Old Maid
A popular and
easy card game for three or more children. It makes a good starter card game for
kids. Also called "Pass The Lady".
Number of
Players:
3+
Age Range:
5+
Cards:
A standard deck of 52 cards is used, but
with one of the Queens removed. This leaves a pair of Queens in one colour and a
single Queen (the old maid) in the other.
Instructions:
All the cards are
dealt, face down. It doesn’t matter if some players end up with more cards than
others.
The players then
sort their cards, keeping them hidden from all other players. Anyone holding
pairs of matching cards, with the same number or picture, should put them down
face up. If anyone has three matching cards, he only puts down one pair and
keeps the spare card. If anyone has four matching cards, he puts down two
pairs.
The player to the
left of the dealer then fans his cards in his hand so he can see them all,
although he keeps them hidden from the other players. He offers them to the
player on his left, who cannot see them, but takes a random card from the fan.
If the card he picks matches any he already he has, he puts down the pair. If
not, he keeps it in his hand. Then, he, in turn, fans his cards and offers them
to the player on his left.
This continues
until all the cards have been put down in pairs, except the Old Maid, which is
left alone and cannot be paired. The person left holding this card is the Old
Maid, and loses the game.
Variations:
Le Vieux Garcon
This is the French version of the game, and translates to “Old Boy”. The “Old
Boy” is the Jack of Spades. All the other Jacks are removed from the deck and
the game is played as usual.
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