Concentration: Rules and How to Play
Concentration is a picture matching game for 1 to 6 players that takes about 10 minutes. Flip two face-down cards — match two cards with the same picture, to keep going. Free. In-browser. No account.
Setup
- One to six players with 26 emoji pictures chosen from a palette of 48, two copies of each: 52 cards total. The emoji deck has no jokers.
- Shuffle the deck and lay every card face down on the table. Once laid out, cards never move.
- A party can shrink the deck to 36 or 24 cards. Choose Playing cards to add two jokers or change matching to same rank and color, or same rank.
How to play
- On your turn, flip two face-down cards one at a time. Everyone sees each card you flip; the first stays face up while you pick a different face-down card second.
- If they show the same picture, keep the pair in front of you and flip two more cards.
- If they don't match, turn both face down again in the same spots and play passes to the next player.
- Cards you take leave an empty gap — the rest of the layout never shifts.
Winning and scoring
- The game ends once every face-down card has been taken.
- Whoever holds the most pairs wins.
- If two or more players are tied for the most pairs, they all win. If everyone is tied, it's a draw.
- Playing solo records your tries (every two cards you flip is one try, matched or not) — fewer is better.
Defaults on this site
| Item | Default on this site |
|---|---|
| Players | 1–6 players (set automatically by the party size) |
| Turn time limit | None by default (the host can set 30 or 60 seconds) |
| If someone drops mid-game | Reopening on the same device returns you to your seat. If you do not return, the CPU plays in your place. |
| Draws | In ranked play, a draw counts as halfway between a win and a loss for your rating. |
| Source of the rules | Based on the standard reference rules |
Rules supervised by Qdan, Inc. (based on the standard reference rules)
House rules
Defaults follow the standard reference rules. The party can change these.
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card pictures | Emoji pictures by default. You can also choose playing cards. | Emoji | Yes |
| Deck size | Emoji: 26, 18 or 12 pictures, two copies each. Playing cards: 36 uses A–9; 24 uses A–6. | 52 | Yes |
| Add jokers | Adds two jokers, which match each other regardless of rank. | Off | Yes |
| MatchingMatchingIdentical cards uses two copies of each chosen card face. For rank and color, spades and clubs count as black; hearts and diamonds count as red. Same rank and color, or same rank, uses one copy of every card in the selected rank range. The two jokers form a pair in every mode. | For playing cards, the default is the same suit and rank. You can also match by rank and color, or rank alone. | Identical cards | Yes |
| Time limit | A time limit for flipping the second card. Running out flips the first card back down and passes the turn (adds a try). | None | Yes |
Terms
- Pair
- Two cards with the same picture (two apples, for example). Flip both and you take them.
- Tries
- The number of times you've flipped two cards — used for the solo record.
FAQ
What counts as a pair?
In the default emoji deck, two cards with the same picture (such as two apples) form a pair. Playing cards match the same suit and rank by default; you can change matching to same rank and color, or rank alone.
What happens on a miss?
Both cards are turned face down again in their original spots, and play passes to the next player.
What happens to a taken pair's spot?
It stays empty — the layout is never shifted or reflowed.
What if players tie for the most pairs?
Everyone tied for the most pairs wins. If every player has the same number, it's a draw.
How do jokers work?
With Playing cards selected, jokers are only in play when "Add jokers" is on. The two jokers match each other and don't need a rank to form a pair.
Play now with these rules
Last updated 2026-10-13 · Run by Qdan, Inc.