Old Maid is the kind of game that turns a simple deck into a tiny social drama. Nobody is trying to “win big.” Everyone is trying to avoid being the last person holding the wrong card. The tension is gentle, the rules are quick, and the best moments come from the little tells—someone hesitating before they offer their hand, someone smiling like they’re hiding something.
If you’re here for how to play old maid card game, you’re in luck: the rules are straightforward, and it plays cleanly even as two player card games—especially when you set it up properly.
What you need
You can play Old Maid with:
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a dedicated Old Maid deck, or
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a standard 52-card deck with one card removed (more on that below)
The whole game depends on having an odd card out—the “old maid”—so someone must end with a leftover card.
The goal
Make and discard pairs until only one unpaired card remains.
The player left holding that final unpaired card is the Old Maid.
There’s no score needed unless you want to track how often someone ends up stuck.
Setup with a standard deck (easy method)
With a standard deck, remove one Queen (many people remove the Queen of Clubs). The remaining deck has 51 cards—an odd number—so one card can’t be paired.
That “unpairable” role becomes the Old Maid.
If you’re using a themed Old Maid deck, the Old Maid card is already included.
Dealing the cards
Shuffle well. Deal all cards to players as evenly as possible. Some players may have one extra card—no problem.
Everyone keeps their cards hidden in hand. No sorting on the table.
Step 1: discard all pairs in your hand
Before the main turn-taking begins, each player looks at their hand and removes any pairs.
A “pair” usually means two cards of the same rank (two 7s, two Kings, etc.). Suits don’t matter.
Put all pairs face down in a discard pile.
Important: If you have three of a kind, you only discard one pair and keep the third card.
Step 2: take turns drawing from the next player
Players take turns in a circle. On your turn:
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The next player (usually the one to your left) fans their cards face down in their hand so you can’t see them.
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You choose one card at random from their hand and add it to yours.
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If that card creates a pair with a card you already hold, you immediately discard the pair face down.
Then play moves to the next person.
That’s the entire loop: draw one, make pairs, discard, repeat.
How the game ends
As the game continues, hands shrink. Eventually, only one card remains unpaired in the whole game.
The player holding that last card becomes the Old Maid.
If you want the ending to be crystal clear, agree that the moment a player has no cards left, they’re “out” and stop taking turns.
How to play Old Maid as a two-player game
Old Maid works perfectly as two player card games. In fact, it often plays faster and cleaner because there’s no waiting.
Here’s the smooth two-player flow:
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Remove one Queen and deal the rest.
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Both players discard pairs immediately.
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Then players alternate drawing one random card from the other’s hand and discarding any new pairs.
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Whoever ends up with the final unpaired card loses.
Two-player tip: have the player offering cards spread them in a loose fan and keep them moving slightly so the chooser can’t track exact positions. It keeps the “random draw” feeling honest.
Common variations (keep it friendly)
Old Maid is often customized for age and vibe:
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Match by picture instead of rank (for kids decks)
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No immediate discard (discard only at the start of your next turn) — slower, more suspense
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The “Old Maid” is a Joker (leave one Joker in the deck and remove the other)
None are required. The standard version is the best starting point.
A subtle beginner mistake
Beginners sometimes try to “play strategically” by picking cards that feel likely to pair. That’s fine, but it misses the real heart of Old Maid: the draw is meant to be random. If the choice becomes too deliberate, the game can feel unfair—especially with kids.
If you want the game to stay light, keep the draw genuinely blind and let the humor come from luck.
Once you know the loop, how to play old maid card game is easy: remove one card so one will be left over, deal, discard all pairs, then take turns drawing a random card from the next player and discarding new pairs. It’s quick, social, and works beautifully as two player card games—a simple little contest where the only real objective is not to be the one left holding the story’s final card.