How to get a high score in memory and matching pairs games
Quick answer: Tap only when you are sure, because each miss costs 3 seconds, and scan the whole board after every match.
What Match pairs is
Match pairs is a 90-second game. Match names to pictures, such as a country to its flag or a painting to its title, as many times as you can.
What counts
Your score is the number of pairs found before time runs out.
How the game works
You have 90 seconds to find as many pairs as you can. The board shows names and pictures, and only one picture matches each name. A correct pair is replaced with new tiles, and each miss takes 3 seconds off the clock.
Speed or accuracy?
Because a miss costs 3 seconds, a careless guess is expensive. A good rule is to tap only when you are sure, and to look at the new tiles straight away after each match.
| Approach | Result |
|---|---|
| Guess fast, often wrong | Loses time to penalties |
| Slow and certain | Few penalties but fewer pairs |
| Quick when sure, skip when not | Best scores |
Watch for decoys
New tiles are added so that only one pair is correct, and the other new tile may match something already on the board. Scan the whole board after every match, not just the new tiles.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a Match pairs game?
90 seconds.
What happens if I pick the wrong pair?
You lose 3 seconds.
What topics can I play?
Flags, landmarks, dishes, paintings, instruments, logos and more.