Section 4: Gameplay
Taking a Turn
- The active player draws one card at random from the hand of the next eligible player in the chosen direction.
- The player offering cards holds them face down and spreads or fans them enough to permit a free choice.
- The active player adds the selected card to their own hand without showing it to anyone else.
- If the drawn card completes a valid pair, the active player immediately reveals and discards that pair face up.
- If no pair is completed, the card remains concealed in the active player’s hand.
- The turn then passes to the next eligible player.
Players Who Empty Their Hands
A player with no cards leaves active play and cannot draw or be drawn from. When such a player would normally be selected, skip that player and continue in the established direction to the next person who still holds cards.
If the active player has cards but the next seated player does not, the active player draws from the next eligible hand beyond that player. If only one player has cards remaining, no further draw is possible and the round ends.
Handling the Cards Fairly
The offering player may rearrange their hand before presenting it, but all card faces must remain hidden. They may use expressions or playful comments to bluff, provided they do not reveal card faces, mark cards, refuse a legal selection, or physically guide the drawing player’s hand.
A drawn card cannot be returned or exchanged merely because the player dislikes it. If more than one card is accidentally pulled, return all of those cards unseen when practical, reshuffle the offered hand, and draw again.
Ending the Round
Turns continue until every matching pair has been discarded. At that point, one player will hold the sole unmatched card. That player is the Old Maid for the round and loses; all other players have successfully escaped.