Game printers quickly learned that nearly any kind of card design made matching pairs possible. The player then left with the Old Maid loses the game.
The play continues until one player lays down all cards as pairs. The player at his/her left draws and tries to make a pair, which is laid down. The player on the dealer's left offers cards to the left. Old Maid's rules are simple: all cards are dealt and players lay down any pairs they have. Early Western lithographers were quick to market cards made specifically for Old Maid the humorous, if slightly sexist, possibilities suggested by the game title provided for many, many versions over the years. Today, an 'old maid' may be any single piece left over when any pairs of items are counted. The game is known by many other names in different countries and cultures, but the version we know has a permanent place in our culture. Essentially a matching game with one odd card, it can be played with a regular deck by removing any single card. Along with the development of playing cards, Old Maid is thought to have originated in India or China, and then came to Europe, England, and America. Old Maid stands out as one of the earliest card games.
