Matching · Reviewed 2026-10-18
Memory card game: players, deck & rules
Remember face-down positions and collect pairs of equal ranks; suits do not have to match.
Version used: Rank-matching Pelmanism for two or more; solo is a practice suggestion
- Players
- 2+; solo practice
- Deck
- 52 cards; smaller even sets also work
- Learning
- Easy
Collect more pairs than the other players.
Need a term explained? Suit, rank, trick, trump and meld.
Lay out the cards
- Shuffle a 52-card pack without jokers. Spread all cards face down, separately, so each can be turned without moving its neighbours. No hands are dealt.
Turn two cards
- Choose any two face-down cards and show them to everyone.
- Equal ranks form a pair: keep them and take another turn. Otherwise turn both face down in their original places and let the next player try.
Finish and score
Continue until all 26 pairs are collected. Each pair is one point; the most pairs wins, with shared victory on a tie.
Worked example
You turn 7♣ at the top left and 7♥ near the middle. They are a pair even though their suits differ, so collect both and turn two more cards. Q♣ and 9♣ share a suit but are not a pair.
A solo practice idea
Play alone and count two-card turns, trying to clear the layout in fewer turns next time. This is our practice suggestion, not the competitive version above. For a short first attempt, choose a smaller collection containing complete rank pairs before shuffling.
Keep the challenge about memory
Use a tidy grid and return missed cards to exactly the same places. Give everyone time to see the two faces before turning them back down. Moving a missed card to another location makes remembering it pointless.
Rule sources and version notes
Rules checked on 2026-10-18. The named version above is the one taught here. Examples and learning suggestions are written for this guide.