How to play Chase the Ace

In this game the dealer passes from one player to the next after each round. The aim of the game is to avoid having the lowest card at the end of the round.

To start with the dealer shuffles the deck and deals one card face down to each player, including themselves. The player to the left of the dealer looks at their card and decides whether they want to 'swap' or 'stick'. If they choose to 'swap' they can swap their card with the player on their left, otherwise they 'stick'. Any player who has a King can turn it face up on the table, and the player to their right is not able to swap with them.

Play continues around to the left until it reaches the dealer. Once play reaches the dealer everyone must turn their card face up, and the dealer then decides what to do. The dealer can choose to 'stick', but unlike the other players the dealer cannot 'swap'. Instead they may cut the deck to try to get a higher card.

The person who has the lowest card after the dealer has acted must drink. Aces are considered to be low, which is where the name of the game comes from.

At the end of the round the dealer role passes one to the left and a new round begins.