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SHOLLY'S TIP SHEETS, CHAPTER VII: Ace Solitaire 9/14/07 4:05 PM
I didn't originally intend to do back to back Tip Sheets on card games, but I just made Warrior King in Ace Solitaire a few days ago, and so it goes to the front of the list.
If you can count to 11, you can play Ace Solitaire. Clear three layups within three minutes to win, by removing pairs or groups of cards totalling 11. The game uses a standard deck of cards, except that the Kings, Queens, and Jacks have all been replaced by Aces, which count as 1.
There are 22 cards in the layup, which is shaped like three diamonds. Just click on each card you want to remove one at a time, and when the total reaches 11, they're removed. You can also deal reserve cards to help you, by clicking the face-down pack. You can have up to two cards in reserve at once--if both reserve spots are full and you deal another card, the reserve card on the right (the "oldest" reserve) will be moved up into the layup, if possible. When a card is moved up this way, it will occupy the higest possible row, and the leftmost open spot in that row. If the entire layup is full, the displaced card will be discarded. You only get one deal through the pack, so make it count.
When you've cleared a layup, the next one will be dealt automatically. You can also skip ahead to the next one at any time by clicking on the Next Level button, though you won't get any pack bonus for doing this. For your convenience, "NO MORE MOVES" will appear across the layup if you've dealt all your cards and are unable to remove any more.
The game lasts for three minutes, or until you've cleared the third layup (or clicked the End Game button). Clearing all three layups (without clicking the button) will get you an achievement point.
Those are the basics. Let's talk about how this game is scored:
Cards in the layup (including cards moved there from the reserves) are always worth the same amount, depending on which row they're in. The three cards in the top row are worth 500 points each, the next row 400, the middle row 300, then 200, and finally, the bottom two cards are worth 100 points each. The total value of the entire layup, not counting any cards that are moved up from the reserves, is 7000 points.
Reserve cards have a variable value, depending on what cards they're matched with. A reserve card is worth the same as the highest valued card removed in a group, meaning that if a group includes one or both reserve cards and a card from the top row, that particular reserve card is worth 500 points. However, if you just pair up the two reserve cards without using a card from the layup, they're only worth 50 each, so don't do that.
If you clear the entire layup, you receive a bonus of 600 points for each unused card remaining in the pack, including any reserve card(s) left on the table. Note that this is more than any individual card is worth; more on that in a bit.
There's also a speed bonus for making consecutive groups quickly. You get a bonus of 10 points for each second less than 10 (scored to the nearest tenth of a second) that it takes you to make the next group. For instance, if you make a group, then make the next group four seconds later, you'll get an extra 60 points.
A "perfect" score (not including speed bonuses) - meaning that you've cleared the entire layup without using (or discarding) any reserve cards at all - is 7000 for the layup cards plus a pack bonus of 18,000 (30 cardsX600 per card), for a total of 25,000 points. That's 75,000 for three layups, and I figure the absolute maximum possible total speed bonus to be about 1100 per layup, or 3300 total. Therefore, the absolute maximum you can score in this game is around 78,300. As of this writing, my top score is 74,834...Can you top that?
Let's talk about how you'd go about topping my score:
I think this first tip is the most important: Do not remove any cards if you don't have cards in both reserve spots. In other words, deal two reserve cards before you make ANY moves, and if you use one or both of them, refill the reserve spaces before removing any more cards. Get in the habit of doing this! This will help you plan ahead, in order to better determine which cards to remove next, and it doesn't hurt your score, because reserve cards are still counted as part of the pack when you clear the layup.
Be aware of the high cards, which are hardest to remove. You can only take out a 10 with an Ace, a 9 with a 2 or two Aces, etc. Don't use up all your low cards in big groups, and then not have any left when the high cards come. There is no extra bonus for making big groups, so try to keep low cards available as much as possible.
If your two reserve cards can be paired off and you have no other move (and you have an empty spot in the layup), move one of the reserve cards up to the layup by dealing another reserve card. Even if it's the bottom row, getting 100 each for these two cards is better than getting only 50 by clicking them off the reserve area. You only have to move one card up, because the card remaining in reserve will be worth the same as the card you moved up.
It's usually best to prefer to match up cards in the layup rather than use reserve cards, as unused reserves are worth more than you can possibly get for using them. However, pay attention to your layup--if using a reserve card will make the layup easier to clear, it may be better to do so, even if it scores less in the short term.
And finally, take your time, but don't dawdle. You only get three minutes to clear all three layups, which is one minute per board. If you're hearing a ticking sound, you only have five seconds left, and you need to work on your speed next time.
That's about all. There's not a whole lot to this game, and you can do very well if you pay attention and keep a good pace. As always, please leave comments, questions, or feedback as you see fit. Take care and good luck!
If you can count to 11, you can play Ace Solitaire. Clear three layups within three minutes to win, by removing pairs or groups of cards totalling 11. The game uses a standard deck of cards, except that the Kings, Queens, and Jacks have all been replaced by Aces, which count as 1.
There are 22 cards in the layup, which is shaped like three diamonds. Just click on each card you want to remove one at a time, and when the total reaches 11, they're removed. You can also deal reserve cards to help you, by clicking the face-down pack. You can have up to two cards in reserve at once--if both reserve spots are full and you deal another card, the reserve card on the right (the "oldest" reserve) will be moved up into the layup, if possible. When a card is moved up this way, it will occupy the higest possible row, and the leftmost open spot in that row. If the entire layup is full, the displaced card will be discarded. You only get one deal through the pack, so make it count.
When you've cleared a layup, the next one will be dealt automatically. You can also skip ahead to the next one at any time by clicking on the Next Level button, though you won't get any pack bonus for doing this. For your convenience, "NO MORE MOVES" will appear across the layup if you've dealt all your cards and are unable to remove any more.
The game lasts for three minutes, or until you've cleared the third layup (or clicked the End Game button). Clearing all three layups (without clicking the button) will get you an achievement point.
Those are the basics. Let's talk about how this game is scored:
Cards in the layup (including cards moved there from the reserves) are always worth the same amount, depending on which row they're in. The three cards in the top row are worth 500 points each, the next row 400, the middle row 300, then 200, and finally, the bottom two cards are worth 100 points each. The total value of the entire layup, not counting any cards that are moved up from the reserves, is 7000 points.
Reserve cards have a variable value, depending on what cards they're matched with. A reserve card is worth the same as the highest valued card removed in a group, meaning that if a group includes one or both reserve cards and a card from the top row, that particular reserve card is worth 500 points. However, if you just pair up the two reserve cards without using a card from the layup, they're only worth 50 each, so don't do that.
If you clear the entire layup, you receive a bonus of 600 points for each unused card remaining in the pack, including any reserve card(s) left on the table. Note that this is more than any individual card is worth; more on that in a bit.
There's also a speed bonus for making consecutive groups quickly. You get a bonus of 10 points for each second less than 10 (scored to the nearest tenth of a second) that it takes you to make the next group. For instance, if you make a group, then make the next group four seconds later, you'll get an extra 60 points.
A "perfect" score (not including speed bonuses) - meaning that you've cleared the entire layup without using (or discarding) any reserve cards at all - is 7000 for the layup cards plus a pack bonus of 18,000 (30 cardsX600 per card), for a total of 25,000 points. That's 75,000 for three layups, and I figure the absolute maximum possible total speed bonus to be about 1100 per layup, or 3300 total. Therefore, the absolute maximum you can score in this game is around 78,300. As of this writing, my top score is 74,834...Can you top that?
Let's talk about how you'd go about topping my score:
I think this first tip is the most important: Do not remove any cards if you don't have cards in both reserve spots. In other words, deal two reserve cards before you make ANY moves, and if you use one or both of them, refill the reserve spaces before removing any more cards. Get in the habit of doing this! This will help you plan ahead, in order to better determine which cards to remove next, and it doesn't hurt your score, because reserve cards are still counted as part of the pack when you clear the layup.
Be aware of the high cards, which are hardest to remove. You can only take out a 10 with an Ace, a 9 with a 2 or two Aces, etc. Don't use up all your low cards in big groups, and then not have any left when the high cards come. There is no extra bonus for making big groups, so try to keep low cards available as much as possible.
If your two reserve cards can be paired off and you have no other move (and you have an empty spot in the layup), move one of the reserve cards up to the layup by dealing another reserve card. Even if it's the bottom row, getting 100 each for these two cards is better than getting only 50 by clicking them off the reserve area. You only have to move one card up, because the card remaining in reserve will be worth the same as the card you moved up.
It's usually best to prefer to match up cards in the layup rather than use reserve cards, as unused reserves are worth more than you can possibly get for using them. However, pay attention to your layup--if using a reserve card will make the layup easier to clear, it may be better to do so, even if it scores less in the short term.
And finally, take your time, but don't dawdle. You only get three minutes to clear all three layups, which is one minute per board. If you're hearing a ticking sound, you only have five seconds left, and you need to work on your speed next time.
That's about all. There's not a whole lot to this game, and you can do very well if you pay attention and keep a good pace. As always, please leave comments, questions, or feedback as you see fit. Take care and good luck!
Well so far my top score is 73945. I figure that's pretty fair.
Thx so much for the tips great help.Hope you don't mind Iput your name on my page to help people find you?Once again thank you so much for the great tips...:0) ..Ray
Glad I could help, and I'm honored that you'd point people here for help. Here's hoping I can continue to give people a hand winning games and getting those pesky diploma pieces :) Thanks, and take care and good luck!
My top score in Ace Solitaire is 75004, more to do with the luck of the shuffle than the skill involved!! The only addition I would add is that when only one layer of cards is left across the top three spaces try to avoid covering them at all costs.
Nice score! Yeah, the luck of the shuffle determines the maximum possible score for the layup more than anything else. I can't count the number of times I've had the frustration of getting down to the last two or three cards, and being unable to get the cards I need to remove them. Aaarghhh!!!