Old Maid
Old Maid, also known as Matriarch or Black Peter, is a card game in which players try to avoid being left with the unmatched card of the highest rank (usually the queen of spades). The card game is a member of the “discarding” family of games.
How to Play Old Maid
1. Remove one card from the deck, typically the queen of spades or another queen, which becomes the Old Maid.
2. Deal out all the remaining cards to the players.
3. Players take turns picking a card from another player’s hand and discarding one from their own hand.
4. The goal is to form pairs of cards of the same rank. When a player forms a pair, they discard the pair.
5. The game continues until all but one card has been paired, or until one player is left with the Old Maid.
6. The player who is left with the Old Maid loses the game.
Online Old Maid
There are many websites and apps where you can play Old Maid online with other players. One popular option is CardzMania.com. To play Old Maid online, you will need to create an account and then join a game.
[Image of Old Maid online game]
Tips for Playing Old Maid
- Pay attention to the cards that other players are discarding. This can help you to track which cards are still in play and which cards have already been paired.
- If you are stuck with two high-ranking cards, try to trade them with another player.
- Don’t be afraid to bluff. If you think you have a pair, but you’re not sure, try discarding one of the cards and see if the other player reacts.
Old Maid Variations
There are many variations of Old Maid, including:
- Black Peter: In this variation, the unmatched card is the black peter instead of the queen of spades.
- Old Maid with Jokers: In this variation, two jokers are added to the deck. The jokers can be used as wild cards, so they can be paired with any other card.
- Old Maid with Special Rules: In this variation, there are special rules that can be used to make the game more interesting. For example, players may be able to steal cards from other players or skip their turn.
