Objective
Discard all 48 non-ace cards from the tableau. The game is won when only four aces remain, one in each column. A perfect game scores 48 out of 48.
Setup
- Use one standard 52-card deck (no jokers).
- Shuffle the deck thoroughly.
- Deal one card face-up to each of four columns. These form your tableau.
- The remaining 48 cards form the stock pile (face down).
Card Ranking
In Aces Up Solitaire, aces are the highest-ranked card in each suit. The ranking from highest to lowest is:
Ace > King > Queen > Jack > 10 > 9 > 8 > 7 > 6 > 5 > 4 > 3 > 2
Ranking only matters within the same suit. Cross-suit comparisons are not relevant.
Legal Moves
1. Discard a Card
The top card of any column can be discarded (removed from play) if there is a higher-ranked card of the same suit showing as the top card of any other column.
Example: If the 7 of Hearts is on top of Column 1, and the Jack of Hearts is on top of Column 3, the 7 of Hearts can be discarded. The Jack of Hearts cannot be discarded unless an Ace of Hearts is showing in another column.
Important: Aces can never be discarded — they are always the highest card and are your goal to keep.
2. Move a Card to an Empty Column
The top card of any column may be moved to any empty column at any time. This is a free move with no restrictions. Only one card can be moved at a time — you cannot move a stack.
3. Deal from the Stock
Deal from the stock only after no discard moves remain and no empty-column move is available. When you deal, place one card face-up onto each column (or as many columns as possible if fewer than four cards remain in the stock).
Under standard Aces Up rules, you should not deal early. Always make every available discard and empty-column move before dealing again.
End of Game
The game ends when:
- You win: All 48 non-ace cards have been discarded. Only four aces remain.
- No more moves: The stock is empty, no cards can be discarded, and no columns are empty (or all remaining cards are aces and thus cannot be discarded). The game is over.
Scoring
- 1 point for each discarded card.
- Maximum score: 48 (a perfect win).
- Leaderboard rank is determined by: highest score, then fewest restarts, fewest hints, fewest undos, fastest time, fewest moves, earliest submission.
Leaderboard Eligibility
A score can only be submitted at a true end state: either a win (score 48) or a no-more-moves state. You cannot submit mid-game scores.
Optional Rules (Not Used Here)
Some versions of Aces Up allow multiple redeals from the stock, or allow moving groups of cards. This version uses standard single-pass rules: deal one round through the stock, and only the top card of each column is active.