Concentration
Also known as: Memory, Pairs
Flip cards to find matching pairs. Test your memory. Works with any card deck.
What You'll Need
About This Game
Flip cards to find matching pairs. Test your memory. Works with any card deck.
How to Play
**Setup:** Shuffle deck and lay all cards face down in a grid pattern.
**Gameplay:**
- On your turn, flip over any two cards
- If they match (same rank), take them and go again
- If they don't match, flip them back face down
- Remember card positions to find matches faster
**Winning:** Player with most pairs when all cards are taken wins.
**Tips:** Start with cards at edges and corners - they're easier to remember.
History & Background
Concentration (also called Memory or Pairs) is one of the oldest known card games, with origins in Japan during the Heian period (8th-12th century). The Japanese version, "Kai-awase," used painted shells rather than cards.
The game came to the West in the 19th century and was adapted for playing cards. Victorian children played it as a parlor game, and it became popular as an educational tool for developing memory skills.
Concentration gained massive exposure through the American TV game show of the same name, which aired from 1958 to 1991. The show used the matching mechanic but added prizes and puzzles.
Today, Concentration remains one of the most studied games in cognitive psychology. Researchers use it to study memory development, cognitive decline, and the effects of aging. It's played worldwide using cards, tiles, or digital interfaces.