Game guide
How to play Pairs (memory game)
In Pairs, the cards lie face down and each picture appears twice. Flip two at a time: if they match, they stay open. The game ends when every pair is open.
Updated on October 5, 2026
The rules in 3 lines
- 01
Flip two cards
Each move is flipping two cards, one after the other.
- 02
Matches stay open
If the pictures match, the pair stays face up. If not, both flip back on their own.
- 03
All pairs, game over
The clock starts on your first tap and stops on the last pair.
How to play
On your phone
- Tap a card to flip it, then tap another.
- While a wrong pair flips back, the other cards wait.
- The “⋯” menu has New game, the grid size and How to play.
On a keyboard
- ← ↑ → ↓ move between cards.
- Enter or Space flips the focused card.
- Esc closes the “⋯” menu.
Step-by-step example
Two moves in a row of four cards:
Move 1
Move 2
Beginner strategies
- Flip cards you have not seen first. Each new card reveals one more picture; flipping a known card without knowing its match wastes a move.
- Say the name and the place. “Star, top corner” sticks better than the picture alone.
- Sweep in order. Go row by row instead of tapping anywhere.
- On the second card, use what you remember. If the first one shows a picture you have already seen, go straight to its twin.
Common mistakes
- Rushing. Time counts, but so does every wasted move; look at a wrong pair before it flips back.
- Forgetting the corner cards. Edges and corners are the spots people forget most.
- Starting with the biggest size. 6×5 has 15 pairs; start at 4×3 and work up.
Levels and scoring
There are four sizes: 4×3 (6 pairs), 4×4 (8), 5×4 (10) and 6×5 (15). On a phone the grid stands upright; on a computer, it lies sideways. Your best is the shortest time for each size, and the scoreboard also shows how many moves you made.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Each picture has its own shape (circle, triangle, star, drop…); color only adds to it.
Every pair of cards you flip counts as one move, match or not.
Yes. Your game is saved on this device and shows up as “Continue” in the games list.
Playing makes you better at remembering cards in this game. There is no evidence it improves memory in daily life.
IQNorth games are a pastime with a challenge. Practice makes you better at this game; it does not raise your IQ or your memory, and nothing here is a consultation with a psychologist. The games are in the member area.
Guides for the other games
Sudoku · Word search · Sun and Moon · Colors · Sequence · 2048 · Challenges · Blocks · One Line · Shape Fit · Sum Maze · Pipes
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