Need a quick refresher on the rules to play Old Maid? We’ve got you covered with basic Old Maid rules, along with optional rules for beginners or advanced players.
Getting Started with Old Maid
You’ll need:
A standard deck of 52 playing cards.
2-4 players (see below for optional rules that allow for more players)
Old Maid Rules
Goal
Collect pairs of matching cards
Don’t be stuck with the Old Maid card!
Beginning Play
Begin by removing one queen (or one of any card you prefer) from the deck. Set this card aside, leaving 51 cards in the playing deck. The card that cannot be matched is the Old Maid card-don’t be left holding it!
The dealer shuffles the cards, then deals them evenly to all players. Hands may be uneven.
All players remove any matching pairs from their hands and place them, face down, in front of themselves.
Only discard pairs! If you have three of one card, only discard two. Leave the third in your hand.
Taking Turns
Play begins with the dealer, who fans out their cards, face-down, and allows the player to their left to select one card.
If the player who took a card makes a new pair, they may discard it.
This player then offers their hand to the person to their left, who also discards any new pairs.
Play continues in this order until someone is left holding a card that cannot be matched-The Old Maid! This player must face the agony of defeat, and deals for the next game.
Optional Rules for Beginners
Play as a team! It’s always a good idea to work as a team with younger children (under 5) to avoid frustration and hurt feelings.
Youngest player draws first and chooses the direction of play
Optional Rules for Advanced Players
Name a winner by counting each discarded pair as a point
Win by running out of cards first
Reverse direction of play whenever a card is match
Allow players to arrange the cards in their hand in a way that encourages another player to select a certain card, including wiggling, tilting, and tricky fanning.
If a player is caught discarding two cards that do not match, they must take an extra card from the previous player
Playing with more than 6 players
Got a big group? No problem! You can play Old Maid with more players by shuffling two decks together. You still remove just one of the queens to leave a single Old Maid card that cannot be matched. Gameplay is unchanged!
Playing Old Maid with Kids?
Old Maid is a classic card game and one that’s easy for younger children to understand. It can help them develop important skills like focus and concentration, but more importantly, it can help them learn about winning, losing, and the importance of spending time with family and friends. Remember to always be a good model of positivity and sportsmanship for the younger players!
Pro Tip: if you’re playing with our special deck of children’s playing cards, LUDI! Classic Card Games for Kids, you can also introduce your kids to important concepts like ancient history, mythology, and Roman numerals. Check out our deck of playing cards designed just for games like Go Fish and Old Maid!
Need more family games and activities?
Now that you know how to play Old Maid, you may need some new activities. The Classical Workshop has you covered! Spend quality time with your kids with some free Greek Mythology Coloring Pages, or introduce them to important characters from Greek Mythology with our high-quality, made-in-the-USA memory match game: Mythology Match! Need a perfect gift for the animal lover in your life? This 48-piece floor puzzle features a whimsical illustration of a real ancient painting of Dolphins frolicking in the Mediterranean.
Need a break from classics? Have no fear! It’s probably no surprise that companies like Crayola offer a lovely set of free coloring pages that you can download, print, and share, but if you didn’t know already, now you do. We’re a family organization here at the Workshop, so I can tell you that Monopoly Jr. has become a staple of our family game nights. as well. It’s a quick, simplified version of the original that’s much more manageable for younger kids. When you’re done with memory match, give it a go!
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LUDI! Classic Card Games for Kids brings the best family card games to your next game night. Conquer your friends and family in children’s card games like War, Go Fish, and Slap Jack. Enjoy effortless learning with cards featuring Roman numerals and figures from Roman history and myth! Available now!
The best games for family game night are the classics like Go Fish, War, Slap Jack, and Old Maid!
Family card games are more fun on high-quality, 310gsm linen-textured playing cards that hold up to the roughest play
Designed by classicists to introduce children to major figures of Roman history and myth
Need to brush up on your Roman myths? Don’t remember the rules of Go Fish? Find out how to play Go Fish, War, and Slap Jack here!
