So next time you set down for a round or two with Grandma, keep in mind that you’re participating in a tradition that could be a thousand years old at least. OK, we’re being ridiculous, but it is true that some claim Old Maid has origins this old and prestigious. Just imagine finding yourself in a common tavern in ancient Rome with Tiberius, who busts out a deck of cards and sits you and your buddies down at the table to see who’s paying for those cherry cream sodas. Old Maid is a Victorian card game, but some believe that it originates from an ancient form of gambling which determined who would pay for the drinks. It’s also because the point of the game is to leave one card standing, and you can’t do that with an even number of cards in play. To put it plainly, Old Maid is the world-renowned card game played with 51 cards instead of the standard 52.There are a few reasons for this, but the best way to explain it is that this is sort of like Old Maid holding one hand behind its back to fight with other games like Poker and Rook. What Is Old Maid?īefore you undertake the incredible journey of learning how to play the #1 game in all the universe, you’ll undoubtedly want to understand what exactly it is and learn of its exotic origins. Here’s everything you need to know about playing old maid. Whatever your reason for wanting to learn this high-stakes game, we’ve got you covered.

It could be that you and the boys are getting bored with Poker and want something more challenging or maybe you’re going to visit Grannie this weekend and want to brush up on your skills so you can totally own her and her clique at the nursing home. It casts a spell over its participants that is only broken when the whole table is laughing and pointing fingers at the lone loser dubbed the Old Maid.Perhaps you remember playing this exhilarating game as a child and nostalgia is beckoning for you to relearn it or maybe you want a nice way to spend the rainy day with the kids. However, it must be admitted that the game also holds some mystical quality that can’t quite be placed. Old Maid is a favorite pastime for everyone from children to old maids, and there are a number of reasons for its popularity. There are a myriad of card games out there, but only one reigns supreme: Old Maid.

Rules for old maid cards