All these games are probably ancient and derived from simple gambling games in which the aim was to determine a loser who had to pay for the next round of drinks (c.f. Meanwhile the rules of the French game, Vieux Garçon, first appear in 1853. However, it may well be older and derived the German game of Black Peter whose rules are recorded as early as 1821. The rules of the game are first recorded in a book for girls by Eliza Leslie, who published them in America in 1831 and England in 1835 under the names Old Maid (when played by girls) or Old Bachelor (when played by boys). As opposed to the holder of the Old Maid being the loser, they are actually declared the winner of the game.Old Maid is a 19th century, American card game for two or more players, probably deriving from an ancient European gambling game in which the loser pays for the drinks. Old Maid, and similar games, can be played in reverse.

The loser of the game holds the last Jack after all pairs have been accounted for. In France (and other countries), where the name of the game is male, a Jack is removed from the deck as opposed to a Queen. The player left with the last Queen is the Old Maid! VARIATIONS This continues around the table until all but one card is paired- the single Queen. They then offer their hand to the player to their left. After, the player who picked a card must remove any new pairs from their hand.

This is done by spreading out the card, face-down, in hand so that the other player can choose any single card from the dealer’s hand. After each player has finished this, the dealer begins the next phase of play by allowing the player to their left to choose a card from their deck. In the event you have a three of a kind, you may only set down two of those cards. Players remove all their pairs from their hand and place them face-down on the table in front of them. It is not necessary for players to have exactly even hands. Cards are dealt evenly between players until they are all used. GAMEPLAY The DealĪ player shuffles the cards and deals them, one at a time, to each player. In France, the game is called Vieux Garçon (Old Boy) and Le Pouilleux (Lousy). Old Maid is a children’s card game popular in the United States. MATERIALS: Standard 52 card deck minus 1 Queen, 51 cards total OBJECTIVE OF OLD MAID: Don’t become the Old Maid!

Old maid card game pictures