Chase the Ace (play)

Chase the Ace is a simple card game, often played as a gambling game or as a fundraising event for various organizations. It typically involves a standard deck of 52 playing cards and a group of players competing to avoid holding the Ace of Spades (or a pre-determined ace).

The game generally proceeds as follows:

1. Dealing: One card is dealt to each player face down.

2. The Chase: The player to the dealer's left starts the game. That player can either keep their card or choose to "chase" the Ace by exchanging it with the player on their left.

3. Card Exchange: If a player chooses to exchange, they pass their card (face down) to the player on their left. The receiving player must then accept the card, sight unseen, and discard their original card.

4. Continuing the Chase: This exchange process continues around the table in a clockwise direction. A player is obligated to exchange their card if another player chooses to pass to them.

5. Ending the Round: The chase continues until the last player (usually the dealer) is forced to keep the card passed to them.

6. Revelation: All players reveal their cards.

7. Elimination (or Penalty): Typically, the player holding the Ace of Spades (or the designated "losing" ace) is eliminated from the game or receives a penalty, such as paying a small amount into a pot. Variations exist where holding the designated ace incurs a point penalty.

8. Subsequent Rounds: Cards are collected, shuffled, and re-dealt for the next round. Players who have been eliminated are removed from the game.

9. Final Round: The game continues until only one player remains. That player is declared the winner. In some variations, the last player holding the losing ace must pay the final pot or is subject to a final penalty.

The rules can be modified. For example, sometimes other Aces are included as "losing" cards with varying penalties. The specifics regarding penalties, betting, and number of rounds can also vary. The core mechanic of avoiding a specific card through a chain of forced exchanges remains the same. The game relies heavily on luck and a small degree of bluffing.