Aces and Kings Solitaire - Play Online Card Game for Free
Test your mastery in Aces and Kings Solitaire, a challenging two-deck strategy game. Build foundation piles in both ascending and descending order regardless of suit to win this free online card game.
Conquer the Complexity of Aces and Kings Solitaire
Prepare for a true test of your strategic patience with Aces and Kings Solitaire. This sophisticated two-deck game is widely regarded by enthusiasts as one of the most difficult yet rewarding variants of the solitaire family. Unlike standard games where you follow a single path, Aces and Kings requires you to work in two directions simultaneously. With a low winning rate of roughly 1 in 10 games for even skilled players, success depends on your ability to manage your reserve piles and think several moves ahead. It is a game where every card moved to a foundation brings you closer to victory, but one wrong choice can lead to a stalemate.
The Foundations: A Dual-Directional Goal
The defining mechanic of Aces and Kings Solitaire is its eight foundation piles, split into two distinct groups. Your ultimate goal is to move all 104 cards into these piles, following these specific rules:
- The Ace Foundations: The four piles on the left begin with an Ace and are built upward to the King (A, 2, 3... K). Importantly, you build regardless of suit.
- The King Foundations: The four piles on the right begin with a King and are built downward to the Ace (K, Q, J... A). Like the Ace piles, these are also built regardless of suit.
- Foundation Swapping: A unique and vital rule in this game is that the top card of any foundation pile can be moved to another foundation pile if it fits the rank sequence. This flexibility is often the only way to unblock the game in later stages.
Managing Your Resources: Reserve and Tableau
To feed your foundations, you must balance three different card sources. Understanding how to prioritize these is the key to increasing your chance of winning:
- Reserve Piles: At the start, two piles of 13 cards each are dealt face-up. Only the top card is available. These cards are "dead weight" until moved, so you should prioritize clearing them to reach the cards buried beneath.
- Tableau Piles: Four single-card piles sit at the bottom right. When a tableau space becomes empty, it is automatically replenished from the stock pile. Once the stock is empty, you can manually move any available card into these spaces.
- Stock and Discard: The remaining cards form the stock. When you run out of moves, deal a card to the discard pile. Remember: only one pass through the deck is typically allowed, making every discard a critical decision.
Tactical Tips for Expert Play
Because you cannot build or sequence cards within the tableau, Aces and Kings is purely about moving cards to the foundations. Use these expert strategies to navigate the difficulty:
- Prioritize the Reserves: The cards in your two 13-card reserve piles are your biggest obstacles. Always check if a reserve card can be played before drawing from the stock or waste.
- Balance the Foundations: Try to build your "Up" and "Down" foundations evenly. If you have a 7 on an Ace foundation and an 8 on a King foundation, you can move cards between them to free up specific ranks you might need elsewhere.
- Save Your Tableau: Once the stock pile is empty, your four tableau spaces act like "Free Cells." Use them sparingly to hold high-value cards that are currently blocking your foundations.
- Watch the Discard Pile: Since you cannot redeal, once a card is buried in the discard pile, it stays there until you clear the cards on top of it. Always prioritize playing the top discard card if it fits.
Intuitive Mouse and Touch Controls
Aces and Kings Solitaire is optimized for smooth performance in your browser, whether you prefer the precision of a mouse or the portability of touch. The interface is designed to let you focus on the cards, with clear indicators for the Ace and King foundations. Simply click or tap and drag to move cards between the reserves, tableau, and foundations. If you find yourself unable to make a move and the stock is empty, the game concludes—but don't be discouraged. The low win rate makes every successful "compression" of the deck a true badge of honor.


