Game Rules
Old MaidNobody wants the Old Maid

Classic children's game. Discard pairs until only the Old Maid is left without a partner.

Players2 – 8
Duration5 – 10 min
Deck52 Cards · 1 Deck
LevelEasy
I · Game Idea

Get rid of pairs,
one card remains

I

Old Maid is one of the simplest and oldest children's card games. One card (usually a Queen) is removed from the deck before the game – its partner remains unpaired.

Players blindly draw cards from their neighbors and discard pairs. In the end, one player is left with the unpairable card – the "Old Maid."

II · Preparation

Before the
game begins

II
1
Remove a card
Take one Queen (e.g., Queen of Spades) from the deck – its partner remains unpairable.
2
Deal cards
Distribute the remaining 51 cards evenly – some players will have one more card.
3
Discard pairs
Everyone discards any pairs already in their hand at the start.
III · Card Values
How the game
works
III
P
Pair
Discard immediately
Two cards of the same rank are immediately discarded from the hand.
D
Draw
Blind from neighbor
In turn, blindly draw one card from the next player's hand.
O
Old Maid
Unpairable
The card without a partner can never be discarded – it remains until the end.
∅
Empty Hand
Eliminated
Whoever has no cards left is successfully out of the game.
IV · Gameplay

Round by
round

IV
1
Draw card
Blindly draw a card from the next player's hand.
2
Check for pair
Does the new card form a pair with one of your cards? Discard immediately.
3
Pass on
The next player now draws from you.
4
Elimination
Whoever has no cards left is successfully out.
5
Game End
In the end, one player is left with the unpairable card – they are the "Old Maid" and lose the game.
V · Variants
Variants
V

Old Maid is known worldwide as a children's game under many names.

BP
Black Peter
German name with a special picture card instead of a Queen.
OV
Vieux Garçon
French variant with a male figure instead of a Queen.
∅
Without face card
Using any marked card instead of a Queen.
TO
Team Old Maid
With partnerships instead of individual players.
Berlin Hold'em · Matching Decks
Get the right deck

Old Maid is the perfect entry for the youngest players – with colorful, sturdy cards.

View all designs →
20s Playing Cards – Double Pack For larger groups and long game nights. View Product Viking Playing Cards – Double Pack Two decks, suitable for 5+ players. View Product
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