Memory Game Tips: How to Win at Matching Pairs
To win at the memory game, turn over a new card first on every turn, so you always learn something, and only then go for a card you've seen. Work through the board in order (row by row), say each picture to yourself with its place ("owl, top left"), and watch every turn your opponent takes: their cards are free information for you.
1. New card first, then a known one
This simple order wins more games than anything else. Turn over a card you haven't seen yet. If its twin is one you've seen before, go and get it: that's a pair. If not, you've just learned where one more picture is.
Why not the other way round? If you turn a known card first and then guess, you learn almost nothing when the guess misses.
2. Work in order
- Start in a corner and turn new cards row by row. Places in a pattern are much easier to remember than a random scatter.
- Split big boards into zones in your head: top half and bottom half, or four corners.
- Keep your eyes on the board, not on the score, between turns.
3. Name what you see
Saying it, even silently, uses a second kind of memory. Give each card a picture and a place: "duck, corner", "owl, second row". Funny links stick best: "the ladybug is sitting on the owl's head".
4. Use your opponent's turns
Every card someone else turns over is information you didn't have to spend a turn on. Pay full attention to their turns, especially when they miss: they've just shown you two places for free.
If you're playing someone strong, don't turn over a new card you can't follow up on late in the game: you might be setting up a pair for them.
Tips for kids, and for adults
| For kids | For adults |
|---|---|
| Start with 6 pairs, add more as they improve | Play 18 pairs or more |
| Say the pictures out loud together | Use place-and-story links |
| Celebrate remembering, not just pairs | Count your turns and beat your best |
| Short games, several times | Try the Daily board and compare with friends |
Memory games are a fun way for adults to keep the mind active. A few minutes a day is plenty, and solo play lets you track your progress turn by turn.
In GameLake Memory Match, Teach me points to a pair you've already seen or tells you which card to try next, and Hard Hops never forgets a card. New to it? Start with how to play the memory card game.
Frequently asked questions
What is the trick to the memory game?
Turn over a card you haven't seen first. If its twin is one you remember, take the pair; if not, you've learned a new place. Then work through the board in order and name each picture with its place.
How do you get better at memory games?
Play regularly with a few more pairs each time, work row by row, say the pictures and their places to yourself, and count your turns so you can see yourself improve.
What is a good score in a memory game?
Playing alone with 12 pairs, under 20 turns is very good and under 16 is excellent. With 18 pairs, under 30 turns is strong.
Are memory games good for adults?
Yes. They're a quick, relaxing way to practise attention and short-term memory, and solo play gives you a score to beat.
Which card should you turn over first in Memory?
One you haven't seen. Turning a known card first and guessing the second usually teaches you less.