Play Chase The Ace Online Free with Friends

How to play Chase The Ace

1. Everyone gets ONE card, face down, and five chips. The ace is the LOWEST card in the deck — that is the joke in the name.
2. Starting to the dealer’s left and going clockwise, each player either STANDS on their card or forces a SWAP with the player on their left.
3. The player being robbed gets no say — unless they hold a King. They show it ("King!"), the trade is blocked, and the King stays face up for the rest of the round so everyone after knows not to bother.
4. The dealer goes last and has nobody on their left, so they cut the deck instead and take the top card. A King off the top blocks that too.
5. Then every card turns face up. Whoever holds the lowest pays a chip — or TWO if it is an ace. Tied for lowest? You all pay.
6. Run out of chips and you are out. The deal passes on, the deck is reshuffled, and the last player with chips wins.

Chase The Ace strategy

The basics that turn knowing the rules into winning games — what to do first, what to keep, what to avoid.

• A card of 6 or higher is usually safe to STAND on — most of the danger is in the 2s, 3s and 4s.
• Swap low cards early in the turn order. The later your seat, the more you know about what has been kept, and the last player before the dealer only needs to beat the cards already shown.
• A King is a shield, not a weapon: keep it, refuse every swap, and let the others fight over the low cards.
• Remember the dealer draws blind from the deck. Swapping a 5 with a dealer who then cuts a 3 is how most chips are lost.
• When you are down to one chip, play to survive the round, not to win it — any card that beats one other player is enough.

Chase The Ace FAQ

How many players?

Two to five.

What does a King do?

It blocks a swap. Show it, and the trade is refused — and it stays face up, so everyone after you knows not to bother.

How long is a game?

About ten minutes; rounds are quick and you are out when your chips are gone.

Do I need an account?

No. Type a name and play — no signup, no download, nothing to install. Making an account is optional and only exists to keep your stats, nickname and preferences across devices.

Is it really free?

Yes, all of it. Every game on Board Game Universe is free to play, with no premium tier holding anything back.

Can I play on my phone?

Yes. It runs in a mobile browser on phones and tablets as well as on a desktop — there is no app to download.

How do I play with my friends?

Start a table and send your friends the link. They open it, type a name, and sit down. Moves and table chat happen in real time.

Can I play against the computer?

Yes. Add a bot to any table and it plays a proper game — useful for filling a seat while you wait for a fourth.