Aces and Kings is a challenging and original
solitaire
Solitaire is any tabletop game which one can play by oneself, usually with cards, but also with dominoes. The term "solitaire" is also used for single-player games of concentration and skill using a set layout tiles, pegs or stones. These game ...
game using two decks of
playing cards
A playing card is a piece of specially prepared card stock, heavy paper, thin cardboard, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic that is marked with distinguishing motifs. Often the front (face) and back of each card has a fi ...
, and was created by Thomas Warfield. The object of the game is to build 8
foundations
Foundation may refer to:
* Foundation (nonprofit), a type of charitable organization
** Foundation (United States law), a type of charitable organization in the U.S.
** Private foundation, a charitable organization that, while serving a good cause ...
down from King to Ace or up from Ace to King without regard to suit.
[Warfield, Thomas.]
Aces and Kings: How to Play the Challenging 2 Deck Solitaire Game
. 1 February 2002. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
Aces and Kings is a difficult game to win, with good players winning about 1 in 10 games. It is a popular game that has been implemented on many websites and software programs that offer solitaire games.
Rules
Aces and Kings has eight
foundations
Foundation may refer to:
* Foundation (nonprofit), a type of charitable organization
** Foundation (United States law), a type of charitable organization in the U.S.
** Private foundation, a charitable organization that, while serving a good cause ...
in total. Four foundations start with an Ace and build up regardless of suit, e.g. A
♥, 2♠, 3
♦, 4
♦.
The other four start with a King and build down regardless of suit, e.g. K♣, Q
♥, J♠, 10♣
The games include two
reserve piles of thirteen cards each that can only be played onto the foundations. At the bottom left, there is a
stock pile and a
waste pile
Games of patience, or (card) solitaires as they are usually called in North America, have their own 'language' of specialised terms such as "building down", "packing", "foundations", "talon" and "tableau". Once learnt they are helpful in de ...
. At the bottom right, there are the four
tableau piles of one face-up card each.
File:Aces and Kings (solitaire) Layout.jpg, Aces and Kings layout
Cards in the tableau can only be moved to the foundations; empty tableau spaces should be immediately filled with the top card from the stock pile. If desired, the top card on a foundation pile can be transferred onto another one, as long as it is of compatible rank. When the stock pile is empty, the game is over: if all of the foundations can be completed, the game has been won.
Variants
Other variations of Aces and Kings that were created by Thomas Warfield include Deuces and Queens, Acey and Kingsley, and Five Little Guys.
Racing Aces is a three deck version of the game, and Double Aces and Kings is a four deck version.
References
{{RefList
See also
*
List of solitaires
This is a list of patiences, which are card games that are also referred to as solitaires or as card solitaire.
This list is not intended to be exhaustive, but only includes games that have met the usual Wikipedia requirements (e.g. notability). ...
*
Glossary of solitaire
Games of patience, or (card) solitaires as they are usually called in North America, have their own 'language' of specialised terms such as "building down", "packing", "foundations", "talon" and "tableau". Once learnt they are helpful in des ...
Double-deck patience card games
Mobile games
Reserved builders