Go Fish vs Old Maid
Go Fish and Old Maid are often the first card games children learn, and both are about pairs and sets of matching ranks. In Go Fish you ask another player for a rank you hold; if they have it they hand it over, and if not you go fishing in the pond. Four of a rank make a book, and the most books wins.
Old Maid is about getting rid of cards. One queen is removed so its partner can never be paired, everyone discards their pairs, and players take turns drawing a face-down card from their neighbour. Whoever is stuck with the odd queen at the end loses.
Side by side
| Go Fish | Old Maid | |
|---|---|---|
| In one line | Ask for ranks, fish from the pond and collect the most books of four. | Draw blind from your neighbour, pair up and don't get stuck with the odd queen. |
| Players | 2–6 | 2–6 |
| Family | Family & Kids | Family & Kids |
| Type | Table game, bots or friends | Table game, bots or friends |
| Options | Standard rules only | Standard rules only |
| Online turn timer | 25 seconds | 20 seconds |
The differences that matter
- Goal: in Go Fish you collect the most books; in Old Maid you try not to be left with the odd queen.
- Turns: Go Fish turns are questions to a chosen opponent; Old Maid turns are blind draws from the next player.
- Skill: Go Fish rewards remembering who asked for what; Old Maid is almost pure chance.
- Ending: Go Fish ends when all 13 books are made; Old Maid ends when only the player with the odd queen holds cards.
- Players: both take 2 to 6 players.
Which should you play?
Choose Go Fish if you want a little memory and strategy for older children.
Choose Old Maid if you want a pure luck game that even the youngest player can win.
How to play Go Fish
Each player is dealt 7 cards (5 with four or more players). The rest form the pond.
On your turn ask one opponent for a rank you hold: drag one of your cards of that rank onto that player's hand.
If they have any, they hand them all over and you ask again. If not, 'Go Fish': draw one card from the pond. Drawing the rank you asked for lets you go again.
Four cards of one rank make a book. When all 13 books are made the player with the most books wins.
How to play Old Maid
The queen of clubs is removed, so one queen has no partner: the Old Maid.
Everyone discards all pairs of equal rank from their starting hand.
On your turn click one of the face-down cards of the next player's hand to take it. If it pairs with one of yours, discard both.
Players who run out of cards are safe. Whoever is left holding the odd queen loses.