Aces Up
A fast solitaire where aces are the only cards you want left.
Setup
Deal four cards face-up in a row.
How to Play
- If two or more cards share a suit, discard all but the highest of that suit.
- Aces are high.
- Deal four more cards when no discard is possible.
- Empty spaces may be filled by moving any top card.
How to Win
Best result is only the four aces remaining.
Create empty spaces before moving cards around.
Is Aces Up Right for You?
Aces Up, also called Idiot's Delight, deals four piles and lets you discard any card outranked by another of the same suit on top, freeing space and aiming to end with only the four Aces. Reach for it when you want a quick, decision-light game with a clear, tidy goal.
Maybe skip it if: If you want frequent wins, the success rate is low and many deals are simply dead.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Filling an empty column with the wrong card and blocking a discard you needed.
- Forgetting that Aces are high, so an Ace can never be discarded by another card of its suit.
Strategy Tips
- Move a card into an empty column only when it clearly unblocks a higher-value discard.
- Keep an Ace exposed at the top of a column when you can, since it protects the cards beneath it.
- Deal a new row only after you have made every useful discard from the current one.
Popular Variations
Aces Up with redeal
Some play allows gathering and re-dealing the piles once, which lifts the win rate.
Firing Squad
A near-identical relative with the same suit-outranking discard rule under a different name.
Our Take
We enjoy Aces Up for its speed and its satisfying all-or-nothing finish, but we are honest that it is mostly luck with a thin sliver of choice. It is a great filler when you have five minutes and do not mind losing most of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you win Aces Up?
You win by discarding the entire deck except for the four Aces, which sit alone at the end.
Are Aces high or low in Aces Up?
Aces are high, so they can never be discarded and are exactly the cards you are trying to leave behind.