> For AI agents: the complete documentation index is available at https://docs.flashnerd.com/llms.txt, the full documentation bundle is available at https://docs.flashnerd.com/llms-full.txt.

# Practice with Matching mode

Matching mode presents pairs from a deck. Match two fields belonging to the same card—for example, a vocabulary word and its meaning.

The two sides are **selected fields**, not automatically every field on the card's front and back.

## Choose the fields and board size

1. Open a deck, tap the gear, and open **Study Setting → Matching**.
2. Set **Match Side A** to the prompt field, such as `Term`.
3. Set **Match Side B** to the answer field, such as `Definition`.
4. Choose **Number of pairs**: 3, 4, 5, or 6.
5. Choose whether to **Show Elapsed Time**, then save.

Both pickers list all template fields, regardless of field type or card side; Matching is not restricted to plain-text fields. Initial defaults prefer **Front**, then **Both**, then **Note** for Side A, and **Back**, then **Both**, then **Note** for Side B. Check the choices after changing or importing a template. Selecting the field currently used on the other side swaps the selections.

## Play a session

1. Return to **Deck Detail** and tap **Study Now → Matching**.
2. Select a tile, then the tile that belongs to the same original card on the other side.
3. Continue until all pairs are matched.
4. Inspect the completion summary, including **Total Attempts**, **Misses**, and **Learning Time**.

<figure>
  <img width="1206" height="2622" loading="eager" decoding="async" className="app-screenshot" src="https://docs.flashnerd.com/screenshots/matching-session.png" alt="Matching Mode board with four capital-city questions and their shuffled answers" />
  <figcaption>Match each question to its answer. The related tiles can appear anywhere on the board.</figcaption>
</figure>

A mismatch counts as an attempt and a miss; it does not complete the pair. The board is built from a shuffled selection of eligible cards. If fewer eligible cards are available than the requested pair count, the session can contain fewer pairs.

For metered accounts, starting Matching checks the credits required for the configured number of pairs. Reduce the board size or obtain more credits if the app asks you to resolve an insufficient-credit balance.

## Make useful matching cards

Choose short fields that are easy to distinguish on a tile. A concise term and definition usually work better than two long explanations. Ensure the selected fields exist on the cards you want to study; cards missing either selected field cannot form a pair.

An existing field can still be empty: eligibility does not check that its value is meaningful. Preview your cards and fill empty values before studying.

If multiple cards have identical visible content, the board may be ambiguous even though the cards are different. Edit the selected fields to make the intended pairs distinguishable.

If the wrong material appears, return to **Match Side A** and **Match Side B** and select the intended fields explicitly. Hidden fields may still be selected for matching; **Hidden** is not an exclusion rule for building matching pairs.

Matching is extra practice rather than scheduled SRS review. Use the [SRS tab](https://docs.flashnerd.com/guide/srs/getting-started.md) to work on due cards.