Rules for Old Maid

Old Maid is a classic card game that has been played by families for generations. It is easy to learn and quick to play, making it a good choice for children, though adults tend to enjoy it too. The goal is to form pairs and discard them without being left holding the Old Maid.

The game works for 2-6 players and usually takes 5-15 minutes. You need a standard 52-card deck.

Prepare the deck as follows:

• Remove any jokers from the deck
• Take out all queens except the Queen of Clubs (♣️Q)
• The Queen of Clubs is the "Old Maid", the card nobody wants to be left with
• You now have 49 cards in total

Shuffle the cards thoroughly and deal them all out to the players. It does not matter if some players get more cards than others.

The goal is simple:

• Get rid of all your cards by forming pairs
• A pair is two cards of the same rank (for example, 7♦️ and 7♣️)
• Avoid being left holding the Old Maid (♣️Q) when the game ends

The player left with the Old Maid at the end loses and is named the "Old Maid".

Before play begins:

1. All players look at their cards
2. If you have any pairs in your hand, place them face up on the table
3. A pair is two cards of the same rank (for example, two 5s or two Kings)

During the game:

1. The player to the dealer's left goes first
2. Hold your cards in a fan with the backs facing the other players
3. On your turn, draw one card from the player to your right
4. Check if the drawn card pairs with any card already in your hand
5. If you have a pair, place it face up on the table
6. Play continues clockwise

The game continues until:

• Players who get rid of all their cards drop out
• The remaining players keep playing
• Eventually, only one player is left
• That player holds the Old Maid (♣️Q) and loses

The loser is called the "Old Maid" and may have to do a forfeit agreed on before the game started.

Old Maid is mostly a game of chance, but there are a few things worth keeping in mind:

• Pay attention to which cards have been paired, so you know which pairs are no longer possible
• Try to keep a straight face when someone draws the Old Maid from your hand
• If you have the Old Maid, think about where you position it in your fan
• Watch other players' expressions when they draw
• As fewer players remain, the odds of drawing the Old Maid go up

There are several ways to vary the game:

• Two Old Maids: Keep two queens (for example, ♣️Q and ♠️Q) to make it harder to avoid them
• Timed turns: Players must draw within 5 seconds
• Forfeit version: The loser has to carry out a forfeit
• Reverse: The player left with the Old Maid wins instead of losing
• Color pairs: Pairs must match by color (both red or both black), which makes the game harder
• Other names: The game is known as Schwarzer Peter in German, Baba Nuki in Japanese, and Svarteper in Norwegian