Aces Up Solitaire

Aces Up Solitaire is a quick, simple patience game with a surprising amount of strategy. Deal four cards, throw away any card beaten by a higher card of its suit, and try to finish with just the four Aces on the table.

How to play Aces Up Solitaire

• Four cards are dealt face up, one to each of four piles. The rest of the deck is the stock.
• Look at the top card of each pile. If two top cards share a suit, the lower one may be discarded. Aces are high, so an Ace can never be discarded.
• Keep discarding as long as you can. Each discard may uncover a new card that can be compared.
• When a pile is empty, you may move the top card of any other pile into it.
• When no more discards are possible, tap the stock to deal one new card onto each pile.
• You win when all 48 other cards are discarded and only the four Aces remain. Otherwise your score is how many cards you discarded.

Controls

• Tap a top card to discard it (or move it into an empty pile if it cannot be discarded). You can also drag it onto the discard pile or an empty pile.
• Tap the stock to deal four new cards.
• Keyboard: Space or D deals, U or Ctrl+Z undoes, H shows a hint, N starts a new game.

Tips

• The empty piles are your most valuable resource. Use one to dig out an Ace, or a high card that blocks a pile.
• Moving an Ace into an empty pile is almost always good: it can never be discarded, so it is best sitting at the bottom.
• Before dealing, check every pair of top cards once more — a missed discard can cost the game.

FAQ

How do you play Aces Up Solitaire?

Deal one card to each of four piles. Whenever two top cards are the same suit, discard the lower one. Fill empty piles with any top card, deal four more when stuck, and try to leave only the four Aces.

What are the odds of winning Aces Up?

Only a minority of deals can be won, even with perfect play, so finishing with the four Aces is a real achievement. Discarding 40 or more cards is a good result.

Are Aces high or low in Aces Up?

Aces are high. That is why they can never be discarded and why the game ends with the four Aces left.

What is Aces Up also called?

It is also known as Idiot's Delight, Firing Squad and Aces High.