Aces Up Solitaire (sometimes known as “Idiot’s Delight” or “Drivel Patience” in olden times) is a quick and simple single-deck card game that offers a fun challenge. The goal is to clear away all the cards until only the four Aces remain – hence the name “Aces Up”. Don’t be fooled by its easy rules, though. Aces Up is simple to play but not easy to win, which only adds to its charm as a casual game. In this post, we’ll introduce you to Aces Up Solitaire, explain how to play it step by step, share a bit of its history, and give you some handy tips and strategies to improve your odds of winning. Best of all, you can play Aces Up Solitaire online for free on SolitaireX.io anytime – no download or signup needed!
How to Play Aces Up Solitaire (Rules & Step-by-Step Guide)
Game Overview: Aces Up uses a standard 52-card deck (no Jokers) and requires very little space to play – just four piles or columns for the cards. The objective is to discard or remove all cards from these piles except for the four Aces. In other words, you win by ending the game with only Aces left on the tableau. Each game is quick (often 2–4 minutes), making it perfect for a fast, fun break.
Basic Rules: There are only a few simple rules in Aces Up, which makes it easy for beginners. Unlike games like Klondike, there’s no complex building of sequences. You only remove cards or move cards into empty spaces according to the rules below:
- Deal the cards: Start by dealing four cards face-up in a row, one card per column (these four columns form the tableau). The remaining cards are kept in a face-down stock pile for future deals.
- Remove lower cards of the same suit: Look at the four face-up cards on the tableau. If two or more cards share the same suit, discard all of those cards except the one with the highest rank of that suit. (Remember, Aces are high in this game, above Kings.) For example, if you see a 5♥ and a 9♥ among the top cards, you would remove the 5♥ because the 9♥ is higher. Continue removing cards in this way until no two top cards have the same suit. All removed cards are set aside (out of play).
- Use empty columns: If removing cards causes any column to become empty, you can immediately move the top card from another column into that empty space. This move is the only way you can reposition cards in Aces Up (you don’t stack cards on each other as in some other solitaire games). You can choose any top card to move into an empty slot – pick wisely to maximize your next moves. After moving a card into an empty column, again check for any removable cards (go back to step 2).
- Deal the next four cards: When there are no more cards you can remove or move, deal another set of four cards from the stock pile – one new card onto each column. Now you’ll have new top cards on each pile.
- Repeat removal and moves: Once the new cards are dealt, again remove any lower cards that share a suit with a higher card (just like in step 2, only comparing the top cards of each pile). If an empty space appears, you may move a top card into it (step 3). Keep doing these steps – remove cards, move cards, then deal cards – in a cycle.
- Continue until the deck is finished: Keep playing in this way until you’ve dealt all cards from the stock. There is no redeal, so you go through the deck just once.
- Win or lose: The game ends when no more moves can be made after the last deal. If you have managed to discard everything except the four Aces, congratulations – you win! This is the perfect outcome, with a score of 48 (since 48 cards are discarded, leaving 4 Aces). If any non-ace cards remain on the tableau and you can’t remove them, then the game is over and you haven’t won that round.
As you can see, the rules are straightforward. Essentially, you keep eliminating lower cards by suit and using empty columns to reposition cards, dealing new cards when you’re stuck. Play continues until only aces are left (a win) or until no more moves can be made. It’s a game of both luck and a little strategy in choosing which cards to move.
Important: The only moves allowed in Aces Up are removing cards and moving a single top card to an empty column. You cannot build sequences or swap cards arbitrarily. If all four top cards are of different suits and no column is empty, you have no moves – you must deal more cards from the stock.
A Brief History of Aces Up Solitaire
Aces Up has been around for quite some time, and it has collected a few interesting names and stories along the way. The earliest known reference to this game is from 1900 in England, where it was called “Drivel Patience.” This rather unflattering name was noted by Mary Whitmore Jones, who described the game and remarked that the name fit because the game “stands in need of neither” care nor consideration (in other words, it doesn’t require much thinking!). Later on, around 1940, the game appeared under the name “Firing Squad,” perhaps alluding to the idea that cards are “shot down” until only the Aces survive.
Over the years, the solitaire became more commonly known as Aces Up, though it’s also been referred to by other nicknames like “Aces High” and “Idiot’s Delight.” (Be careful: the name Idiot’s Delight has been used for a couple of different solitaire games, not just this one.) By the mid-20th century, most books and players settled on calling this game Aces Up, and that’s the name we use today. Despite the changes in name, the rules of the game have remained the same since those early descriptions. It’s a testament to Aces Up’s enduring appeal that people are still playing it over 100 years later – now digitally on computers and mobile devices, in addition to the traditional card table.
Tips and Strategies to Win Aces Up Solitaire
While Aces Up is largely a game of luck (since the card order is shuffled), a bit of smart strategy can improve your chances of winning. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of each game:
Use empty spaces wisely: Empty tableau columns are very powerful in Aces Up. Whenever you create an empty column by removing cards, fill it with a card that gives you the best advantage. Often, the best choice is to move a card that will immediately allow more removals. For example, moving a high card (like a King or Ace) into an empty spot might expose smaller cards in its previous pile that can then be discarded. In fact, moving an Ace to an empty column is almost always a good idea – it frees the card underneath and places the Ace out of the way (since nothing can eliminate an Ace anyway). Remember, cards underneath an Ace can only be accessed by moving that Ace away to an empty pile, so take any chance you get to relocate Aces or other high cards.
Don’t rush to deal new cards: A common mistake for beginners is to deal a new round of cards from the stock too early. Make sure you have no moves left before clicking to deal the next four cards. If there’s a possible removal or an empty space you could fill, do that first. Dealing new cards when a move was available can bury useful cards and reduce your chances of clearing the board.
Always remove lower cards when you can: There’s usually no reason to hold off on discarding a lower-ranked card when a higher card of the same suit is present. Removing cards is the only way to get closer to your goal, so take every removal opportunity you get. Each card you remove is one less card blocking an Ace! (The game automatically lets you discard such cards with a click, so use that whenever possible.)
Focus on one suit at a time (when possible): Sometimes you might have multiple removal options at once. It doesn’t hurt to remove them all (since the rules allow it), but be mindful of the order. If two suits can be removed, the order usually doesn’t matter – you’ll end up doing both. Just double-check that removing one doesn’t eliminate a card that could have helped remove another in the same sequence. Generally, though, the game’s rule “repeat until no more can be removed” takes care of the order for you. Your job is simply to make sure you catch all those possible moves.
Plan for the next deal: Try to keep at least one column empty by the time you have to deal the next set of cards. An empty column when dealing means you’ll immediately have a space to move one of the new cards (since it will fill the empty pile). This gives you more flexibility as the new cards come in. If you end a round of moves with all four columns filled and no empties, whatever cards you deal next will all sit on top of existing cards, which might trap some cards. Having an empty slot available can alleviate this problem.
Stay patient and keep it fun: Finally, remember that Aces Up has a low win rate – even with perfect play, many games are unwinnable due to the shuffle. Don’t let a loss frustrate you. Instead, enjoy the quick gameplay and try again. Each game is over in a few minutes, so it’s easy to squeeze in another round. You’ll start recognizing patterns and improving your intuition about which card to move where. The more you play, the better you’ll get at spotting those moves that might lead to a win.
Fun Facts about Aces Up Solitaire
To wrap up, here are some interesting tidbits about Aces Up that you might find fun:
Quirky Nicknames: As mentioned, Aces Up has had some colorful names in the past. Besides Idiot’s Delight, it was once literally called “Drivel” because early players felt it required no brainpower. (Harsh, right? 🙃) Fortunately, the name Aces Up sounds much more appealing today. It’s also been known as Aces High and Firing Squad in various books – the latter evoking how cards get “shot” off the table one by one.
Hard to Win: Winning in Aces Up is quite rare. On average, with good play, only about 1 in 43 games will end with a win (only the four aces left). That’s roughly a 2% win rate, highlighting that luck plays a big role. Don’t let this discourage you – think of it as part of the game’s challenge. When you do win, you know you’ve beaten some tough odds! (Some computer analyses have suggested the game might be winnable a bit more often with perfect play, but it’s still a long shot.)
Quick Rounds: One reason Aces Up is great for casual play is that each round is very short. A game typically takes only 2–4 minutes to play. Because it’s so fast, Aces Up is perfect when you want to kill a little time or need a quick break. You can play several rounds in the time it takes to play one longer solitaire game like FreeCell or Spider.
Minimal Space Required: Aces Up is known for its minimal use of space. You only need four piles of cards (plus a little space for discarded cards) to play a physical game. In fact, it’s said you could even play it on top of a book or a small table – great for traveling or when you don’t have much room. Of course, if you play Aces Up online, space isn’t an issue at all – you just need your screen!
Challenging Variant: If you ever feel Aces Up is getting too easy (🌟 challenge accepted!), try the tougher variation where only Aces can be moved to empty spaces. In this variant, you’re not allowed to move any other cards into empties, which makes the game extremely difficult – it’s estimated that you might win only about 1 in 270 games under those rules! This is an advanced twist for the truly brave (or perhaps a fun way to appreciate how the normal rules give you a fighting chance).
Play Aces Up Solitaire Online for Free
Ready to test your luck and skill with Aces Up? The great news is you don’t need a physical deck of cards or any special app to enjoy this game. You can play Aces Up Solitaire online for free at SolitaireX.io. Just head over to the site, click on the Aces Up game, and start playing right in your web browser. There’s no charge and no sign-up required – it’s one of many fun free solitaire games available on the platform.
Playing solitaire online is super convenient. You don’t have to worry about shuffling cards or setting up the game; the computer handles all that so you can focus on the fun part. SolitaireX.io also offers other popular solitaire variations (like Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, etc.), so you can easily switch games if you’re in the mood for something different after a few rounds of Aces Up.
Give Aces Up a try on SolitaireX.io and see if you can beat the odds. Even if you don’t win every time, you’re sure to enjoy the quick gameplay and the satisfying feeling of picking off cards and watching the Aces stand tall. Good luck, have fun, and may the Aces be ever in your favor!