Aces Up

Aces Up, also known as Idiot's Delight, is a solitaire card game where the goal is to discard all cards except for the four aces. It is a relatively simple game of elimination based on card rank.

Gameplay:

1. Deal: The game begins by dealing four cards face up in a row, forming four columns.
2. Elimination: If any two or more cards in the row have the same rank (e.g., two Queens), the player must discard one of those cards. The choice of which card to discard is entirely up to the player.
3. Dealing New Cards: After all possible eliminations have been made, four new cards are dealt face up on top of the existing columns.
4. Continuing Play: Steps 2 and 3 are repeated until all cards from the deck have been dealt.
5. Winning: The game is won if only the four aces remain at the end of the game.

Strategy:

Aces Up is largely a game of chance, but some strategic considerations can improve the odds of winning. Players should consider the following:

• Discarding Low Cards: Generally, discarding lower-ranked cards is preferable, as it increases the chances of later cards matching the remaining higher ranks.
• Column Balance: Maintaining a balance of suits across the columns may be beneficial, though its impact is minimal.

Popularity and Variations:

Aces Up is popular due to its simplicity and quick gameplay. While variations are not common, some may involve modifications to the dealing process or scoring.