends when all pairs have been found and one player holds the single unpaired Old Maid (or Queen) card. That player is the loser.

In children's play, "losing" is typically treated lightheartedly -- the Old Maid holder might get a funny nickname for the round or simply be celebrated as the game's last participant.

5 Strategy Guide

Observe the Fan

Watch how players arrange their cards. Holders of the Old Maid often unconsciously keep it in a specific position (always on one end, or always in the middle). Over multiple games, patterns emerge for each player.

Fake Tell Management

If you're holding the Old Maid, deliberately vary where you hold it in your fan. Some experienced players make the Old Maid slightly more accessible to trick opponents into thinking it's a safe card.

Watch Opponents' Reactions

When a player draws a card, their facial expression often reveals whether they got what they wanted. A disappointed look after drawing usually means they got the Old Maid. This is especially readable with younger players.

Force Quick Draws

If you suspect who holds the Old Maid, play quickly and draw without much deliberation. Slow draws give the holder time to shuffle their cards and hide the tell.

6 Variants

Black Peter

The European equivalent of Old Maid. Uses a dedicated deck with character cards and one "Black Peter" card that has no pair. Same rules.

Donkey

A faster variant where players pass cards around simultaneously instead of one at a time. First player to get four of a kind secretly puts a finger to their nose; others must notice and do the same. Last to notice is the Donkey.

Reverse Old Maid

The player holding the Old Maid at the end WINS instead of losing. Dramatically changes the strategy -- now everyone wants the Old Maid.

7 FAQ

How Cards Are Dealt

More Frequently Asked Questions