01Setup

  • Shuffle a standard deck of playing cards.
  • Remove one Queen from the deck. The Queen of Spades is usually chosen as the 'Old Maid' card, but you can choose any Queen card as you like.
  • Deal the entire deck of cards evenly among all players. It's okay if some players have more cards than others.

02Gameplay

  • The player to the left of the dealer goes first.
  • On their turn, a player selects a card from their hand and offers it face-down to the player on their left.
  • The player on the left takes the card and adds it to their hand.
  • If the player on the left has a pair of cards with the same rank (e.g., two 5s or two Jacks), they discard the pair face-up on the table.
  • Play continues clockwise with each player taking turns offering a card to the player on their left.
  • If a player runs out of cards, they are out of the game and no longer participate in the turns.
  • The game continues until all pairs have been formed and discarded, except for the 'Old Maid' card.
  • The player left with the 'Old Maid' card in their hand at the end of the game is the loser.

03Variations

  • There are several variations of Old Maid that you can try to add excitement and challenge to the game:
  • - Joker Old Maid: Include a Joker card in the deck as the 'Old Maid' card.
  • - Animal Old Maid: Instead of using Queen cards, use a specific animal-themed card.
  • - Multiple 'Old Maids': Remove more than one Queen card from the deck to have multiple 'Old Maids' in play.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to play Old Maid, gather your friends and family and start enjoying this classic card game. Remember, it's all about strategy and luck, so be prepared for unexpected twists and turns. Have fun and may the best player avoid being left with the 'Old Maid'!

MethodsDetails
Step 1Shuffle a standard deck of playing cards.
Step 2Remove one Queen card from the deck.
Step 3Deal the entire deck of cards evenly among all players.
Step 4Start the game with the player to the left of the dealer.
Step 5Take turns offering a card to the player on your left.
Step 6Discard any pairs of cards with the same rank.
Step 7Continue playing until all pairs are formed, except for the 'Old Maid' card.
Step 8The player left with the 'Old Maid' card is the loser.
VariationsExplore different variations of the game for added excitement.
card games
Old Maid
playing cards
strategy games
family games