How to play Memory
Memory, also known as Concentration or Pairs, is a card-matching game. Every card starts face down. Turn over two at a time and find all the matching emoji pairs in as few moves as possible.
Rules
Choose a 4×4 board with 8 pairs or a 6×6 board with 18 pairs. Flip one card, then a second. A matching pair stays face up; otherwise both cards turn back after a short moment. Each attempt counts as one move. Clear the board to win, and try to beat your best move count.
Controls
- Click or tap a card to flip it.
- Size buttons switch between 4×4 and 6×6 boards.
- New Game reshuffles the cards.
Memory tips
- Flip a card you have never seen first. If it matches one you remember, take the pair; if not, use your second flip to reveal another new card.
- Name each symbol with its position in your head, for example "apple, top left".
- Remember cards in small groups, row by row, instead of trying to hold the whole board.
- On the 6×6 board, clear one area before moving on, so fewer unknown cards remain in your head.
History
Matching pairs with ordinary playing cards is a long-standing family game, and it gave its name to the American TV game show Concentration, which first aired in 1958. Digital versions with pictures and emoji keep the same simple rules.
FAQ
- What is a good score? The minimum is one move per pair, which needs lucky flips. Finishing the 4×4 board in about 12 to 16 moves is a strong result.
- Are the cards shuffled fairly? Yes. Every game uses a Fisher-Yates shuffle, so every layout is equally likely.
- Is this memory game suitable for kids? Yes. The rules are simple, there is no timer and the 4×4 board is a gentle start.
Build it yourself
Curious how this game works? Our step-by-step tutorial How to Make a Memory Card Game in JavaScript rebuilds it from this page's code, with examples you can copy.