Card game (3,4) Crossword Clue
Answer: OLD MAID (7 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Card game (3,4)" with 7 letters is "OLD MAID".Old Maid is a classic card game where players try to avoid being left with the unmatchable "Old Maid" card. The game involves matching pairs of cards, and the player who is stuck with the "Old Maid" card at the end loses.
Why "Old Maid" Fits
The clue asks for a phrase (3,4) meaning "card game." The answer, OLD MAID, fits perfectly:
- Card game: Old Maid refers to a classic matching game of memory and pairs, usually played with standard playing cards—exactly matching the clue’s definition.
- Direct match: With three letters in the first word and four in the second, old maid matches the enumeration precisely.
- Precise meaning: The phrase names a well-known children's and family card game focused on matching and elimination.
Old Maid is one of the most recognizable traditional card games:
Origin and usage:
- The game is believed to have origins in 18th- and 19th-century Europe and spread globally as a simple, easy-to-learn pastime.
- The “Old Maid” is a special unpaired card; the game's goal is to avoid being left with it at the end.
Gameplay and rules:
- Players pair up cards and discard them; the game proceeds until all possible pairs are gone.
- The player holding the unpaired "Old Maid" card when the game ends loses.
- Often played with a specialized deck or by using a standard deck (removing a queen or using a joker as the Old Maid).
Cultural note:
- Beloved as a children's game but sometimes played by adults for nostalgic fun.
- Simple rules make it popular for family gatherings and informal entertainment.
Examples:
- "We played Old Maid at the birthday party."
- "The Old Maid card deck features colorful, humorous illustrations."
- "No one wants to be left with the Old Maid."
In quick crosswords like “Card game (3,4),” clues about leisure or traditional entertainment point to well-known, two-word game names:
Definition: "Card game" is a broad clue, but the (3,4) pattern and cultural context point to classic games.
Clue type: Straightforward, relying on general knowledge and pattern recognition.
Solving approach:
- Review familiar, short compound card game names matching (3,4): old maid, go fish, gin rummy (3,5), crazy eights (5,6).
- Only old maid matches both the enumeration and universal recognition as a game.
Crossword pattern: Multi-word names with simple, memorable structures are staple crossword answers, particularly for card and board games.
