How to play Pairs
Pairs is the classic matching memory game, also known as Concentration. Every card has a twin somewhere in the grid. Turn two over at a time, remember what you saw and match them all in as few moves as you can. A game takes 1 to 3 minutes.
Play Pairs freePairs at a glance
- Players
- 1
- Grid
- 4 × 4 (8 pairs) or 4 × 5 (10 pairs)
- Goal
- Match every pair in as few moves as you can
- Game length
- About 1–3 minutes
How to play Pairs
Flip two cards
Tap a card to turn it over, then tap a second one.
Keep the pairs
Two cards with the same motif stay face up. A miss turns back after a moment.
Clear the grid
Find every pair in as few moves as you can.
Complete Pairs rules
The grid
Cards lie face down in a grid of 4 × 4 or 4 × 5. Each motif is on exactly two cards.
A move
Turn over two cards, one after the other. That is one move.
Pairs and misses
Two cards with the same motif stay face up. Two that differ turn back after a moment, or when you turn the next card.
Winning
The game is won when every pair is found. Your moves and time are your score.
Tips to win at Pairs
- Turn over cards you haven’t seen yet first. Every new card tells you something.
- When a card you’ve seen before turns up, go straight for its twin.
- Work row by row, so it’s easier to remember where each motif was.
Ways to play Pairs
Easy
4 × 4 · Eight pairs, for a quick warm-up.
Medium
4 × 5 · Ten pairs, with every motif in play.
Daily grid
One 4 × 5 grid a day, the same for everyone, ranked by moves.
Play by your house rules
- LevelEasyMedium
About Pairs
Matching pairs is one of the oldest card games for children and families. Played with any cards laid face down, it has gone by many names, such as Concentration and Pairs, and it is still a favorite way to train short-term memory.
Rules reviewed by the tavlo.gg game team · Updated October 10, 2026Questions about Pairs
How do I win?
What if two cards don’t match?
Is there a daily game?
Is Pairs free to play?
Can I play Pairs on my phone?
- How do I win?
- Find every pair. Each pair of cards you turn over is one move, so fewer moves is better.
- What if two cards don’t match?
- They stay face up for a moment so you can remember them, then turn back. Tap another card to keep going right away.
- Is there a daily game?
- Yes. One 4×5 grid a day, the same for everyone, with a leaderboard for the fewest moves.
- Is Pairs free to play?
- Yes. Pairs is free in your browser, with no download and no sign-up. You can start as a guest, and your progress saves on this device.
- Can I play Pairs on my phone?
- Yes. Pairs runs in any phone or tablet browser, with touch controls and nothing to install.