Objective
Find matching pairs by remembering where cards are. A pair is two cards of the same rank, such as two sevens or two queens. Every card you see turned up and turned back is information, and the player who keeps track of the most of it usually wins.
A full deck holds 26 pairs. The game ends when every pair has been taken.
Setup
Shuffle the deck well. Lay every card face down on the table, either in neat rows (four rows of 13 works on most tables) or scattered loosely. Whichever you choose, no card should touch or overlap another, so that each one can be turned without moving its neighbors.
Decide who goes first any way you like. Many families let the youngest player start. Play then moves to the left.
How to play
On your turn, turn any card face up where it lies so that everyone can see it. Then turn up a second card.
If the two cards are the same rank, you have found a pair. Take them, set them face down in front of you, and take another turn. You keep going for as long as you keep finding pairs.
If they do not match, leave both cards face up for a few seconds so every player gets a good look. Then turn them face down again in exactly the same spots, and play passes to the left.
Do not slide or straighten the cards as you go. Moving a card is the quickest way to ruin everyone’s memory, including your own.
- 1Turn any card face up in place
- 2Turn a second card face up
- 3A pair? Keep both cards and go again
- 4No pair? Show them, turn them back in place, pass to the left
Winning
There are no point values in Concentration. When the last pair has been picked up, everyone counts their pairs and the player with the most wins. In a two-player game a 13–13 tie is possible, and it simply stands as a draw.
Playing alone, count your turns instead. Each time you flip two cards counts as one turn, and your aim is to clear the table in as few turns as possible. Twenty-six turns would be a perfect game, which takes a lot of luck, so keep a personal best and try to beat it.
Variations
Color pairs: a pair must match in rank and color, so the seven of hearts pairs only with the seven of diamonds. This makes every pair harder to find and suits older players.
Small decks for small hands: for young children, play with just a few ranks, such as aces through fives (20 cards, 10 pairs). Add more ranks as their memory grows.
One flip each: some families play that finding a pair does not earn an extra turn. It keeps the game closer when players of very different ages sit down together.
Tips from the table
Turn up an unknown card first. If it matches a card you remember, you can collect the pair. If it does not, you can choose your second card with that in mind.
When your first card gives you nothing to match, think about your second flip. Turning a card you have already seen keeps new information away from the next player.
Give each area of the table a name in your head, such as top left or near the salt shaker. Remembering places is easier than remembering a long list of cards.
Pay full attention on other players’ turns. Half the cards you will collect are ones you saw someone else turn over.
Video Guides Are on the Way
We’re filming Game Guides that walk through full hands at the table, from the deal to the score.
Frequently asked
Do the suits have to match?
No. In the standard game any two cards of the same rank make a pair. Matching by color as well is a popular variation.
Can I play Concentration alone?
Yes. Lay out the cards as usual and count how many turns it takes you to clear the table. Try to beat your own record.
How long should the cards stay face up?
Long enough for every player to see them clearly, usually a few seconds. Agree on it at the start so nobody feels rushed.
What if someone moves a card by accident?
Put it back as close to its spot as you can and carry on. If a card is badly out of place, let everyone see where it went before play continues.
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